February performance: Children's Seasonal Almanac - Experience the "Sasara Dance" that has been passed down since ancient times

"Kanagawa Traditional Culture Children's Seasonal Calendar" will be performed on February 11th in the foyer of the Momijizaka Hall at the Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center.
This performance was planned as a first step in passing on to future generations this wonderful traditional cultural landscape, including the dances, customs, beautiful words, and songs that have been carefully passed down in our familiar regions, so that more people can experience its charm and have fun.

The performance is divided into two parts, with the theme of "Four Landscapes We Want to Connect to the Future."
In the first part, you can enjoy traditional performing arts that pay tribute to the hometowns of each region through songs and dances, as well as experience traditional culture such as woodblock printing, local toys, and Kamishibai (paper theater). In the second part, entitled "Exploring Kanagawa's famous places through traditional performing arts," a storyteller will guide you through the grand world of old tales told through the tales of Enoshima, a scenic spot that Kanagawa Prefecture is proud of, and famous artists active in the world of traditional performing arts will draw you into the magnificent world of old tales through Noh, biwa, koto, and other instruments.

This time, we focused on the "Sasara Dance", an ancient dance from Kanagawa Prefecture that will be performed in the first part of the festival. We also interviewed Takuro Suzuki, a choreographer, director and dancer who is responsible for choreography, composition and direction of the piece "SASARA", which expresses the rich world of "Sasara Dance" through contemporary dance. It was a very interesting and fascinating story.

Before that, let me give you a brief introduction to Sasara Dance.
The Sasara Dance, which is now passed down in western Kanagawa Prefecture, became popular during the Edo period and is said to be one of the roots of the Bon Dance.
Although it fell into disuse once due to bans and the Great Kanto Earthquake, it was revived while memories of the dance remained, and currently seven different versions of the Sasara Dance, each with different lyrics and dance, are passed down in Atsugi City, Hadano City, Ashigara City, and other areas. (There are various theories.)
The main part of the dance is a circle dance, and instead of flutes, they use a bamboo percussion instrument called "bin sasara," which gives it a very simple and rustic sound. Apparently, it was originally danced by unmarried girls hoping to meet someone, and it is a simple yet profound traditional performing art rooted in the land and people, with lyrics depicting encounters between men and women and love affairs, as well as songs and dances about the charms and daily life of each region.
Currently, it is being carefully passed down by preservation societies in each region, and in 2008 it was designated an intangible folk cultural asset of the prefecture as "Sagami Sasara Dance."

Sasara dance from the early Showa period (Courtesy of Hadano City Board of Education) It can be seen that the dancers were mostly young women.

Sagami Sasara Dance (Aiko Sasara Dance Bon Uta Preservation Society, 1994/Courtesy of Atsugi City Board of Education)

In the first part of this performance, you can enjoy two performances of the Sasara Dance: "Sagami Sasara Dance" performed by the Aiko Sasara Dance Bon Uta Preservation Society (Atsugi City), the Hase Sasara Dance Bon Uta Preservation Society (Atsugi City), and the Hadano Sasara Dance Preservation Society (Hadano City), as well as "SASARA" by CHAiroiPLIN, the dance company led by the aforementioned dancer and choreographer Suzuki Takuro.
CHAiroiPLIN incorporates plenty of dialogue and onomatopoeia, and their fun performances based on the concept of "dance x theater" are appealing to people of all ages and are not bound by conventional ideas.
Sorry I made you wait.
Let's talk to Takuro Suzuki to find out just how they will perform this traditional Sasara Dance.

Takuro Suzuki, founder of CHAiroiPULIN

■Please tell us your thoughts after learning about the background of Sasara Dance.

First of all, until I was approached about this project, I had never even heard of the existence of Sasara Dance, so I did some research on my own and also spoke to members of the preservation society.
What surprised me, almost moved me, was that the content and origins of the lyrics differed depending on the region. In other words, it's proof that the lifestyle and culture of each region can be properly passed down through song and dance. I was honestly happy to learn that there are people who are trying to preserve the scenery and feelings of their lives for future generations in this way.
As I listened to them talk, as if they were reminiscing, about how men and women would meet at the dance venues and the lives of people at that time, I felt that it is thanks to the memories, smells, memories, atmosphere, and other living stories of the time that have been ingrained in generations of dancers that this dance has been passed down to the present day.

