Untapped Kumamoto

03/06/2024

Photos from yesterday’s performance!
Nakae Iwato Kagura(中江岩戸神楽) is performed in Namino, A*o City on the first Sunday of every April through November (except October). Kagura is a song and dance performed to dedicate to the gods in Shinto festivals and Shinto rituals. Nakae Iwato Kagura has been passed down for more than 250 years at the Ogi Shrine in the area. It requires a lot of energy and stamina to keep dancing and play the instruments for three hours but local young Kagura performers perform with pride, and moreover we can see how they enjoy performing Kagura. It will be a great support to visit them and see their performance.

Nakae Iwato Kagura Stage
https://maps.app.goo.gl/LLWafbqQG6xuTLCd7



*o
#中江岩戸神楽
#神楽男子
#阿蘇

25/05/2024

Miyama Kirishima (or Kyushu Azalea) is one of the spring symbols in A*o. They grow only on high volcanic mountains in Kyushu area, mainly in Kumamoto, Kagoshima and Oita. Kyushu Azalea is shrub and blooms from May to June. During this sea*on, pink carpet covers on the surface of rocky mountains and it’s one of the highlights of spring.

Interestingly, they can live only on bare rock mountains in volcanic field which is a severe environment for most plants. In these areas, soil is extremely dry and plants are exposed to cold and strong wind at all the time. Only in this severe circumstance, Miyama Kirishima can survive as a dominant species. If the volcanic activity finishes and many plants start to flourish, then they will be extinct losing out their habitat.

Check out the article to get to know more about Miyama Kirishima
https://untappedkumamoto.com/nature/2868

Kusasenri parking
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ajaKUEUb21TcBd898

25/05/2024

04/05/2024

“Kyokusui-no-Utage(曲水の宴)” was held at Yotsugi Shrine in Tatsuda, Kita-ku, Kumamoto City today. It is held every year May 4th and it depicts a Heian-period(8th to 12th century) court event. Poets dressed in colorful juni-hitoe (twelve-layered robe) and other costumes performed waka poems, and those who gathered enjoyed the elegant atmosphere listening live Koto(Japanese harp) performance.
The Kyokusui-no-Utage is an event in which a cup is floated in a stream that meanders through the garden, and poems are composed before the cup passes by. Yotsugi Shrine, which is dedicated to the Heian-period poet Ki no Tsurayuki, has been holding this event since 2010, the 1050th anniversary of the shrine's founding.

Yotsugi Shrine
https://maps.app.goo.gl/UepDrquUyYU6tGoV9


#曲水の宴

#熊本市

15/04/2024

Seiwa Bunraku's "Spring festival praying for good harvest" was held at Okawa A*o Shrine in Yamato Town yesterday. For the 120th anniversary of Koizumi Yakumo’s death(he is also known as Lafcadio Hearn), his work “Mujina" and "Yuki-onna(snow woman)” were performed.
They usually perform at Seiwa Bunraku Theater, but for the Spring Harvest Festival and the Autumn Harvest Festival, the audience can enjoy outside performances at Okawa A*o Shrine. Originally, Seiwa Bunraku troupe was composed of farmers. As a way of enjoying themselves between jobs, they performed Bunraku on the rural stages of local shrines and were sometimes invited to events so that they have been able to pass on this local culture.
Seiwa Bunraku will have a special collaborative work with ONE PIECE during Golden Week. Visiting and watching their performance is a great support for them.

Official Website of Seiwa Bunraku
https://seiwabunraku.com




#清和文楽
#山都町

08/04/2024

Nakae Iwato Kagura(中江岩戸神楽) is a traditional performing art in Namino, A*o City, and is held on the first Sunday of every April through November (except October).

Kagura is a song and dance performed to dedicate to the gods in Shinto festivals and Shinto rituals. There is one story in Kojiki and Nihonshoki, Japanese history books. When Amaterasu, the god of the sun, who was angered by the wild behavior of her younger brother Susanoo, hid in a cave and the world was shrouded in darkness, Amenouzume, the god of entertainment, performed a joyous dance in front of the cave. Amaterasu, intrigued by the liveliness of the performance, came out of it and light returned to this world. It is said that the dance at this time was the origin of Kagura performance.

