[Saga Prefecture] A historical drama based on the Takanawa
embankment, “Compass of the Sun: Let land steam pass through the sea,” will be performed in Minato Ward, Tokyo.
*Saga prefecture*
Press release: August 30, 2024
**
A historical drama based on the Takanawa Embankment, “Compass of the Sun: Passing Land Steam to the Sea”, will be performed in Minato Ward, Tokyo.
*Connected by Japan’s oldest railway remains, Takanawa Embankment A collaboration project between Saga Prefecture and Minato Ward. What message does the Saga Prefectural Saga Higashi High School Drama Club convey through Shigenobu Okuma? A look into the heart of the human being, Shigenobu Okuma. *
Saga Prefecture and Minato Ward, Tokyo, made a declaration of cooperation between Saga Prefecture and Minato Ward, which will be connected by Odaiba and Takanawa Embankment, after the remains of the Takanawa Embankment were discovered during Shinagawa Station improvement work. Through the miraculous historical coincidence between the Takanawa Embankment and Shigenobu Okuma, a great man from Saga Prefecture who was the driving force behind its construction, we are deepening our relationship and communicating the true value of its history and culture. We are working towards mutual revitalization.
As part of this effort, the Saga Prefectural Saga Higashi High School Drama Club will perform a historical play on the theme of the Takanawa Embankment in Minato Ward, Tokyo. Through the Takanawa Embankment, a great achievement of Marquis Shigenobu Okuma, high school students living in the present will delve into the heart of Shigenobu Okuma. This is a wonderful play that reminds us of the achievements and aspirations of Marquis Shigenobu Okuma. Please take this opportunity to see it.
– *Appearance*
Saga Prefectural Saga Higashi High School Drama Club
– *Performance content*
Title of work: “Compass of the Sun – Passing land steam through the sea”
Performance date: Sunday, September 8, 2020
Part 1 15:00-16:30
Part 2 18:00-19:30
Location: Minato City Akasaka Civic Center 3rd floor Civic Hall (Akasaka Community Plaza, 4-18-13 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Admission fee: Free
Number of receptions: 300 people each time (advance application required, first come first served)
Application form (Google form)
– *Synopsis*
In April 2019, part of the stone wall was discovered during Shinagawa Station improvement work.
It was the foundation of a track built about 150 years ago to carry Japan’s first railway.
The person who directed the opening of the railway at that time was Shigenobu Okuma, a hero of Saga.
100 years after his death, light has come to light on his
accomplishments that had been hidden on the shores of Tokyo Bay.
In September 2024, the Saga Higashi High School drama club will perform a play by Shigenobu Okuma in Minato Ward, Tokyo. Nobu, a third-year student who has been working behind the scenes, came forward and said, “I want to play the role of Okuma.”
However, doubts about the “Hero of Saga” were stirring in Nobu’s heart…
– *Other references*
* About the work “Compass of the Sun” *
This work is a renewed version of “The Compass of the Sun,” which was performed at various locations in Saga Prefecture as part of the “Okuma Shigenobu 100 Year Academia” project undertaken by Saga Prefecture in 2021, the 100th anniversary of Marquis Okuma’s death.
Prior to the performance of the play at the time, Japan’s oldest railway remains, the Takanawa Embankment, were discovered in Minato Ward, Tokyo. This time, we have further arranged the works from that time and shed light on the “Takanawa Embankment” and Saga’s great figure, “Eto Shinpei,” creating a work that conveys the aspirations of Saga to future generations.
* About Saga Prefectural Saga Higashi High School Drama Club *
The theater club performs around 30 performances of 15 plays a year in a variety of genres, including local history and peace education. He has won the Grand Prize at the Saga Prefectural Tournament 14 times, placed in the top ranks at the Kyushu Tournament, and participated in the national tournament four times in spring and summer.
* Regarding collaborative projects between Saga Prefecture and Minato Ward *
In the wake of the historic discovery of the Takanawa Embankment in 2021, Saga Prefecture and Minato Ward, Tokyo held a ceremony in March 2020 to declare the partnership between Saga Prefecture and Minato Ward connected by the Odaiba-Takanawa Embankment. The unique bond between the two countries will be further deepened in a wide range of fields, including communicating in various ways the genuine value of history and culture found in Odaiba and Takanawa Embankment, both of which are connected to Saga. We have confirmed that we will continue to cooperate. This year’s collaborative projects are scheduled to be held as follows.
・Historical drama performance on the theme of “Takanawa Embankment” (held in Minato-ku, Tokyo/September)
・SAGA 2024 national sports/all disability sports PR booth installation (in Minato-ku, Tokyo/held from August to October)
・PR booth installation at Saga International Balloon Fiesta (Saga Prefecture/held in October)