Warp and Weft LLC
The world of masks – the form expressed by Kagura masks –
Four mask masters of Kagura, a performing arts that shape tradition and land, gather in Ginza for the first exhibition of [Men no Kami] ……
From February 3, 2024, the first joint exhibition of four Kagura mask artists who are active all over the country will be held in Ginza, Tokyo.
We will focus on the diversity and techniques of the masks that are rooted in each region: Miyagi Prefecture’s “Nanbu Kagura”, Tokyo’s “Sato Kagura”, Shimane Prefecture’s “Iwami Kagura”, and Miyazaki Prefecture’s “Takachiho Kagura”. Additionally, Kagura mask installation works by visual design studio WOW will be exhibited for the first time.
For the first time in history, four young Kagura mask artists who are challenging the “forms expressed by Kagura masks” will gather in Tokyo’s Ginza for a joint exhibition, sale, and dissemination. “Kagura” is one of the local performing arts, handed down throughout the country in various forms and prayers. Kagura is revered and loved in many places, sometimes creating enthusiastic movements. This time, the Kagura masks of especially enthusiastic mask artists from four regions (Miyagi Prefecture’s “Nanbu Kagura”, Tokyo’s “Sato Kagura”, Shimane Prefecture’s “Iwami Kagura”, and Miyazaki Prefecture’s “Takachiho Kagura”) will gather together. .
In Kagura, “Kagura Mask” is often used, and the person transforms into something. What will it change? What is being expressed? Who created this expression and how? This is a chance for you to directly experience and interact with the world of “real forms and
expressions” created by Kagura mask artists using materials that make use of the shapes and climate.
In addition, it has been decided that the globally active visual design studio “WOW” will participate. Together with WOW, which continues its activities to convey traditional culture to the present day in formless digital form, we will present a challenging
installation exhibition that brings out the inner energy of Kagura that cannot be talked about.
In addition, there is a custom that Kagura masks are displayed not only as tools for performing arts, but also as lucky charms and warding off evil spirits, so you will be able to obtain Kagura masks at this exhibition. A traditional and rare one-of-a-kind item – the “kagura mask” that you thought you would never be able to obtain – is now available at your fingertips – how about a new daily life? A worldview of rich surface expression is created in combination with Kagura dance, and a worldview of craftsmanship that stands out when you look closely at the decorations. This [Men no Kami] exhibition proposes a new world view that connects the traditional culture of the region with the present day, from Kagura mask masters who know everything about the ins and outs of Kagura.
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Event overview
Special Exhibition: The World of Masks – Forms Expressed by Kagura Masks – □Date: Saturday, February 3, 2024 (Reiwa 6) – Monday, February 12, 2024 (Holiday) 11:00-19:00
*Closed only on Tuesday, February 6th
□Venue: Gallery Sakuranoki (3rd floor, Ichibankan Building, 5-3-12 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo TEL: 03-3573-3313)
□Admission fee: Free *Charges apply for the talk event on February 4th □Contents: Exhibition and sale of Japanese folk performing arts “Kagura” masks, exchange event with exhibiting Kagura mask artists (talk event, gallery tour)
□Exhibitors: Yuya Megi [Shimane Prefecture | Iwami Kagura], Shogo Kudo [Miyazaki Prefecture | Takachiho Kagura], Takahiro Sato [Miyagi Prefecture | Nanbu Kagura], Toshinari Tanaka [Tokyo/Kanto | Sato Kagura], WOW inc. [ Kagura mask installation]
□ Sponsored by: Men no Kai (hosted by Yuya Keki)
□Co-sponsor/Planning/Production: Warp and Weft LLC
□Support (planned): Akishima City Board of Education, Gotsu City Board of Education, Nationally Designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property Edori Kagura Wakayama Shrine, Edori Kagura Performance Student Executive Committee, Takachiho Town Amanoiwato Shrine, (Public Corporation) All Japan Local performing arts association
□ Cooperation: Gallery Sakuranoki, WOW inc.
□Menshi introduction (in alphabetical order)
◎EGI Yuya [Shimane Prefecture | Iwami Kagura]
Iwami Kagura mask master “Ommenya Ekimai Kobo” is the owner of “Men no Kai” Production of masks used in “Iwamikagura”, which is mainly passed down in the Iwami region of Shimane Prefecture [surfaces made of Japanese paper pasted together]
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Born in 1985 in Gotsu City, Shimane Prefecture. Fascinated by Iwami Kagura since childhood, he would play Kagura by making his own masks out of paper clay. When he was a teenager, he went to work with a local mask craftsman to learn traditional washi paper-making techniques, and since then he has pursued his studies on his own. Around that time, he also began working as a dancer in Iwami Kagura. After working for a general company, he became independent at the age of 24. Established “Mmenya Ekimai Kobo”. Currently, he is involved in the production of kagura masks, the restoration of old masks, and other creative masks used in a variety of performing arts. He also holds workshops and lectures in various locations, working to spread the appeal of Iwami Kagura and Kagura masks.
He presides over [Men no Kai] by leveraging his network with Kagura mask artists from all over the country. It will start with this special exhibition.