Nakae Iwato Kagura has been passed down for more than 250 years at the Hagi Shrine in the area. This area is a small community with only 20 or so households. In the past, only the eldest son of each family was allowed to dance in the Kagura. However, due to the declining birth rate, Kagura club has been formed at the local elementary school, and many children in the community are now learning the perfomance.

Performances are held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. It must be very strenuous and demanding to play instruments and dance kagura continuously, but it is very powerful and exciting. Above all, all the young people on stage look like they are having a lot of fun, which we can feel and want to support them. It takes a lot of effort to pass on traditional performing arts, but the young people of Namino practice with pride.

⭐️Nakae Iwato Kagura(中江岩戸神楽)
https://kumamoto.guide/en/spots/detail/11946

⭐️If you want to know about Kojiki(Japanese history book), check the article below
https://untappedkumamoto.com/shrinetemple/3098



*o
#中江岩戸神楽
#神楽男子
#阿蘇

06/04/2024

(Japanese below)
“Niji Terrace", a new event venue has opened right in front of the 3333 stone steps in Misato Town, famous for "Japan’s No.1 stone steps". The space can be used for a variety of purposes, including exhibition venue, workspace, and a marché venue to help people start something new or take the first step toward their dreams.
The place is produced by a real estate agency called Nijiiro Fudosan(虹色不動産株式会社). The company also produces gift confections called "Niji Gashi(虹菓子)” in collaboration with a sculptor and a Japanese confectionary shop, and other exciting activities that make life fun. More and more fun events will be held here in the future. We can't take our eyes off Niji Terrace!

⭐️About 3333 stone steps in Misato Town, check the article below!
https://untappedkumamoto.com/activities/1515

⭐️Nijiiro Fudousan(虹色不動産), real estate agency
https://nijiiro-f.com

”日本一の石段”で有名な美里町の３３３３段の石段の目の前に、新しい素敵スポット”Niji Terrace” がオープンしました！
「日本一の麓で　日本一のステップアップを。」をスローガンに、個展会場、ワークスペース、マルシェ会場などさまざまな用途に使える場所ができました。
このイベントスペースのプロデュースは、虹色不動産という不動産屋さんで、不動産業以外にも造形作家さん、和菓子屋さんとコラボしたギフト用のお菓子”虹菓子”をプロデュースしたり、生活を楽しくするワクワクをカタチにされている会社です。
今後Niji Terraceで楽しいイベントがどんどん開催されていくでしょう。Niji Terraceから目が離せません！

30/03/2024

A special program of Seiwa Bunraku(清和文楽), "Chopper, embarking from the winter sakura(超馴鹿船出冬桜)" opens to the public today and tomorrow. The story is based on the popular manga ONE PIECE, and since the manga artist, Eiichiro Oda, is from Kumamoto, this collaboration became a reality. The program, which opened at the Kumamoto Prefectural Theater two years ago, was a great success. I was curious to see how it would be arranged for this performance at the Seiwa Bunraku Theater, and the various innovations made it possible for me to once again experience the excitement. The story depicts people who overcome the destruction and loss of their precious things by sticking together with their friends. It reminds me of the efforts of the people of Kumamoto, who were affected by the two major Kumamoto earthquakes in 2016.

Seiwa Bunraku members have their own day jobs as farmers or dairy farmers. In the midst of all this, they take time out to practice in order to carry on the culture of Kumamoto. All participants were greatly impressed by the excellence of the program and their hard work. They have the right to show this work for the next 5 years. It was a wonderful program that both One Piece fans and non-fans (I haven't read One Piece, but I am a big fan of Seiwa Bunraku!) enjoyed. Tickets for today and tomorrow are sold out, but you can still see this special program during Golden Week in April and May. The website below is the ticket window of the Seiwa Bunraku, and advance reservations are required.

Seiwa Bunraku is the only dedicated Bunraku theater in Kyushu. We can support this traditional performing art that has been passed down by the local people by visiting and watching it. For more information, please check the article below that explains the charms of Seiwa Bunraku and Yamato Town.

