MATSURI Project
Episode 1-YOKAGURA
"Reenactment of the Gods' Banquet" Music × Art × Dance Collaboration
In the mountainous town of Takachiho, Miyazaki on the island of Kyushu, top performers will gather to portray the Gods' Banquet, a famous scene from Japanese Mythology, for which the "Takachiho no Yo-Kagura" will act as the centerpiece. Enjoy a live painting performance by KENSUKE TAKAHASHI, while experiencing the sounds of the "Takachiho no Yo-Kagura," a traditional piece of music that dates back over 800 years, remixed by DJ KENTARO. Special guests include DJ RIDE from Portugal and one of Japan's leading dancers, BBoy katsuya KENTO YOSHIE. The finale features an authentic Kagura ritual performed by inheritors of the Takachiho no Yo-Kagura tradition. Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime performance that is packed full of history in a town where an infinite number of Shinto gods reside alongside its inhabitants.
DATE
Sunday November 26, 2023, 15:00 START (Doors open at 14:30)
VENUE
KUNIMIGAOKA HILL, TAKACHIHO TOWN, MIYAZAKI PREFECTURE
TICKETS
15,000 YEN
★The purchase of a special DJ KENTARO record will be your ticket. It will be handed over at the venue on the day of the event.
Artists
KENSUKE TAKAHASHI
Painter / Mural artist, born, raised and living in Yokohama
With his ability of graphical description, precise technique, freedom of imagination that transcends reality, and a style of painting that isn't limited to a distinctive style, he has expanded his work to include large-scale murals, murals in restaurants and stores, artwork for corporations and government agencies, and appearances at live painting events.
In recent years, he has created large-scale murals at locations such as the Kawasaki City Hall, Yokohama Station Ekinaka, Yokohama, Yokosuka, Machida, Hachioji, Nagoya, Kobe, Macau, and more.
In addition, he has been involved in a wide range of activities, which includes providing artwork for the Yokohama Port Opening Festival 2019/2021, an event supported by the Kanagawa Prefecture's awareness program.T
DJ KENTARO
DJ/urntablist/SoundCreator
JAPAN’S TURNTABLE MAESTRO, DJ KENTARO, HAS TAKEN MUSIC APPRECIATION IN ALL GENRES TO ANOTHER LEVEL, AND HAS MANAGED TO EXCEED EXPECTATIONS FROM HIS FANS AND HAS ALSO GAINED RESPECT OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AROUND THE WORLD. AS JAPAN'S PREMIERE DJ/PRODUCER/SCRATCH MASTER-TURNTABLIST, HE BECAME ASIA'S FIRST RECORD-BREAKING WORLD CHAMPION AT THE DMC WORLD FINAL IN 2002. FROM THEN DJ KENTARO WENT ON TO PLAY THE WORLD-FAMOUS COACHELLA, DOUR, FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL AND MANY MORE FESTIVALS AROUND THE WORLD, WHICH PAVED THE WAY FOR HIS GLOBAL RECOGNITION AND TO GRACE THE STAGES OF SOME OF THE BIGGEST INTERNATIONAL MUSIC EVENTS.
DJ RIDE
DJ/Turntablist/SoundCreator
Ride is a two times IDA World champion DJ and producer from Lisbon, Portugal.
He’s active for more than 10 years in his various projects from his turntablism crew Beatbombers, to his solo releases and tour’s. His skill gave him the chance to play in very different venues, from underground clubs to big festivals, from Lisbon to Tokyo, London, China, Budapest, Poland, Serbia, New York, Brasil, and many other countries.
His last releases were featured on VISION, SABLE VALLEY, Slow Roast, Renraku, Dome of Doom, SATURATE, Deadbeats, Quality Goods Records and many other independent labels.
Tracks played by NOISIA, RL Grime, Dj Shadow, What So Not, CRAZE, UZ, BBC Radio 1, DIM MAK radio, Diplo and Friends and more.
Bboy Katsuya
Bboy/Dancer/Choreographer
TEAM：THE FLOORRIORZ/TAKE NOTICE/ALL AREA/FTHEB
He started dancing in his hometown of Kumamoto at the age of 9, and by the time he was 10, he had officially launched his career in BBOYING. During his junior high school years, he went on to be known all across Kyushu, then all of Japan, and eventually he entered the international stage.
