Aiming for a symbiotic society, taking a step towards a new future through the power of art - Kagayaku Mirai ga Mieru Kanagawa 2021 -

This summer, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games were held.
Under the scorching Tokyo sun, athletes from around the world competed in fierce battles that were well worth watching on television.
This summer, with eyes fixed on Japan from all over the world, Kanagawa Prefecture and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee will be streaming programs online one after another as part of the "Tokyo 2020 NIPPON Festival," an official cultural program of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, to serve as a symbol of solidarity that transcends all boundaries.

"ONE - Our New Episode - Presented by Japan Airlines," one of three programs sponsored by the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, is themed "Toward the realization of an inclusive society." It aims to highlight the unique personalities of individuals, including those with disabilities, genders, and nationalities, and to create opportunities for encounters and interactions that foster a sense of value, awareness, empathy, and resonance, ultimately bringing about changes in awareness and behavior.
This program is comprised of two projects: "Our Glorious Future ~KANAGAWA 2021~" and the "MAZEKOZE Island Tour."
This time, we'll be focusing on "Our Glorious Future ~KANAGAWA 2021~," sponsored by Kanagawa Prefecture and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee.

■Our Glorious Future ～KANAGAWA 2021～KANAGAWA 2021

Kaiji Moriyama © Sadato Ishizuka

This is a streaming program in which artists dance, sing, act, and captivate audiences on the stage of the Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall and other buildings designed by Kunio Maekawa, a pioneer of Japanese modernist architecture (the Koyogaoka Cultural Zone). Viewers will be unable to take their eyes off the direction from the finest in each field.
The Koyogaoka Cultural Zone and other areas will broadcast dance, theater, art, music, and crafts. First, let's introduce the unique directors and curators who take charge of each section and create the program.

Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall from the stage "Momijigaoka Cultural Zone" ©Hata Ryo

"Future of Dance" will feature dancer and choreographer Kaiji Moriyama, originally from Kanagawa Prefecture.
Described as a "phenomenal dancer" by the New York Times for his 2005 work "KATANA," he was invited to the Venice Biennale in 2007. In addition to performing his work both domestically and internationally, he is also actively involved in a wide range of creative endeavors, including the Japan Committee for UNICEF's "Global Handwashing Dance," video productions during residencies at welfare facilities, and supervision of elementary school textbooks.
The livestream will feature the collaborative "LIVEBONE" series by Kaiji Moriyama, Kozue Hibino, and Kosuke Kawase, which focuses on the theme of "every individual body is unique." The series will also feature a new video featuring guest artist Koichi Omae, a dancer with a prosthetic leg, produced at the Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall, a masterpiece by Maekawa Architecture. The stream will also include solo performances by Kaiji Moriyama and Koichi Omae, as well as "WONDER WATER," a colorful performance depicting the diverse creatures coexisting in the ocean.

Dance Division Performance Image

The Future of Theatre will feature Junnosuke Tada, a director from Kanagawa Prefecture and leader of Tokyo Deathlock. He
explores contemporary social issues from texts from all over the world, from classics to modern plays, novels, and poetry, and has also participated in numerous workshops and creative projects with non-theater specialists at schools and cultural facilities, as well as numerous international co-productions with Korea and Southeast Asia.

Junnosuke Tada ©Toru Hiraiwa

The "Shiruyarukawaruiruodoru Project" being streamed this time is a project directed by Junnosuke Tada that aims to take a step towards realizing a symbiotic society by getting to know ourselves and others. It will feature interviews with people who are engaged in activities that provide hints and inspiration for symbiosis, documentary footage of workshops, and a ceremony using the Bon Odori dance as a motif to remember those who have passed away, those who have been lost, and for the future of us who are here now.

"The Future of Art" is the work of Yu Fujikawa, curator at Chigasaki City Museum of Art.
Specializing in contemporary art and educational outreach, he has curated numerous exhibitions and programs that utilize the environment and space to stimulate the senses. His 2019 exhibition, "The Road to (and from) the Museum," which he planned after researching artists, people with disabilities, and the local community, garnered critical acclaim and attention as a new approach to art for diverse audiences.
The works of five artists selected by Fujikawa are set within Kunio Maekawa's architectural complex, and respond to the space, interacting with tangible and intangible elements such as people, living things, light, sound, and wind. In this time of great change, these works, standing in empty spaces, invite deep reflection on the human presence that was originally intended to welcome us, creating a moment to contemplate the coexistence of humble beings with diverse creatures.
Yu Fujikawa © Ben Matsunaga

In addition, in the "Music Division," the rock band Salsa Gum Tape, which was formed by Tetsu Kashiwa with members who have disabilities and is based in Kanagawa Prefecture, and the Shakuhachi player Kifu Mitsuhashi, who is active both in Japan and overseas, will perform a multicultural collaboration of Western and Japanese music, and both will be streamed live. Please look forward to it.
A live performance by the rock band Salsa Gum Tape

Finally, the "Crafts Section" will feature works by ceramic artist Masahiro Maeda, who has been creating works for over half a century based in Yokohama, Kanagawa, and is a leader in the contemporary crafts world, as well as other ceramic artists who represent Kanagawa.
Don't miss the talk show on the theme of crafts and food, featuring cooking magazine editor-in-chief Hiroo Ueno and others.

Draw a picture you like. Sing what you want. Create what you imagine. Write something.
I think the key to realizing a more diverse and inclusive society is for everyone to first find and express what they like, what is unique to them, and what they want to do.

I hope that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the cultural festival, the Tokyo 2020 NIPPON Festival, will be an opportunity for you to take a step towards your future.