This year, I had the honor of hosting our local Performing Arts Festival, which celebrated its monumental 50th anniversary!
The program was truly spectacular: songs, flutes, drums (Taiko), dancing, the Koto, Taishōgoto, Shamisen, and Shakuhachi… so many magnificent and moving performances!
Experiencing these arts firsthand, I was deeply reminded that these traditional cultures are, without a doubt, the treasures of our community.
We were especially thrilled to welcome guests all the way from Aomori Prefecture this time, and the venue was absolutely packed with excitement!
During the social gathering after the festival, participants from Toyama and Aomori spontaneously created various impromptu collaborations of songs and dances! I was genuinely amazed to see how, even with completely new melodies and movements, everyone was dancing together by the time the music ended.
It is truly wonderful how quickly people can connect and bond through culture and the performing arts!
It made me realize that if we used the power of these traditional arts for international exchange, something truly incredible would surely emerge.
We must make sure to cherish and pass on this precious cultural heritage to future generations.
