[Implementation Report] Zanpa Daishishitaiko Celebrates 30 Years at Okinawa World, Holds Randoseru Donation Ceremony

The taiko group "Zanpa Daishishitaiko" has been performing at the tourist facility Okinawa World (Nanto Group) in Nanjo City, Okinawa Prefecture, since 1996, and will reach its 30th anniversary in 2026. To mark this milestone, a randoseru (school backpack) donation ceremony was held at the same facility on March 10th. The 10 donated randoseru will be delivered to first-year elementary school students through the volunteer theater group "Jaohoi Theater Company," which is involved in children's support activities.

This initiative is part of a social contribution activity (SDGs) conducted in collaboration between regional cultural organizations, in support of the children's support activities that the "Jaohoi Theater Company," a volunteer group that performs Chinese traditional arts such as "Bian Lian" in Okinawa Prefecture, has been continuing for about 8 years.

Zanpa Daishishitaiko was formed in Yomitan Village in 1984 and has continued its activities with a unique performance style that incorporates powerful taiko drumming based on Okinawan traditional performing arts. For many years, they have performed Eisa dances at Okinawa World, delivering moving performances to many visitors as "messengers of Okinawan culture."

On the other hand, the Jaohoi Theater Company, in addition to performing arts such as the Sichuan province traditional art "Bian Lian," continues its support activities within the prefecture by donating randoseru free of charge to first-year students who have difficulty purchasing them due to family circumstances.

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of their performances at Okinawa World, Zanpa Daishishitaiko made the randoseru donation as an expression of gratitude to the community that has supported them and as encouragement to the children who will carry on the next generation.

On the day of the ceremony, 10 randoseru were lined up at the venue. The lion dance of Zanpa Daishishitaiko carried each randoseru in its mouth and handed them over to the members of the Jaohoi Theater Company. Amidst the watchful eyes of many visitors, the ceremony was wrapped in warm applause. Furthermore, at the end of the ceremony, the spectators joined in dancing "Kachāshī," an indispensable part of Okinawan celebrations, bringing the event to a lively conclusion.

For Okinawa World, this ceremony also served as an opportunity to reaffirm its connection with the community, alongside the performing groups that regularly entertain its visitors.

The representative of Zanpa Daishishitaiko stated, "Randoseru are symbolic when becoming an elementary school student...