Traditional Performing Arts Festival "Kagurazaka Machi Butai, Oedo Meguri 2026" Decided to be Held
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- Traditional Performing Arts Festival "Kagurazaka Machi Butai, Oedo Meguri 2026" Decided to be Held
- The traditional performing arts festival "Kagurazaka Machi Butai, Oedo Meguri 2026" will be held in Kagurazaka.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: April 1, 2026
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The traditional performing arts festival "Kagurazaka Machi Butai, Oedo Meguri 2026" will be held in Kagurazaka.
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- Traditional Performing Arts Festival "Kagurazaka Machi Butai, Oedo Meguri 2026" Decided to be Held (April 1, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- April 1, 2026
The traditional performing arts festival "Kagurazaka Machi Butai, Oedo Meguri 2026" will be held in Kagurazaka.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 00:00
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 2, 2026 at 12:56 (1500h 56m after Published)
The Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Arts Council Tokyo, and NPO "Iki na Machi-zukuri Club" will hold the "Kagurazaka Machi Butai, Oedo Meguri 2026" on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17, Reiwa 8 (2026) in the Kagurazaka area.
Kagurazaka, a town that blends Edo's charm with Parisian flair, where tradition and modernity converge. This event is a festival of traditional performing arts where you can experience the skills of leading performers, from emerging young talents to seasoned masters, with the town's streets, temple grounds, and shrines serving as stages. This, the 14th iteration, will deliver a special time to experience traditional performing arts and deepen your desire to learn more about them.
The main street of Kagurazaka, as well as the grounds of Bishamon-ten Zenshoku-ji Temple, Akagi Shrine, and Noh theaters, will transform into stages throughout the town. Here, you will witness storytelling arts such as Kodan, Rokyoku, and Gidayu-bushi, as well as performances by traditional instruments like the Koto, Shamisen, and Shakuhachi. The program "Geino Michishirube" (Guide to Performing Arts) will satisfy your curiosity by allowing you to compare the "differences in expression due to schools" in Noh and Japanese dance. Furthermore, through genre-crossing collaborations such as the fusion of ensemble music with flutes and drums with contemporary dance, and combinations with Western and modern instruments like guitars, violins, and synthesizers, new approaches to traditional performing arts will be presented. You can also get up close to the unique and sophisticated culture of this town through experiences like "Ochaya Asobi Taiken" (Geisha entertainment experience) by the geisha who symbolize Kagurazaka, and "Shin-nai Nagashi" (Shin-nai singing performance) along the alleys accompanied by the sound of the shamisen. Programs designed for children, such as a stamp rally exploring historical spots in the town and instrument playing experiences, are also planned. It will be a two-day event where people of all ages can rediscover Japan's traditional performing arts.
Robert Campbell Appointed as Ambassador
Robert Campbell, who has a deep understanding of Japanese culture, will continue to serve as the ambassador for "Kagurazaka Machi Butai, Oedo Meguri 2026." Through a teaser video (to be released later) that heightens anticipation for the event and an "Ambassador's Message" where he shares the event's appeal, he will invite everyone into the world of traditional performing arts.
Scheduled Programs
Saturday, May 16
○ Kotohogi Live
○ Kagurazaka Rakusa ~ Koshakuba (Storytelling Stage)
○ Geino Michishirube (Guide to Performing Arts)
○ Bishamon-ten "Ochaya Live"
○ Kagurazaka Street Area Shin-nai Nagashi
○ Kagurazaka Street Area Johana Hikiyama Festival 〈Ioriuta〉
○ Bishamon-ten Night Gathering
○ Children's Plaza
Sunday, May 17
○ Kagurazaka Rakusa ~ Koshakuba (Storytelling Stage)
○ Kagurazaka Performing Arts Tour Street Live
○ Kami Asobi Live (Playful Gods Live)
○ Kagurazaka Street Area Shin-nai Nagashi
○ Kagurazaka Street Area Johana Hikiyama Festival 〈Ioriuta〉
○ Akagi Shrine Twilight Live
○ Children's Plaza
○ Kagurazaka Time Slip Stamp Rally / Historical Guide
○ Let's Play Japanese Instruments!