◎KUDO Shogo [Miyazaki Prefecture | Takachiho Kagura]
4th generation of “Kagura Men Studio Amaniwato Wood Carving” Production of “Takachiho Kagura Mask” designated as a traditional craft by Miyazaki Prefecture [wood carving mask]
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Born in 1987 in Takachiho-cho, Miyazaki Prefecture, into a family of Kagura mask carvers that have continued for generations. After graduating from high school, he worked for a general company in Oita, Miyazaki, and Tokyo in order to gain a wide range of life experience while aiming to become a mask craftsman. At the age of 25, he became an apprentice to his father, Hiroaki, a mask craftsman, and has continued to improve his skills. The Takachiho Kagura mask, which is finished with Itto carving, is said to bring good luck as a talisman to ward off evil spirits and keep the family safe. Works can be purchased at demonstrations and sales at department stores across the country, as well as at the workshop and product stores in Takachiho. In recent years, it has been featured in various media and has become a power to spread the word about Kagura mask culture.
◎SATO Takahiro [Miyagi Prefecture | Nanbu Kagura]
Kagura mask master, tatami technician
Produces “Nanbu Kagura” masks, which are passed down mainly in northern Miyagi prefecture and southern Iwate prefecture [wood carving masks]
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Born in 1979 in Kurikoma, Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture. He began learning Nanbu Kagura as a child and is a member of the local group Nakano Kagura. In his third year of junior high school, he taught himself to make Kagura masks. Afterwards, he became an apprentice to a menshi in Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture, and received instruction in menuchi. After graduating from high school, he left his hometown, but returned at the age of 21 and immersed himself in Nanbu Kagura again. In addition to his family business of making tatami mats, he is also active as a dancer and mask maker in order to preserve
traditional culture for future generations.
◎TANAKA Toshinari [Tokyo/Kanto｜Sato Kagura]
Menuchi
Manufactured mainly for Kagura masks used in Sato Kagura and Hayashi Ren [wood carving masks]
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Born in 1986 in Akishima City, Tokyo. Lives in Hamura City, Tokyo. As a child, when he joined an ohayashi club in his hometown of Akishima, he was fascinated by the charm of masks. At the age of 11, he taught himself how to make masks using his father’s carpentry tools and chisels. At the age of 19, he began studying under the Noh mask master Tatsuya Arai and learned how to make masks in earnest. At the age of 29, he submitted his work to the National New Noh Mask Exhibition (Echizen Ikeda, Fukui Prefecture) and won the Excellence Award. At the age of 30, he became independent and began his career as a men-uchi, specializing in kagura masks. Currently, he is making requests from Kagura shrines and Hayashi troupes in the Kanto region, mainly in Tokyo. Once a year, we exhibit at the group exhibition “Kotou” in Sugamo, Toshima Ward, Tokyo.
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*What is the realm of surfaces?
A volunteer network that connects Kagura, a folk performing art that has been passed down throughout the country, and Kagura men. By adding a new perspective to the expressions of Kagura, which has a wide variety of performances, and Kagura-men, which are backed by technology, we aim to raise the value of Kagura and create challenging projects and exhibitions to pass on to the future. It is being developed in collaboration with Yokoito LLC.
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□Kagura mask installation
◎WOW inc.
visual design studio
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Creating excitement in people’s hearts – WOW takes on this mission with two approaches. One is a creative collective, where unique creators explore unique themes and methods of expression and create works. The other is as a visual design studio, where we engage in dialogue with clients about their intellect and sensibilities, and work together to create rich expressions that cannot be born from the pursuit of optimization or efficiency, such as videos, installations, and UI/UX.
https://www.w0w.co.jp/
□Planning and production
tateito-yokoito LLC.
Founded in Tohoku in 2016 in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake. We create “places” and “opportunities” for the culture that has been handed down by local people (the warp) and people of the present, the next generation, and the world (the weft) to meet, and to redefine the “charm”, “confidence”, and “redefinition” of the local culture. We produce projects that promote “new discoveries.” Our aim is to explore new forms of inheritance from a variety of perspectives, to implement traditional culture in society, and to connect attractive regions and people to the next generation.
https://tateito-yokoito.com/
★Interaction event with exhibiting kagura mask artists (talk event, gallery tour)
-Menshi to Kataru talk event- (first 40 people)
Sunday, February 4, 2024 13:00-15:00
Venue: Gallery Sakuranoki
Participation fee: 1,500 yen (with special goods)
How to participate: Application form https://forms.gle/s8xNUj6AfABJfHdg9 -Gallery tour with menshi- (first 15 people each day)
1 Saturday, February 3, 2024 18:00-19:00
2 February 4, 2024 (Sunday) 11:00-12:00
Venue: Gallery Sakuranoki
Participation fee: Free
How to participate: Application form https://forms.gle/9SiH14uQtKoUoaC89 Inquiries regarding coverage and publication
TEL: 090-4651-4119 (Men no Kai: Egi)
090-8599-7175 (Warp and Weft LLC: Yamada)
E-mail menknowkai@gmail.com
Website (in preparation for launch): https://www.menknowkai.com/ X: https://twitter.com/menknowkai_2024
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/menknowkai_2024/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/menknowkai2024
Release PDF