Welcome to Yuu no Kai！
Enjoy a relaxed engagement with authentic Japanese culture.
For Vol.3 of Yuu no Kai, we return to Ohashi Charyo where the project first began.
In this tranquil setting, you’ll encounter a richly layered world woven from the power of Japanese language, the soothing refinement of traditional dance and music, and the subtle fragrance of matcha.
Experience the captivating world of live performance—with Nihon Buyo, a live reading by the author, and a tea ceremony—where tradition and the present moment intertwine, offering a timeless and timely spirit of the Reiwa era.
**Experience a glimpse into the spirit of Yuu no Kai Vol. 3 with our special pre-performance video by performers!
■Performance Overview
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Performances: Two shows / Each show is limited to 38 guests / Advance reservations required
Part 1: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Part 2: 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Venue: Ohashi Charyo (Kamiya-cho)
https://www.ohashi-charyo.co.jp/
Admission:
Regular : ¥10,000
U25 Discount: ¥5,000 (for guests 25 years old or younger)
Parent & Child Pair : \12,000
(This ticket is available for one parent attending together with their son or daughter aged 12–24.)
[Reservation Form]
https://forms.gle/c2eFj7e5rouZ97BB9
Please note: Payment is accepted in cash only at the venue on the day of the event.
■Program
【Tea Ceremony / Shamisen & Program Notes Lecture】
Tea Ceremony Supervisor: Ruriko Kamata
Lecture: Juoh Ogie (Shamisen) & Takayuki Hioki (Program Notes)
【Reading & Talk】
Author’s Reading: Masahiko Shimada
【Ogie-style “Kane no Misaki” (The Bell Cape)】
Nihon Buyo (Dance): Yuko Nishikawa
Uta (Vocal): Suzu Ogie
Shamisen (Strings): Juoh Ogie
【Talk Session】
Speakers:
Yuko Nishikawa, Suzu Ogie, Juoh Ogie,
Masahiko Shimada, Ruriko Kamata, Takayuki Hioki
Moderator: Mitsuru Tamatsuka
■About the Program
◆Tea Ceremony / Shamisen & Program Notes Lecture
At Ohashi Charyo—a quietly nestled teahouse just beyond the city’s hustle and bustle—guests are invited to enjoy a tea ceremony supervised by the master of this teahouse, Ruriko Kamata. Within the intimate confines of the tearoom, the host expresses the shifting seasons and personal sentiments through subtle gestures. Every movement in the tea ritual is natural and unforced, making the act of sharing tea feel like a small, elegant performance in itself.
In the “Shamisen & Program Notes Lecture,” shamisen player Juoh Ogie offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the instrument, including a live demonstration of how it is assembled. She explains the most fascinating part of the Ogie school’s musical style and points out what to listen for in a performance.
In addition, theater scholar Takayuki Hioki delves into the lyrics of the dance piece “Kane no Misaki (The Bell Cape)” exploring the aesthetic sensibilities and layered meanings embedded in the text. This segment offers a gentle, welcoming introduction to the deeper world of classical Japanese performing arts.
Please note:
The “Reading & Talk” will be conducted in Japanese only. Subtitles and interpretation will not be available.
◆Reading & Talk
Novelist Masahiko Shimada will give a reading of one of his own works, specially selected for this occasion. A recipient of numerous literary awards, Shimada is also a university professor committed to mentoring the next generation. In recent years, his creative activities have extended beyond fiction to include writing opera librettos, attracting attention across different artistic fields.
The reading takes place in a traditional ozashiki—a tatami-floored room that brings the audience into unusually close proximity with the performer. In this intimate setting, literature becomes a full sensory experience: you can feel the resonance of the voice, the rhythm of the breath, and even the subtle movements of the eyes.
Following the reading, Shimada will engage in a moderated conversation exploring themes such as: “What are the words we wish to pass on to the next generation?” and “How do stories resonate with the world around us?”
This thoughtful dialogue invites the audience on a journey among words, seamlessly moving between the classical and the contemporary.
◆”Kane no Misaki” in the Ogie Style
Among the masterpieces of classical Japanese dance, “Kane no Misaki” (The Bell Cape) is known for its serene elegance and dignified beauty. Premiered at the Kabukiza Theatre in 1970, this work has been refined over time by some of the finest performers in the field. It belongs to the genre of “Dōjōji-mono”—dance pieces inspired by the legend of Dōjōji Temple—and is distinguished by the delicate melodies and poetic lyricism characteristic of the Ogie school.
In this performance, Yuko Nishikawa presents the piece in the form of “su-odori”—a minimalist style of classical dance performed without elaborate costumes or stage props. The daughter of the late Nishikawa Senzo X, a Living National Treasure, Yuko Nishikawa brings a contemporary sensibility to her deeply rooted classical training.
She is joined by Suzu Ogie (vocal), a leading figure in the Ogie school, and Juoh Ogie (shamisen). Set within the intimate space of a tea room, the performance offers a rare moment where dance, words, and music bloom together into a magnificent flower—one that only traditional Japanese performing arts can bring to life.
Please note:
The “Yowa” talk session will be conducted in Japanese only. Subtitles and interpretation will not be available.
◆Closing Talk: Yowa
To wrap up the program, all the performers gather for a special talk session titled “Yowa”
—a reflective cross-dialogue exploring dance, words, music, and tea from each of their unique perspectives. The theme is “Memory and Art.”
What does it mean to stand on stage, to craft words, to create sound, to prepare tea? How do these acts connect us to the past and continue to live in the present?
Through the voices of the artists, we invite the audience to reflect on how Japanese culture is carried forward—quietly yet vividly—into the future.
This is a moment of shared reflection, born in the gentle afterglow of the performance. A one-of-a-kind conversation that can only happen here and now.
◆ To Our Guests
If you plan to bring children of elementary school age or younger, we kindly ask that you consult with us in advance.
The tea room features traditional tatami seating. However, chairs will be available for those who may have difficulty sitting on the floor. If you would like to request a chair, please contact us in advance.
Seating is unassigned, and guests are welcome to choose any available spot upon arrival. Sitting in the traditional seiza position is not required. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing that allows you to sit with ease.
To help preserve the space, we kindly ask all guests to bring white tabi or plain white socks to wear inside the venue.
Drinks in containers with secure lids (such as plastic bottles) are permitted.
Organizer: Yuko Nishikawa (Founder of “Yuu-no-kai”), Tama Pro Co., Ltd.
Planning, Production, Composition & Direction: Mitsuru Tamatsuka (Tama Pro)
Marketing Director: Masato Takahashi (upnext)
Marketing Planner: Shuntaro Shimizu
Creative Consultant: Rei Stott
Production Assistant: Sayaka Ito (MUSICAI)
Video Director: Keisuke Sagiyama
Graphic Design / Publicity: apollo studio
In Association with Ohashi Charyo
Tokyo Festival 2025 Open Call Programs ーSubsidized Projects
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