■Highlights of SASARA and the future of Sasara Dance

When composing this piece, I incorporated the Tanabata theme, which is found in the lyrics of Sasara Odori dances in every region, as the basis. Tanabata is a custom in which people gather together to make wishes to the unknown world of the universe, such as the stars and the Milky Way.
At first glance, it may seem impossible, but people believe in something in the legends that make wishes come true, and they have continued to this day. I think it's important to preserve these old-fashioned legends, folk tales, scary stories about monsters, and other such things in our "memories." To do that, I think we need to make them funnier and more inventive so that they stay in people's memories and hearts, rather than telling them all too seriously and as they are.
Of course, it's important to preserve the original form as it is, and I think that's what we should do, but I feel that the hurdle is too high to pass it on to the next generation as is now, and that they wouldn't be able to enjoy it as it is.

That's why this time, in keeping with CHAiroiPLIN's style, SARASA has made the flowers and insects that appear in the lyrics into characters, so that everyone can enjoy the song, regardless of age or gender.
When depicting humans, using ephemeral things like flowers and insects is more fascinating than humans themselves and helps convey the drama to the fullest.
Six characters, including a dragonfly, a rape blossom, a pumpkin flower, and a grasshopper, dance at a colorful party celebrating Tanabata. They don't wear kimonos, but hats, tailcoats, and party dresses. They rejoice in the various encounters they make there, and communicate with each other through dancing.

We are good at turning words into dance, so we interpret the original form, digest it, choreograph it, and add color to it. If even a small percentage of the children who see it become interested and want to know the original form, that's fine. We create an opportunity for them to learn.
That's how I think I can continue to play a part in passing it on to future generations. So I want everyone, regardless of generation, to watch it together with their families.
I hope that the fun songs and dances will remain in everyone's minds, and that in 10 years' time, children will say, "Oh, that was the Sasara Dance!" (laughs)
CHAiroiPLIN's Dancing Fairy Tale "AZUKI" performance at Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Studio HIKARI

■Please say a few words to everyone who is looking forward to watching the film.

After all, Sasara Dance is said to be the root of Bon Dance, and is a dance that seeks encounters.
You're sure to make some new discoveries when you come to the theater.
SASARA is an encounter between people who want to treasure things that have existed for a long time and us who want to treasure new things. I hope that the people who watch it will also come to the theater thinking that they will encounter something they have never known before. It could be a new sensation or a new way of thinking.
I don't know what it is, but I think I'll be a slightly different person when I go back.
I hope you come without being afraid of change and with a spirit of challenging yourself. We'll be waiting for you!

Kanagawa Traditional Culture Children's Almanac
[Date and time] February 11, 2022 (Friday, public holiday)
13:00-17:30
[Venue] Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Momijizaka Hall, Foyer
[Admission fee] Free (advance registration required)
*Some workshops require a fee
[How to apply] Please apply using either method [A] or [B] below.
[A] Apply via the application form
[B] Apply by postcard
On a postcard,
①Please write the event name as "Children's Seasonal Calendar"
②Name (in hiragana), postal code, address, and phone number of the representative applicant
③The program you would like to see
Choose from both "Part 1" and "Part 2", "Part 1" only, or "Part 2" only
④ Number of participants (including the representative) *Up to 5 people
Please send it to the address below.
Application address: 9-1 Momijigaoka, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, 220-0044
Prefectural Youth Center Hall Management Division, Children's Almanac
[Application period] Thursday, December 9, 2021 to Monday, January 31, 2022 (must arrive by this date)
[Organizer] Kanagawa Prefecture, Kanagawa Traditional Performing Arts Executive Committee, Kanagawa Prefecture
[Subsidy] Regional Creation and Arts and Culture Promotion Fund Grant Program
FY2021 Japan Expo Innovation Project
[Inquiries] Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Hall Management Division
Phone: 045-263-4475 (9:00 to 17:00)
[Official website] Click here