Tane-bangaku

Direct voice from the author

"Across Japan, there are countless traditional dances and rituals dedicated to the gods that have been uniquely developed and passed down through generations in different regions. Tane-bangaku is also one of them. Japanese people sometimes collectively refer to such events as "matsuri" (festivals), and I once again realised that this is one of the fascinating aspects of Japanese culture. A "matsuri" embodies the environment, characteristics, and people of its region, so learning about or participating in it helps us understand the region itself. For example, Tane-bangaku is a dance and music performance praying for a good harvest, so it reflects the prosperous agriculture in Akita. I believe such region-specific, interesting traditions should be cherished and preserved. Akita, in particular, is experiencing severe depopulation and an aging population, and the loss of traditional culture due to the shortage of successors, which seems to be an inevitable problem. However, preserving these traditions through digital archives or creating opportunities for the younger generations to learn cultural practices is an effective way to ensure the continuity of tradition. I believe this is an excellent approach to transmitting the diversity and richness of Japanese culture to future generations."