※Admission is free. Some programs require advance registration.
Performers
Shunpu, Harumi Mochizuki [Nagauta, Hogaku Bayashi] / Tokiwazu Kazueidayu Renchu [Tokiwazu-bushi] / Fuya Chiho Renchu [Hogaku Bayashi] /
Nanfuku Tamagawa, Mami Sawamura [Rokyoku] / Baimei Kanda [Kodan] / Naoichi Tanaka [Heike Biwa] / Ginji Tanabe [Kodan] /
Kanze Kyukokai [Noh] / Ko no Kai (Tokuho Izumi, Shoen Ichiyama, Eiho Hanayagi, Kiyuu Wakayanagi) [Japanese Dance] / Keigo Suzuki (Kanze Kyukokai) [Guest] / Kagurazaka Geisha / Mitsuru Kamijo [Edo Ito Ayatsuri Ningyo - Edo String Puppetry] / Koen Ryutei [Rakugo] / Tsuruga Wakasa no Jo Ichimon [Shin-nai-bushi] / Hoteikai [Johana Ioriuta] / Yudai Kanasashi [Wadaiko] / Kosumi Katsura [Zokkyoku - Folk Songs] / Shoho Kominato, Taku Motonaga, Junya Okouchi [Okrauro] / Mademoiselle Cinema [Contemporary Dance] / Cyril Coppini [MC] / Ichika Tanabe [Kodan] / Kyono Takebe, Kaju Tsuruzawa [Gidayu-bushi] / Haruno Kunimoto, Suzu Tamagawa [Rokyoku] / Kincho Horii [Kodan] / Daisuke Kiba [Kokyu] / Yoshika Nagasu [Shakuhachi, Satsuma Biwa] / Tomoya Nakai [25-string Koto] / Issei Gakukai (Taku Hokenaga [Ryuteki], Motonori Miura [Hichiriki], Hiroshi Nagai [Fue]) / Sanshamisutreet [Tsugaru Shamisen Performance] / Senno Maru Ichisha [Edo Daikagura] / Yutaka Oyama [Tsugaru Shamisen], Shoho Kominato [Shakuhachi], Sara Akiyoshi [Fue], Masaki Otawa [Wadaiko] / Gendai Sangaku (Yutaka Ota [Ryuteki, Saxophone, Orin], Goaki Toyo [Sho, Violin], Masayuki Sakamoto [Taiko], Hiroshi Hayashi [Narration]) / Hogaku 2.0 (Yukiharu Atsumi [Guitar], Shozan Hasegawa [Shakuhachi]) / Taiki Fujiyama [Tezuma - Magic] / Sayoi Komada [Minyo - Folk Songs, Tsugaru Shamisen] / Seimi Kiyomoto Dayu Renchu [Kiyomoto-bushi] / Shibuya Gekidan [Kamishibai - Paper Play] and others *In no particular order
Details on programs and performers will be announced sequentially on the official website https://kaguramachi.jp/ and official social media.
*Content may be subject to change due to various circumstances.
Ambassador's Message
Robert Campbell (Researcher of Japanese Literature / Waseda University Professor)
I won't be doing anything too complicated as an ambassador. For these two days in early summer when the whole town turns into a festival, I'll head to Kagurazaka from noon and stroll along the lively main street. I'll descend the stone-paved alleys with their subtle charm, wander through the narrow lanes, and then return to the main street, entering the winding paths on the other side, feeling the breeze, continuing my exploration.
If I hear the sound of a shamisen from behind, I'll stop and let the elegant Shin-nai Nagashi pass by. Turning a corner, I'll encounter a group performing Ioriuta, a festival originating in Edo and now passed down in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, singing along to the sounds of shamisen and bamboo flute. They blend surprisingly well into this town.
Kagurazaka is not just a town with delicious food. It has deep connections with all sorts of Japanese traditional performing arts, and Kagurazaka Machi Butai, Oedo Meguri features everything from profound Noh performances to collaborations between Japanese music and contemporary dance. From the geisha's ochaya asobi experience to the night gathering at Bishamon-ten Zenshoku-ji Temple, it will satisfy all your senses and surely melt away your daily worries. After the night gathering, I often stop by a wine bar. We reflect on what we saw and heard during the day with friends and return home feeling good.
