WHAT’S ONGAKU?
About This Project
The ONGAKU project aims to explore “music born from the Deaf community” and its distinction from traditional auditory music.
Project members include Eri Makihara and Dakei, co-directors of the film “LISTEN,” Professor Jo Matsuzaki of Miyagi University of Education as a researcher, and Shogo Nishiwaki as a creation member. El Sistema Japan handled the operations.
Ultimately, we aim for the project to develop into a branch of Deaf arts and take root into the education and culture of Deaf children and adults alike. We believe a multifaceted approach is necessary to bring the project to fruition.
Therefore, we brought together Deaf individuals from various fields such as performers, filmmakers, and researchers for its launch. The ONGAKU project’s purpose is to find the answer to the question, “What is music born from the Deaf community?”, and achieve this through a variety of activities.
We will move forward with the following initiatives:
Development of ONGAKU
Collection and analysis of diverse examples of expression by Deaf performers
Hosting discussion groups with Deaf individuals and experts
Development of research findings to share with the public
Outreach programs and dispatching instructors to schools for the deaf
Through these initiatives, we aim to explore the potential of “music born from the Deaf community” and its development.
History
(Workshops marked with an asterisk are hosted by the same organizations. These events were implemented as Creative Workshops from 2022.)
2016:
Released art documentary film “LISTEN”. The film was screened in theaters and film festivals both domestically and internationally.
2019:
Eri Makihara and Dakei appeared on stage for “Talking About “Music” for the Hearing and Deaf” held at the Tokyo University of the Arts.
2020:
Jo Matsuzaki appeared on stage for the talk event “Thinking Through Art 2” with Asa Ito for the Training x Sign Language x Arts Project, explaining ONGAKU from a psychological perspective for the first time.
2020:
Eri Makihara and Dakei served as instructors for “‘Those Who Live Through Their Eyes’ ONGAKU Workshop”, a joint project by El Sistema Japan and Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre*.
2021:
Eri Makihara and Dakei served as instructors for the “Second Inclusive Society Seminar: Deaf ‘ONGAKU’ - If everyone in the world were deaf, what kind of ONGAKU would be born?” hosted by Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre.
2021:
Eri Makihara and Dakei co-directed Born Creative Festival 2021, hosted by Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, with Shogo Nishiwaki making an appearance.
2022:
”Let’s Create ONGAKU Born From the ‘Fingers’ of the Deaf” - a joint workshop by El Sistema Japan and Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre was held*.
2022:
Research spanning over two years was conducted on “Deaf ONGAKU” as part of the Training x Sign Language x Arts Project. Through the “Training x Sign Language x Arts Project Report 2021,” examples of diverse expressions by Deaf performers were collected and analyzed.
2023:
”Creating ‘Music’ Classes With Deaf Perspectives for Schools for the Deaf” - a joint workshop by El Sistema Japan and Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre was held*.
2023:
Eri Makihara, Dakei, Shogo Nishiwaki, and Jo Matsuzaki served as facilitators (from June, 2023 to February, 2024) for “Thinking About Deaf ONGAKU Through the Mind and Body Discussions” (5 sessions) hosted by El Sistema Japan, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre*.
2024:
Training x Sign Language x Arts Project released the “Deaf ONGAKU” practice sheets.
2025:
“Deaf ONGAKU” outreach classes* were conducted at schools for the deaf (funded by Nomura Group Foundation’s Mirai Grant Program).
2025:
Eri Makihara presented the case study “Exploring ONGAKU -Music for the Deaf” at the International Conference on Open Access to Culture 2024.
2025:
Eri Makihara co-directed and conceived the stage production “Breathe Move Don't Be Silent”, with Dakei as dramaturg, and Shogo Nishiwaki, among others, as creative members for the TOKYO FORWARD 2025 Cultural Program. The stage production explored ONGAKU for the Deaf and music from a hearing perspective, connecting two communities with different languages and cultures in a creative space,
and more.
What Is Deaf Music to Us?
What we consider ONGAKU to be, at its core, is music centered on the Deaf community and their values, Japanese Sign Language, and the Deaf individual’s sense of the body. It is a cultural product distinct from music that focuses on the hearing community and their values.
In order to categorize this music, it is written as オンガク (ONGAKU) in Japanese. Below is how it is signed in JSL.
Currently, ONGAKU is a developing concept, and we hypothesize it is expressed and appreciated based on the following four factors at this point in time:
Breathing
Tension and relaxation (proprioception)
Eye movement (visual)
Proprioceptive rhythm based on variations in finger movements
These factors are based on sensations cultivated by the body’s use of JSL and are considered to be important components of ONGAKU.
Additionally, sign language poetry, VV (Visual Vernacular), and Signed Music share commonalities in that they are expressed based on words and other such linguistic components.
However, “The Deaf’s ONGAKU (Working Title)” seeks to minimize the use of linguistic components as much as possible, while delicately extracting the four factors mentioned above. This allows us to put emphasis on creating expressions that represent ONGAKU’s principles.
Therefore, ONGAKU is not something that can be translated into JSL or Japanese as a language, as it is a unique form of expression that does not rely on language.
With the aim of further development, we are continuing to explore ONGAKU through experiments with various approaches such as holding discussion groups, putting ONGAKU into practice within the Deaf community, and hosting workshops.
About the Members
Dakei / Makihara Eri / Nishiwaki Shogo / Matzuzaki Jo / Friends of El Sistema Japan
Contacts
ongaku.deaf@gmail.com