Japan’s first cultural interaction activities for inbound visitors! “5 days experience of a Kagura performer” 〜Explore the origin of Japanese culture throughout training Kagura and trailing the ancient road〜

OUGI Inc. (CEO: Takaaki Ota, Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo. Hereinafter referred to as “OUGI”) has collaborated with Usa city (Mayor: Shuji Korenaga) and FeEL Product Company (CEO: Tatsuhiro Ono) to develop a cultural interaction program for inbound visitors called “The Folklore of KAGURA” that allows participants to “experience a Kagura performer for 5 days”. Now OUGI plans to conduct a monitor tour. The program begins with a prologue that introduces Japanese culture in detail and allows participants to find the origins of the Japanese spirit, while feeling coexistence with nature.
*This program has been adopted by the Japan Tourism Agency as the “Regional Tourism Discovery Project” for 2024 as well as certified as a “Key Support Project.”

This program is expected to be an effective way to simultaneously solve both regional issues, such as the lack of successors to convey Kagura culture and securing and developing human resources to support tourism, as well as tourism issues, such as increasing the length of stay for tour participants and creating nighttime experiential programs for tourists.

[Monitor Tour Overview]
Period: 15th (Tue) – 19th (Sat) October 2024
Participants: 3 people in total (2 French and 1 Japanese)
*tour capacity: 4 to 6 people

＜Main highlights＞

①Opening ceremony: 13:30-14:35 on Tuesday 15th October

Venue: Aso District development Center, Usa City
⇒ This program starts with an original story-rich performance by OUGI (presenting a prologue by pianist and reciter) to tell the Kagura culture in detail.

“Vol. 1” Know about Kagura
・Japanese Mythology and Kagura
・What is the performance “Misaki”?
・Kagura Manners & Kagura performers’ Meal

“Vol. 2” Know about the Land Kami* dwell
*Japanese gods/sprits
・Omoto Trail, “The Land of Beginnings”
・Hiji and Kitsuki, Shinto-Buddhist Syncretism in a Daily Life
・Kunisaki Trail, “Listen to the Voice of the Wind”

② Kagura practice, 19:30-21:15 in 15th to 18th October

Venue: Aso District development Center, Usa City
⇒ It is satisfied to break through difficult movements in Kagura performance one by one with the help of a Kagura performer.
⇒ After learning the basic movements, the participants will be cast as the roles of the gods Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto and Sarutahiko.
⇒ The understanding of Japanese culture, which you may not able to fully understand at the opening ceremony, will deepen day by day.

③ Kominka (traditional house) stay & Kagura meal, 17:00-18:30 in 15th to 18th October

At Kominka BASE, Ryuo
⇒ This comes from the fact that Kagura performers fast for seven days before the dance offering. They keep the tradition of eating mainly rice, miso, and soy sauce.
⇒ The stories around each of five-day Kagura performers’ meals are also highlighted. To surround yourself, the place, the community, and the Kami (Japanese gods)…

④ Presentation “Dedication Dance”, 10:00-12:30, Saturday, 19th October

Venue: Aso Shrine
⇒ Prior to the dedication of Kagura, participants will make their own “Gohei” (a sacred tool of strips of white paper hung from branches) using bamboo cut that morning.
⇒ Now it’s time for the presentation! The participants who have mastered the piece will actually offer the Kagura dance in front of the altar.
⇒ Along with the wind blowing through the shrine, feel the sense of accomplishment after the performance as an experienced Kagura performer.

⑤Daytime activities

⇒ 11:00-15:30, Wednesday, 16th October: Omoto Trail, “The Land of Beginnings”
⇒ 11:30-16:00, Thursday, 17th October: Hinode & Kitsuki, Strolling around samurai residences in a kimono, etc.
⇒ 10:40-15:00, Friday, 18th October: Kunisaki Trail, “Listen to the Voice of the Wind”

We hope you will witness the changes among the participants over the five days by cultural interactions with the local community.