'The Kabukimono Challenging Social Issues': Kabuki Actor Hashigo Nakamura Dedicates a Dance of Prayer and Rebirth in Kumamoto
Ahead of the 10th anniversary of the Kumamoto Earthquake, Cocoon Lab and Kabuki actor Hashigo Nakamura dedicated creative Kabuki performances themed on prayer and rebirth at Kato Shrine and Aso Kuju National Park to support mental reconstruction.
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- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 23:16
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 15:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 15:54 (120h 53m after Collected)
Cocoon Lab Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Meguro-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Tsuyoshi Kamaishi), as an Official Partner of the Ministry of the Environment's National Parks, visited the Aso region adjacent to Aso Kuju National Park—one of the 35 national parks in Japan—along with Kabuki actor Hashigo Nakamura, 'the Kabukimono challenging social issues.' Together, they performed a dedication Kabuki in Kumamoto themed on prayer and rebirth.
Approaching the milestone of 10 years since the Kumamoto earthquake in 2026, Kabuki actor Hashigo Nakamura visited Kumamoto to carry out activities honoring the disaster-stricken area.
This activity aims to prevent the memories of the earthquake from fading and to support the 'mental reconstruction' toward the next 10 years through the power of culture.
Offering Prayers Before Lord Kiyomasa Kato
At Kato Shrine in Kumamoto City, dedicated to Lord Kiyomasa Kato who built the foundation of Kumamoto, a creative Kabuki titled 'Heiwa nareya inoru wa kono kane' (A Prayer for Peace Through This Bell), holding prayers for reconstruction from the earthquake, regional peace, and world peace, alongside the piece 'Yo ni hibike kakuteru no waza' (Resound in the World, The Shining Art) which drinks away modern calamities, was performed.
Kabuki is a Japanese culture that has historically sublimated and conveyed people's wishes, prayers, and social events as performing arts. Hashigo Nakamura returned to its essence, embodying the role of Kabuki as a 'performing art that gives shape to prayer' in a modern disaster-stricken area.
Photography: Hidetaka Nobe
Dancing on the Land of Aso: The Culture of Noyaki (Controlled Burning) and a Symbol of Rebirth
Furthermore, they visited Aso Kuju National Park and performed creative Kabuki on a grassland in the Minamiaso area where controlled burning (Noyaki) had just been completed.
Noyaki is a practice that has continued for hundreds of years to maintain Aso's grasslands and protect the ecosystem. Burning everything to the ground, from which new life sprouts—this cycle perfectly symbolizes the rebirth from the earthquake.
Hashigo Nakamura danced in harmony with this workings of the earth, powerfully broadcasting thoughts of 'destruction and rebirth,' 'Japanese wisdom of living with nature,' and 'the power of life.'
On the Land of Aso
Photography: Hidetaka Nobe
The stylistic beauty and narrative nature of Kabuki provide 'blank space' and 'feelings of rebirth' in the hearts of the audience, pulling them away from daily life. What the Kabukimono challenging social issues creates was like a guiding light illuminating people's hearts and the future.
- 'Quiet prayer' to never forget the memories
- 'Energy' and 'emotional organization' to move toward the future
- 'The power of culture' creating new pride in the region
- Coexistence with the Earth and Japan within it
- The importance of culture and arts
The activities of Hashigo Nakamura, the Kabukimono challenging social issues, are also an attempt to present a new role that cultural performing arts can play in addressing social issues.
* We are seeking corporate sponsorships utilizing the photos taken on the day. Please contact us below.
At 'JAPAN GOLD LABEL'*, two original Hashigo Nakamura tenugui (Japanese towels) 'Kuishibari' and 'Otafuku Aikotoba' will be on sale. 'Kuishibari' features a design inspired by the line 'Hate not people, love people' by the fictional hero Takauji Matsugae Toranosuke challenging modern social issues. 'Otafuku Aikotoba' is designed with the prayer that smiles and love spread throughout the world along with the sound of the bell of peace.
A portion of the sales will be donated to organizations aiming for the reconstruction of Kumamoto and the conservation of regional culture and nature.
Original Tenugui 'Kuishibari'
* National Park Select Shop 'JAPAN GOLD LABEL'
A select shop handling excellent products from around national parks, opened in July 2020 at the same time as the 'National Parks Discovery Center' at the Shinjuku Gyoen Information Center (Ministry of the Environment). (Operator: Cocoon Lab Co., Ltd.)
Using the activities in Kumamoto as an opportunity, we plan to roll out 'solving social issues through culture' initiatives in collaboration with disaster-stricken areas and regional cultures nationwide. We are also looking into domestic and international broadcasting through stages, videos, and exhibitions linked to national parks and regional cultural resources.
