Watching a performance with a glowing ball

The theater group « Warabi-za » (Senboku City, Akita Prefecture) will perform the musical « Midday Star Journey » on May 21 and 22 at the Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Momijizaka Hall (9 Momijigaoka, Nishi-ku, Yokohama).

This is the first Yokohama performance in eight years. Based on the world view of « Ihatov, » the ideal utopia that Kenji Miyazawa envisioned in his mind, the work is billed as « Ihatov Theater » and carries a message about respecting individuality and diversity and recognizing each other in society.

The stage incorporates art from Herabony into the set design and costumes. Herabony is an art brand that aims to create new culture by treating artists with intellectual disabilities who belong to welfare facilities as « artists who shine with uniqueness. »

Digital art effects using glowing balls are also introduced in the seating area. As an immersive digital art seat, audience members watch the performance holding a glowing ball that changes color depending on the scene. At times, the audience seating becomes like the bottom of a river or a golden meadow, and at other times it invites them into a star-filled sky, aiming for an immersive viewing experience where the audience becomes one with the stage.

Expressions incorporating folk performing arts are also a feature, utilizing the know-how of Warabi-za, which has preserved folk performing arts for many years, to express a variety of characters such as animals and plants.

The story follows childhood friends Saejima Aoi and Aoki Meguru, who attend the same high school and are led by a mysterious cat on a journey through « Ihatov. » During their journey, they encounter various beings such as crab brothers living at the bottom of a river, a young man who continues to care for cedar trees, and acorns arguing in court, while searching for « something precious they have lost. »

The work incorporates the world views of Kenji Miyazawa’s fairy tales such as « The Acorns and the Wildcat, » « Wild Pear, » « The Bears of Nametoko Mountain, » « The Start of the Deer Dance, » and « Kenju Memorial Park. »

Performance times: 21st at 6:30 PM, 22nd at 1:30 PM. Seats: S seats = 7,000 yen. There is a free admission system for those 18 and under, and a half-price discount for accompanying guardians.

Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Momijizaka Hall

The Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Momijizaka Hall is a cultural and community facility located in Yokohama, Japan. Originally built in the early 20th century, the site has served as a hub for youth activities and public gatherings, with its name « Momijizaka » referencing the nearby maple tree-lined slope. It continues to host events, performances, and educational programs, reflecting its ongoing role in fostering local culture and community engagement.

Ihatov

Ihatov is a fictional utopia created by the Japanese poet and author Kenji Miyazawa, based on his idealized vision of his home region in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The name « Ihatov » is derived from the Esperanto pronunciation of « Iwate, » and it serves as the setting for many of Miyazawa’s beloved stories and poems, such as *Night on the Galactic Railroad*. Through this imaginative landscape, Miyazawa explored themes of nature, spirituality, and human compassion, leaving a lasting cultural legacy in Japanese literature.

Warabi-za

Warabi-za is a traditional performing arts theater located in Warabi, Sait

Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Momijizaka Hall

The Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Momijizaka Hall, located in Yokohama, is a cultural and educational facility established to support youth activities and community events. Built on the historic Momijizaka slope, the hall opened in the late 20th century and has since served as a venue for concerts, exhibitions, and workshops. Its name, meaning « Maple Slope, » reflects the scenic surroundings and the area’s connection to traditional Japanese landscapes.

Ihatov

Ihatov is a fictional, idealized world created by the Japanese poet and author Kenji Miyazawa, based on his rural hometown of Hanamaki in Iwate Prefecture. The name « Ihatov » is a phonetic adaptation of « Iwate, » and the concept appears in his famous works, such as *Night on the Galactic Railroad* and *The Restaurant of Many Orders*. This pastoral, often melancholic landscape reflects Miyazawa’s deep love for nature, his Buddhist-influenced philosophy, and his desire for a utopian society where all beings live in harmony.

Kenju Memorial Park

Kenju Memorial Park, located in Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, is a historic site dedicated to the memory of the Kenju samurai who served the Nobeoka Domain during the Edo period. The park features a memorial hall and a cemetery where many of these samurai and their families are buried, reflecting their legacy of loyalty and service. It also includes a museum that showcases artifacts and documents related to the samurai’s daily life and the region’s feudal history.

Nametoko Mountain

Nametoko Mountain is a scenic peak located in the Kyushu region of Japan, known for its rugged beauty and the Nametoko Gorge, a popular hiking destination. The area has long been revered in Japanese culture for its natural landscapes, with the mountain and gorge shaped by volcanic activity and erosion over millennia. Historically, it has been a site for spiritual retreats and nature appreciation, though it is not as widely documented as some other Japanese landmarks.

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