EarthFamilyFes | ASKA WORLD

Connecting with the world through festival

Earth Family Festival
2023.11.11（SAT）
9:00AM～3:00PM

Awakigahara Forest Park

Shimin-no-mori

Kokusai Entrance Plaza
North Side Zone

Cherry Blossom area, Fountain area, Flower area

Admission Free

5:00PM~8:00PM
Illumination Event at Heiwadai Park

About the Event

On this earth, there are 190-odd countries with more than 6000 languages and thousands of ethnic groups.

On such world with so many ethnic groups, there are full of problems such as conflicts between ethnic groups or countries, disparity between rich and poor, and so on…

However, with climate change and natural disasters occurring so frequently around the world, isn’t it necessary for us to connect beyond nations and ethnicities and help each other?

We arrived at one thought: it is imperative to connect as one global family, transcending ethnic histories, cultural disparities and language differences, and expand our global network and rebuild relationships to support each other.

Focus on “Festivals”

There are various “Festivals” throughout the world.

Even within Japan, festival takes various forms; however, in every locality, festivals have served as the focal point for shaping the community in the region.

Festival had an important role in the community to strengthening local rules, connections, networks, as well as preserving the cultural tradition of the region.

To know the festival is to know what the local community has been valued and protected.

Therefore, to know the festival is to understand and learn about the history of the land we live in.

Hosting indigenous people around the world at Miyazaki, a home of myths.

The location of this festival, Awakigahara, holds an important place in Japan’s oldest text, “Kojiki,” as the “Norito” (Shinto prayers) recited by Shinto priest commence with “Awakigahara in Odo, Tachibana in Chikushi.”

At the Eda Shrine located in the large pine forest of Awakigahara enshrines both male divine Izanaki and female divine Izanami, the central deities in Japanese creation myth.

We aspire to create a space that invites indigenous peoples from around the world to connect through international cultural exchange, where participants can explore the histories, cultures, and craftsmanship of their respective ethnicities. By organizing a 'festival' that blends the reverence for nature that has been cherished since the ancient times by the people in Miyazaki with the indigenous peoples' prayers to the nature, we aim to transcend all boundaries – whether they be geographical, religious, racial, temporal or spatial - and connect as a global family known as EarthFamily.

＼ Declaration of Global Citizenship ／

By declaring “Global Citizenship” with everyone living on earth as “EarthFamily,” we propose more global and harmonious world.

During Jomon period, Japanese people had seamlessly welcomed and accepted several immigrant groups and cultures and integrated them into the indigenous culture.

It is now time for the Japanese people to harness the potential and assume a role to create peace on earth…with this aspiration, we make a declaration

Live concert, Dance, Play, Picture-story show, various workshops

March

(handcrafted items, locally sourced food products, food ingredients and craftworks from Miyazaki)

Presentation panels and lectures to introduce indigenous people and their cultures, and much more!

The large object will be placed at the entrance to the venue.

This object represents the unique customs of the indigenous people of Altai.

The Altai people, who have lived their lives with respect for nature, offers greeting to the local environment as they enter the land.

The greeting is performed by tying a torn piece of cotton cloth to a tree branch and stating their name and the name of the land you have come from.

We wanted to offer everyone the chance to experience this wonderful Altai tradition and thus decided to provide such an opportunity at the venue.

We have set up an object at the entrance to the event and so that visitors can tie a cotton ribbon on their way in.

The object will be completed at the end of the event. Ribbons from many people will adorn the venue.

1st stage

メインステージ

9:00～	Opening Ceremony
9:10～	Live performance by Shigeo Takaya
10:00～	Live performance by Neomii&maryse
11:15～	Parade by Robai
11:30～	Live performance by hou
12:15～	Live performance by DragonCAT (Mai Yamane & Naoshi Matsumura)
13:00～	Live performance by Ai Yamaguchi, Bon Dance
14:00～	Live performance by KINE & GINKO (Shokichi Kina)
14:50～	Closing

Introducing performing artists

出演者紹介

Performers Introduction Page

2nd stage

10:30～
Balinese dance Bianglalah

Balinese dancer

Born in Miyazaki.

She started classical ballet at the age of 10, studied jazz dance and tap dance, and performed in musicals in Tokyo.

She later became fascinated by Balinese dance and continued her training in Bali. As a Balinese dancer, she performed in dinner shows and events in Tokyo.

In 2008, she established Bianglalah in Miyazaki and has participated in many events.

Recently, she has been challenging herself to perform Balinese dance outside of Balinese music!

11：30～
Haka workshop

Participation Fee: To be announced.

Workshop where you can learn the traditional Maori dance, the Haka, from Aoteroa (New Zealand)! The Haka dance was originally performed as ritual or before battles to symbolize the strength and unity of the tribe.

[Lecturer]
Hecta Herekiuha
Born in Kirikiriroa o Aotearoa (Hamilton, New Zealand).
Lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Ancestry is Waka of the Tainui people, connected to the Waikato (mother) and Hauraki (father).

13:00～　
“Daichiyo” hula workshop

Participation fee: 2000 yen

A workshop on the ancient Hawaiian tradition of Hula, reimagining 'Daichiyo,' lyrics by Shizue Ukaji, a custodian of Ainu culture, as a Hula performance so that participants can pray and dance.

(Message from the lecturer)

Responding to Shizue Ukaji heartfelt wishes for many people to know "Daichiyo", I hope for as many people as possible to experience and feel this poem through their bodies.

[Lecturer]

Tomomi Ka`upuimilia Kuwata

Born in Kisaratsu, Chiba

Hula o ka Māpunahele Hula class organizer, hula dancer and choreographer.

She is passionate about pondering wonders of the universe, the environment of our planet, leading a fulfilling life, and staying physically fit. Influenced by the beauty, depth, and delight of Hula, she doesn't just dance and sing; she also aims to share the wisdom passed down from ancestors with a wider audience. She continues her efforts with the aspiration to rekindle the forgotten joy in people's lives.

13:30～
Himukasarugaku, Shishibaza

Noh performance

Programs:

Takasago, Hagoromo, Nakanomai

This is a citizens' club for enjoying Noh performances, dance, and music, without the Noh mask and costumes. Noh is designated in an “Intangible Cultural Heritage” by UNESCO.

14:00～
Harau Hula o Moana's Jingu classroom team

We are Harau Hula o Moana's Jingu classroom team.

We host lessons at the community center near Miyazaki Jingu Shrine.

Every Thursday is a Wahine (female) class, and this year we also started a Kane (male) class.

Hula is enjoyable health management method that you can continue all your life.

As people continue practicing, their movements become more graceful, and they naturally acquire a sense of elegance.

Beginners are also welcome; we provide thorough instructions. Please feel free to experience hula!

Substage

10:00～

～The new myth～

The purification pond is a legendary place where Izanagi-no-mikoto, the god who create the country in Japanese mythology, is said to have conducted a purification ceremony to purge the defilements of Hades, where he had followed the deceased Izanami-no-mikoto.

Three representative gods of Japan–It is said that when Izanagi-no-mikoto washed his right eye, Amaterasu Omikami was born, when he washed his nose, Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto was born, and when he washed his left eye, Susanoo-no-mikoto was born.

Original, myth-inspired performances will be staged at this mythical folklore site.