☆Article about Seiwabunraku and Yamato town
https://untappedkumamoto.com/history-culture/3874

☆Map of Seiwa Bunraku
https://maps.app.goo.gl/XEMmqbTVAGfFdKuz6

☆Buy your tickets from this website
https://t.livepocket.jp/event/search?word=清和文楽館




#超馴鹿船出冬桜
#清和文楽
#山都町

20/12/2023

Book Now for Koganotaki Fall Night Tour 2024 January & February!

It is a winter limited night tour that we will visit Koganotaki Fall in A*o city. It is famous for freezing in winter and about 100m pillar of ice can appear. Only on Saturdays from January 6th to February 24th 2024, the waterfall will be illuminated and we will have a night walking tour. Join us on this winter limited tour and feel the charm of winter in A*o!
For more details, please see the attached flyer and visit our website!

⭐️What's so special about this tour?
Koganotaki Fall is a symbol of winter in A*o. In the coldest sea*on, the cold wind blowing from the A*o Valley creates a powerful icefall. The delicate and beautiful “ice flowers” that form when splashes of water freeze are works of art created by ice. You will be captivated by the mystical sight that unfolds before your eyes. Every Saturday from mid-January to the end of February, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Koganotaki Fall is lit up, offering a fantastic view of the falls that is different from that of the daytime. In this tour, our fun and
friendly English-speaking guide will take you to Koganotaki Fall and share geological and local stories with you!

*otour *o *osightseeing

For your inquiries and booking, visit our website!
Untapped Kumamoto Tours
https://untappedkumamoto-tours.com

15/12/2023

（English below）
2018年からUntapped Kumamotoで、熊本の魅力、文化などを英語で発信してきました。
この度Untapped Kumamoto Tours という屋号で地域限定旅行業を登録し、ツアーを企画販売することになりました。
活動できる範囲は、阿蘇市、菊池市、大津町、南小国町、産山村、高森町、南阿蘇村、竹田市、日田市の9市町村です。
これまで県内様々な場所を訪れ各地域の魅力に触れてきたので、営業地域は大変迷いましたが、まずはこれらの場所からスタートしていきます。
ツアー造成、ホームページ作成などいつも支えていただいている皆さまにこの場をお借りして御礼申し上げます。
いつもありがとうございます。

Untapped Kumamoto Tours
則行千栄子

https://untappedkumamoto-tours.com

Since 2018, I have been sharing the charms and culture of Kumamoto in English on my blog, Untapped Kumamoto.
I have now registered as a regional travel agency under the trade name Untapped Kumamoto Tours and will be planning and selling tours.
The scope of our activities covers 9 municipalities: A*o City, Kikuchi City, Ozu Town, Minami Oguni Town, Ubuyama Village, Takamori Town, Minami A*o Village, Taketa City, and Hita City.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me in tour planning and website development, etc.
Thank you for all your support.

Untapped Kumamoto Tours
Chieko Noriyuki

15/12/2023

Since 2018, I have been sharing the charms and culture of Kumamoto in English on my blog, Untapped Kumamoto.
I have now registered as a regional travel agency under the trade name "Untapped Kumamoto Tours" and will be planning and selling tours.
The scope of our activities covers 9 municipalities: A*o City, Kikuchi City, Ozu Town, Minami Oguni Town, Ubuyama Village, Takamori Town, Minami A*o Village, Taketa City, and Hita City.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me in tour planning and website development, etc.
Thank you for all your support.

Untapped Kumamoto Tours
Chieko Noriyuki

A*o is one of the popular tourist destinations in Kumamoto and is known for its great nature, such as the living volcano, vast grassland, springs, etc. People in A*o have lived with them for thousands of years and used those blessings for their daily lives.In our tour, we will take you to must-go pl...

13/12/2023

Goma Fire Ritual at Rengein Tanjoji Okunoin Temple, Tamana City

Shot and edited by Takuma Gianluca

https://vimeo.com/879676004

Articles about Rengein Tanjoji Temple
https://untappedkumamoto.com/history-culture/4231
https://untappedkumamoto.com/shrinetemple/4173

This is "蓮華院誕生寺奥之院 - 護摩焚き" by Takuma Gianluca on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.