Event Report: Zanpa Ufujishi Daiko, Celebrating 30 Years at Okinawa World, Holds School Backpack Donation Ceremony

The taiko drum group "Zanpa Ufujishi Daiko" has been performing at Okinawa World (Nanto Group), a tourist facility in Nanjo City, Okinawa Prefecture, since 1996, and will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2026. To mark this milestone, a school backpack donation ceremony was held at the facility on March 10. The 10 donated backpacks will be delivered to new first-graders through the volunteer theater group "Jaofei Troupe," which is involved in child support activities.

This initiative is part of a social contribution activity (SDGs) carried out in collaboration between local cultural organizations. It supports the child assistance activities that the volunteer theater group "Jaofei Troupe"—which performs the traditional Chinese art of "Bian Lian" (face-changing) in Okinawa Prefecture—has been conducting for about eight years.

Zanpa Ufujishi Daiko was formed in Yomitan Village in 1984 and has continued its activities with a unique performance style that incorporates powerful taiko drumming based on traditional Okinawan performing arts. For many years, the group has been based at Okinawa World, performing Eisa and moving many visitors as a "conveyor of Okinawan culture."

Meanwhile, in addition to its performances of traditional Sichuan arts like "Bian Lian," the Jaofei Troupe continues its support activities within the prefecture, delivering free school backpacks to new first-graders whose families have difficulty purchasing them due to household circumstances.

To commemorate its 30th anniversary of performing at Okinawa World, Zanpa Ufujishi Daiko donated the school backpacks to express its gratitude to the community that has supported it and to show encouragement for the children who will lead the next generation.

On the day of the ceremony, 10 school backpacks were lined up, and the Zanpa Ufujishi Daiko's lion dancer picked up each one and handed it to the members of the Jaofei Troupe. Watched by many park visitors, the moment was met with warm applause.
Also, at the end of the ceremony, spectators joined in to dance the "Kachashi," an essential part of Okinawan celebrations, concluding the event in a lively atmosphere.

For Okinawa World, this ceremony was also an opportunity to reaffirm its connection with the local community, alongside the groups that perform there regularly.

The representative of Zanpa Ufujishi Daiko stated, "A school backpack is a symbol of becoming an elementary school student..."