The Charm of Kagurazaka
While many areas in Tokyo have been transformed by redevelopment, Kagurazaka has largely retained its original Edo-period layout, with its stone-paved alleys. With the development of the Kagurazaka geisha district, masters of music and dance arts established their training grounds around Kagurazaka, passing down traditional performing arts. In the pre-war period, there were also numerous entertainment venues, and storytelling arts flourished. After the war, many foreigners, including French people, came to live in the Kagurazaka area, finding it reminiscent of "Parisian ambiance." This has harmonized and fused with the existing Japanese culture, creating a unique atmosphere. In recent years, organizations like the NPO "Iki na Machi-zukuri Club," along with young volunteers, shopping associations, companies, and individual shops, have cooperated to host numerous cultural events, large and small, including traditional performing arts. Rich in cultural assets, Kagurazaka is now a town that attracts significant attention both domestically and internationally.
Event Overview
Title: "Kagurazaka Machi Butai, Oedo Meguri 2026"
Dates: Saturday, May 16, 2026 and Sunday, May 17, 2026
*Event will proceed in case of rain, but may be canceled due to severe weather.
Venue: Kagurazaka Area (Bishamon-ten Zenshoku-ji Temple, Akagi Shrine, Yarai Noh Theater, Shirogane Park, streets within the Kagurazaka Dori area, historical sites, etc.)
Admission Fee: Free (some programs require advance registration)
Organizers: Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Arts Council Tokyo / NPO "Iki na Machi-zukuri Club"
Subsidies & Cooperation: Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Co-organized by: Shinjuku City
Supported by: Shinjuku Tourism Convention Association
Cooperation: Tokyo Kagurazaka Association / Bishamon-ten Zenshoku-ji Temple / Akagi Shrine / Kanze Kyukokai & Yarai Noh Theater / Soseki Museum / Tokyo University of Science / Ikimachi Co., Ltd. / Kagurazaka Dori Shopping Association / Session House / Gagaku Association / Nanto City Tourism Association / SEION TOKYO / Edo Tokyo Guide Association / Kōshō-ji Temple / Enpuku-ji Temple / Azusa Audit Corporation / Dai-ichi Kangyo Shinkin Bank Kagurazaka Branch /
EPS Holdings / Hosei University / Shibaura Institute of Technology / Tokyo University of Education, Faculty of Education, Expression Education Course / Hatsudai Wellness Lab / Mori no Tsumiki Hiroba / Central Plaza / Kumagai Gumi / Long Run Planning / Office Yamaguchi / Mind
Production: Koten Kuukan Co., Ltd.
Operation: Certified NPO ArcShip
Inquiries: Kagurazaka Machi Butai, Oedo Meguri Secretariat (within Koten Kuukan) Contact: Onogi
TEL: 03-5478-8265 (Weekdays 10:00 - 18:00)
FAX: 03-5478-8267
E-mail: contact@kaguramachi.jp
Official Website https://kaguramachi.jp/
X https://x.com/info_kaguramach
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kagurazakamachibutai
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/info_kaguramachi/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@kagurazakamachibutai
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@kagurazakamachibutai
※Details on programs and performers will be announced sequentially on the official website and official social media.
※Content may be subject to change due to various circumstances.
FAQ
When will "Kagurazaka Machi Butai, Oedo Meguri 2026" be held?
It will be held on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17, Reiwa 8 (2026).
Where will it be held?
It will be held in the Kagurazaka area (including Bishamon-ten Zenshoku-ji Temple, Akagi Shrine, Yarai Noh Theater, Shirogane Park, streets within the Kagurazaka Dori area, and historical sites).
Is there an admission fee?
Admission is generally free, but some programs may require advance registration.
What is Robert Campbell's role?
Robert Campbell will continue to serve as the ambassador for this event. He will convey the event's appeal through a teaser video and his ambassador's message.
Are there programs for children?
Yes, programs designed for children, such as a stamp rally exploring historical spots in the town and instrument playing experiences, are planned.