This is a photo exhibition showing the scenery of Ogi Town and port from the early 1900’s through the last century. The images include old Japanese ships resting their sails in the harbor and people dressed in traditional clothes watching the hustle and bustle in the streets. In the storehouse at Tennnaso, there will be an exhibition called “Takenoenishi” of works by bamboo guru Teruo Kazuma. Come and see the noble pieces he has crafted with skill.

*Date & Time: Aug. 17 (Fri) – 19 (Sun) 10:00 – 17:00

*Venue: Tennanso

The EC Charter Bus provides transportation directly to Earth Celebration, and the service from Osaka still has spaces available. The bus leaves the city at night and arrives in Ogi the following morning, so you can enjoy the festival from the very beginning. This package offers considerable savings of both time and money. This year there is a return bus service departing from Ogi Port at 23:10 on the last ferry after the Shiroyama Concert on Aug. 19 (Sun).

Fax Application Form and Further Details>> EC Charter Buses (Overnight Buses to EC from Tokyo/Osaka)

 You can have letters mailed at the Ogi Shukunegi Post Office from August 16-20 postmarked with a special Earth Celebration stamp. They will also be operating at a stall in the Harbour Market from August 17-19.

Recently, many people are enjoying a new lifestyle that makes the most of time in the morning. Morning University of Marunouchi is a small citizen’s university in Tokyo that holds various enjoyable one-hour lectures before work each morning.

This spring, the university held a course and short camp on Sado called “Taiko Class with Kodo” and this performance is the goal of the course. Come and see the passionate performance by the 26 class members with their instructor & leader Kodo’s Eiichi Saito.

＞＞Fringe Lineup and Schedule

＞＞Morning University of Marunouchi “Taiko Class with Kodo” (in Japanese)

The finale of EC is “Yoi no Yunzuru.”

Enjoy the resonating sounds of the festival and join the dance circle lit by lanterns. If you have danced before and need a refresher course, or want to learn it in advance, you can practice with this video. (This is last year’s video, and the explanation is in Japanese only.)

This year, the music will be played by Kodo’s veteran members and two singers will provide the soothing vocals. One is the Shiroyama Concert Guest Artist Anna Sato from the Amami Islands, and the other is a familiar face we welcome back, Yoshie Abe (nee Sunahata, who performed on the Kodo stage until Dec. 2010). Join us for a special version of Yoi no Yunzuru this year.

Featuring: Chieko Kojima (dance), Yoshikazu Fujimoto (taiko, narration), Yoko Fujimoto (koto), Motofumi Yamaguchi (flute), Yoshie Abe (vocals)

Special Guest: Anna Sato (vocals)

http://youtu.be/JRo-OSJ1CU0

The new film “Sado Tempest” was shot entirely on location here on Sado Island, and the first screening will be held at Earth Celebration, before it hits cinemas. Welsh film director John Williams was captivated by Sado Island and wrote the entire screenplay himself. The film was made with the full support of Film Commission Sado. One could say that this near-future science fiction film is the Japanese version of the original work by Shakespeare, “The Tempest.” We hope you’ll take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the demons, Noh drama, nature and other attractions of Sado Island from a different angle through this film.

100 Meter Films | Sado Tempest (Japanese site)

You can order tickets by telephone or online (in Japanese only) until 17:00 on Aug. 14 (Tue). After that, from 13:00 on Aug. 16 (Tue), you can buy tickets at the EC Info Centre (Marine Plaza Ogi) in person. (No telephone orders from Aug, 16).

＞＞Ticket Orders | Shiroyama Concerts

This year we have invited four groups to EC so everyone can enjoy the performing arts of Sado Island during the festival. They are Tachibana Onidaiko’s Mamemaki and Shishi, Akadama Hanagasa Odori’s Onimai and  Shishi Odori, new workshop instructor group Hamakawachi Onidaiko, and EC regulars Kasuga Ondeko. Their performances will start at the Fringe venue and travel in true festival style door-to-door through the streets to end up at Kisaki Shrine. At the Fringe venue, NPO Sado Performing Arts Organization’s Yuki Matsuda will explain the performance styles as each group takes the stage. Don’t miss these arts, the real gems of Sado Island and the spiritual backbone of the local lifestyle.

Special Fringe: Sado Island Performing Arts

Aug. 19 (Sun) Fringe venue (Inside Harbour Market at Ogi Port Park)

13:00 – Tachibana Onidaiko / Mamemaki, Shishi
13:15 – Kasuga Ondeko
13:30 – Akadama Hanagasa Odori / Onimai, Shishi Odori
14:00 – Hamakawachi Onidaiko

*Each group will perform at the Fringe venue and then perform door-to-door through the Ogi Shopping Street to end up at Kisaki Shrine. This event will finish at Kisaki Shrine at around 15:00.

Performing Arts Introduction

Tachibana Onidaiko / Mamemaki, Shishi (Aikawa Area)

“Mamemaki” prays for abundant crops and prosperous offspring. It features an elderly man in ceremonial dress with wooden box cup who flaps his long sleeves as he dances to the beat of the taiko. A unique trait of this tradition is the taiko, beaten aggressively with brand new drumsticks made each year from a newly felled tree.

Akadama Hanagasa Odori / Onimai, Shishi Odori (Ryotsu Area)

These dances, said to have been learned in Kyoto in the Middle Ages and brought back to Sado, take place under a large conical hat adorned with flowers to the simple tones of chants, flutes and taiko. This onimai (demon dance) is performed as a prayer for rain and conjures a magical air. Shishi Odori (beast dance), danced by three beasts, has characteristics that are unique to Sado.

Kasuga Ondeko (Kasuga Area, Ryotsu)

Kasuga Onigumi are a group of demon drummers who uphold the traditional performing art of their district while each individual enjoys developing their own performance-style. Kasuga Onigumi will dance in the streets of Ogi as they go door-to-door in traditional festival style.

Hamakawachi Onidaiko (Hatano Area)

Every year on April 3, the young men of Sado’s Hamakawachi perform demon drumming to usher in the spring-festival season on the island. This style features two demons who dance to a taiko and flute accompaniment (the locals call this dancing “drumming”). It is called Maehama-ryu Onidaiko, and it is characterized by the roso, a guide for the demons who delivers a spoken message to each house that gives the dancers an offering.

>>Workshop | Hamakawachi Onidaiko

For Fringe lineup and schedule, please click here>>Event Info | Fringe Events

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With the support of the Japan Tourism Agency, SET Japan made a video at EC 2011 that introduces the festival, in hopes of attracting visitors to Japan in the wake of the Tohoku Pacific Earthquake. Please have a look and share it with your friends.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdLpukHYxos

小木みなと公園内（ハーバーマーケット）特設ステージで繰り広げられる無料ステージ「フリンジ」。今年のスケジュールと出演者の皆さんをご紹介します。海風に吹かれながら、アツイ、熱いEC でしか経験できないパフォーマンス、どうぞごゆっくりお楽しみください。

「フリンジ」スケジュール＆出演者紹介

※スケジュールの最後に出演者紹介（PDF）があります。