Symposium: “Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties’ Recording Project for Performing Arts (Rakugo): Stories of Shohon Shibai Banashi by Master HAYASHIYA Shojaku”
On May 23, 2025, a symposium entitled “Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties’ Recording Project for Performing Arts (Rakugo): Stories of Shohon Shibai Banashi by Master HAYASHIYA Shojaku” was held in the seminar room of the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN).
The Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage has been conducting projects to record performances of intangible cultural properties, mainly classical performing arts, selecting genres and repertoires that are rarely performed in public. As part of this project, we have been recording live performances of the traditional Japanese stories called Shohon Shibai Banashi by master HAYASHIYA Shojaku since 2013, and now that the number of performances has reached sixty, we decided to hold a symposium to review the records of his performance works.
The symposium began with an opening remark and introduction given by Ms. MAEHARA Megumi, Head of the Intangible Cultural Properties Section, Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage, followed by a presentation by Mr. IJIMA Mitsuru, Visiting Researcher of TOBUNKEN, entitled “The Project to Record Performances of Shohon Shibai Banashi at the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties,” and a presentation by Mr. MIYA Nobuaki, Associate Professor, Kyoto University of the Arts, entitled “The World of Shohon Shibai Banashi.” Next, the master HAYASHIYA Shojaku performed “Masakado” (without props) and ‘Suimon-mae’ (with props) from “Shinkei Kasanegafuchi,” and the event was recorded in front of the audience. In addition, in a discussion between master HAYASHIYA Shojaku and Mr. MIYA, master Shojaku shared stories of how he became attracted to and learned Shohon Shibai Banashi, as well as his thoughts on the future of Shohon Shibai Banashi. The event concluded with a closing remark by ISHIMURA Tomo, Director of the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
These recordings of master HAYASHIYA Shojaku’s performances (Shohon Shibai Banashi) will soon be available to view (with a few exceptions) at the TOBUNKEN library. An announcement will be made on our website when these become available.
The Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage will continue to record classical performing arts that are rarely performed, and make them available to the public in an appropriate manner, in an effort to contribute to the preservation of intangible cultural properties.