We welcome inquiries from companies who support our activities.
Kabuki Actor Hashigo Nakamura
Guild: Narikomaya, 8th Generation Nakamura Shikan Family
Born in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture. Active in a wide range of performances from classical to new Kabuki at theaters domestically and internationally, centered around the Kabukiza Theatre. Produces creative Kabuki under the theme of 'Kabukimono challenging modern social issues,' and works on modern art and product design utilizing sensibilities rooted in traditional Japanese harmony.
Approaching the milestone of 10 years since the Kumamoto earthquake in 2026, Kabuki actor Hashigo Nakamura visited Kumamoto to carry out activities honoring the disaster-stricken area.
This activity aims to prevent the memories of the earthquake from fading and to support the 'mental reconstruction' toward the next 10 years through the power of culture.
Offering Prayers Before Lord Kiyomasa Kato
At Kato Shrine in Kumamoto City, dedicated to Lord Kiyomasa Kato who built the foundation of Kumamoto, a creative Kabuki titled 'Heiwa nareya inoru wa kono kane' (A Prayer for Peace Through This Bell), holding prayers for reconstruction from the earthquake, regional peace, and world peace, alongside the piece 'Yo ni hibike kakuteru no waza' (Resound in the World, The Shining Art) which drinks away modern calamities, was performed.
Kabuki is a Japanese culture that has historically sublimated and conveyed people's wishes, prayers, and social events as performing arts. Hashigo Nakamura returned to its essence, embodying the role of Kabuki as a 'performing art that gives shape to prayer' in a modern disaster-stricken area.
Photography: Hidetaka Nobe
Dancing on the Land of Aso: The Culture of Noyaki (Controlled Burning) and a Symbol of Rebirth
Furthermore, they visited Aso Kuju National Park and performed creative Kabuki on a grassland in the Minamiaso area where controlled burning (Noyaki) had just been completed.
Noyaki is a practice that has continued for hundreds of years to maintain Aso's grasslands and protect the ecosystem. Burning everything to the ground, from which new life sprouts—this cycle perfectly symbolizes the rebirth from the earthquake.
Hashigo Nakamura danced in harmony with this workings of the earth, powerfully broadcasting thoughts of 'destruction and rebirth,' 'Japanese wisdom of living with nature,' and 'the power of life.'
On the Land of Aso
Photography: Hidetaka Nobe
The stylistic beauty and narrative nature of Kabuki provide 'blank space' and 'feelings of rebirth' in the hearts of the audience, pulling them away from daily life. What the Kabukimono challenging social issues creates was like a guiding light illuminating people's hearts and the future.
- 'Quiet prayer' to never forget the memories
- 'Energy' and 'emotional organization' to move toward the future
- 'The power of culture' creating new pride in the region
- Coexistence with the Earth and Japan within it
- The importance of culture and arts
The activities of Hashigo Nakamura, the Kabukimono challenging social issues, are also an attempt to present a new role that cultural performing arts can play in addressing social issues.
* We are seeking corporate sponsorships utilizing the photos taken on the day. Please contact us below.
At 'JAPAN GOLD LABEL'*, two original Hashigo Nakamura tenugui (Japanese towels) 'Kuishibari' and 'Otafuku Aikotoba' will be on sale. 'Kuishibari' features a design inspired by the line 'Hate not people, love people' by the fictional hero Takauji Matsugae Toranosuke challenging modern social issues. 'Otafuku Aikotoba' is designed with the prayer that smiles and love spread throughout the world along with the sound of the bell of peace.
A portion of the sales will be donated to organizations aiming for the reconstruction of Kumamoto and the conservation of regional culture and nature.
Original Tenugui 'Kuishibari'
* National Park Select Shop 'JAPAN GOLD LABEL'
A select shop handling excellent products from around national parks, opened in July 2020 at the same time as the 'National Parks Discovery Center' at the Shinjuku Gyoen Information Center (Ministry of the Environment). (Operator: Cocoon Lab Co., Ltd.)
Using the activities in Kumamoto as an opportunity, we plan to roll out 'solving social issues through culture' initiatives in collaboration with disaster-stricken areas and regional cultures nationwide. We are also looking into domestic and international broadcasting through stages, videos, and exhibitions linked to national parks and regional cultural resources.
We welcome inquiries from companies who support our activities.
Kabuki Actor Hashigo Nakamura
Guild: Narikomaya, 8th Generation Nakamura Shikan Family
Born in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture. Active in a wide range of performances from classical to new Kabuki at theaters domestically and internationally, centered around the Kabukiza Theatre. Produces creative Kabuki under the theme of 'Kabukimono challenging modern social issues,' and works on modern art and product design utilizing sensibilities rooted in traditional Japanese harmony.