【Outline】

Name:    Hokusai Manga Butoh Workshop
Dates:    2025/9/11 (Thu), 9/20 (Sat), 9/23 (Tue), 9/27 (Sat) 19:00~21:00 each time
Venue:   Sumida Lifelong Learning Center, 2-38-7 Higashimukojima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
Fee:       11,000 yen (tax included) for 4 sessions, 3,000 yen (tax included) per session
Instructors:   Emiko Agatsuma, Tomoshi Shioya
HP:   https://agaxart.com/hokusai-manga-butoh
Reservation:   https://bit.ly/hmb_ws_2025

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Organized by ：AGAXART, Sumiyume
Co-organizer ： Sumida ward
Sponsor ：Tobu Railway Co.

Supported by ：Arts Counsil Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation of History and Culture

What is Butoh?

Butoh is a contemporary dance form born in Japan in 1960, with Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo Ohno as its famous founders. Butoh dance questions established values, reexamines one's own body and inner self, the Japanese climate, and dance, and reconstructs them from a unique perspective. Unlike Western dance, which views physical movement as a developmental process, butoh finds beauty even in the weakened body and explores the human condition more deeply through the connection between the body and the subconscious mind. This unique physical philosophy and expression has attracted worldwide interest.

What is HOKUSAI MANGA?

"Hokusai Manga" is an illustrated manuscript by the ukiyoe artist Katsushika Hokusai. Hokusai's most famous work is "Fugaku Sanjurokkei (Thirty-six views of Mt. Fuji)," and his name is widely known throughout the world. Hokusai described his "Hokusai Manga" as a rambling depiction of things as they occur to him. Unlike today's manga, Hokusai's works were drawn without continuity and in a disorganized manner. The first edition was published in 1814 and continued to be published.

How was last year's workshops?

We introduced basic butoh trainings for beginners

Participants range in age from 20s to 60s, and come from different backgrounds such as dancers, actors, artists, students, and doctors, all at their own pace. The class starts with basic training and develops into a dance based on the “Hokusai Manga” motif. Many participants come from overseas, and the class is conducted in both Japanese and English.
Last year, a total of 66 people participated, and 12 people attended the performance.

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Flow of the Workshop

(*Each workshop will begin with a review of the basics, so there is no problem if you join in the middle of the workshop.)

DAY 1: Introduction to the basic ideas of butoh. The body as an empty bag.

DAY 2: Introduction to the characteristic “kata” of butoh. We will try to put various things in the bag. Also “Hokusai Manga”.

DAY 3: The bag that is moved. A bag that changes from the inside according to emotion. A pouch that is influenced by its environment.

DAY 4: Introduce some of the choreography based on “Hokusai Manga”. Let's dance together.

Feedbacks form participants

• The workshop and performance were good last year and I'm glad they held it again this year and I was able to attend! Interesting from the first time! Fun!

• The basic ideas and movements were carefully explained one by one, easy to understand, yet the atmosphere (explanations, etc.) was fun and relaxed, and the time passed very quickly and happily.

• It was very interesting to know the meaning of the movements and how the choreography was created. It was fun to become more familiar with butoh.

• I have seen butoh before, but I thought it wasn't for me, but I like Hokusai's paintings and thought it would be fun to be a part of it!

• I joined this time because I wanted to know how to think and move in Butoh. I was very impressed and learned a lot by watching Emiko and Tomoshi up close and personal, and how they create emotions!

• It was my first time to participate, but they made the images easy to understand and I was able to do it without any confusion. The time flew by and I am glad I was able to participate.