Encountering Okinawa's Original Landscape: 'The Peony of the Deep Mountains' to be Performed in Kyoto

On May 18, the Performing Arts Center of Kyoto University of the Arts held a press conference at the Kyoto Art Theater regarding the 'Ryukyu Performing Arts Special Performance at Shunju-za,' co-hosted with the National Theatre Okinawa Foundation and scheduled for June 13. This biennial program, which began in 2012, features 'Kumiodori' and 'Ryukyu Dance,' and has recently included 'Okinawa Shibai' (Okinawan theater). The 2026 performance, marking the 25th anniversary of the Kyoto Art Theater and the reconstruction of Shuri Castle, will feature 'Okuyama no Botan,' one of the four great masterpieces of Okinawan theater. Artistic Director Shinji Kinjo and other key figures discussed the significance of the play, written by Kinkichi Irahai, which depicts the joys and sorrows of people caught in the class system. The performance will feature traditional stage sets by Eitoku Shinjo. Thanks to a grant from the Agency for Cultural Affairs, children aged 6 to 18 can attend for free.