Before moving to Tokyo at 19, he achieved three victories at Japan's biggest dance battle event "OLD SCHOOL NIGHT," second place at Germany's "BATTLE OF THE YEAR," one of the world's largest BBOY battle events, and appeared on nationwide dance TV programs such as "Super Chample."
After moving to Tokyo, he represented Japan in solo battles at the prestigious world championship event held in the UK, "UK BBOY Championships." In 2015, he made history by becoming the first Japanese BBOY to win "BATTLE OF THE YEAR" in Germany as part of THE FLOORRIORZ. He followed up with back-to-back wins in 2016 and an unprecedented three-peat in 2017. He has consistently achieved excellent results at top level events worldwide.
Furthermore, he has performed in showcase events, conducted workshops, and appeared in stage productions both nationally and internationally, leaving a significant impact on the scene.
Achievements:
OLD SCHOOL NIGHT - Champion 4 times (Osaka)
BATTLE OF THE YEAR ASIA 2007 - BEST SHOW & Runner-up (Korea)
Free Style Session Japan - Champion 2 times
UK BBOY Championships 2013 (UK) - Runner-up
RedBull BC ONE Tokyo Cypher 2014 - Runner-up
UK BBOY Championships Tokyo 2014 - Champion
DANCE@LIVE Charismax Kanto 2014 - Champion
RedBull BC ONE JAPAN FINAL 2015 - Runner-up
WARSAW CHALLENGE 2017 (Poland) - Champion
BATTLE OF THE YEAR JAPAN (Tokyo) - Champion 3 times
BATTLE OF THE YEAR WORLD FINAL (Germany, France) - Runner-up 2 times
BATTLE OF THE YEAR WORLD FINAL (Germany) - Champion 3 times (World Record - 3 consecutive wins)
and more...
KENTO
Dancer/Choreographer
TEAM：S.T.O/&CANDOO/&SEIYA/Kulcalus
KENTO has achieved the title of Japan's number one HIPHOP dancer in renowned dance battles such as "DANCE@LIVE," "JUSTE DEBOUT," and "WDC." He has expanded his battlegrounds from Japan to the world, continuing to battle on the global stage as a HIPHOP dancer. As a member of the Japanese representative crew, he participated in the STREET DANCE KEMP(CAMP) held in Europe where they brilliantly emerged as the world champions. Following this, at the world competition FUNKIN' STYLE in Germany, he was awarded the runner-up position. He maintains deep connections with HIPHOP originators from Asia, Europe, and America, working alongside them to conduct workshops and judge contests, contributing significantly to the promotion of HIPHOP dance in the Japanese street dance community.
Achievements:
「DANCE@LIVE」
「JUSTE DEBOUT JAPAN」
「NEW SCHOOL BOX」
「G-SHOCK REAL TOUGHNESS」
「WDC」
「HOOK UP」
「SDK crew」
YOSHIE
Dancer/Choreographer
Japan boasts many world-renowned street dancers.
They master various genres, and their influence extends not only domestically but internationally as well. It's no exaggeration to say that they reign at the top of not only the current street dance scene but across the history of street dance as well. They hold numerous titles even in the underground scene. They achieved an unprecedented back-to-back victory, winning a remarkable prize of 2.5 million yen at the 'STREET KINGS' competition. They were also selected as one of the eight global wildcard entries for the RED BULL hosted Street Dance Battle World Championship 'DANCE YOUR STYLE' held in South Africa. In the major scene, they choreograph and perform for artists such as MISIA, Takizawa Kabuki, KinKi Kids, Koichi Domoto, V6, Ken Miyake, SNOW MAN, DA PUMP, and many many more. They work on choreography for live performances, TV shows, music videos, and more.
NAKAHATA SHRINE KAGURA PRESERVATION SOCIETY
KAGURA PERFORMANCERS(INHERITORS)
A team of inheritors preserving the Yo-Kagura tradition, which has continued for over 800 years in this village situated at the foot of Kunimigaoka Hill. Led by an innovative president, this preservation society continues to embark on new challenges.
MATSURI Project
A special one-day-only event, where tradition and modern culture intersect in a special celebration. This project aims to pass on the cherished culture of local festivals in Japan to the next generation. We aim to achieve this by allowing contemporary artists to express these festivals in fresh and exciting ways.