In November, Awaji Art Circus held its first overseas performance.

The opportunity arose from the performance "Aioi no Matsu" (Concept, Composition, and Direction: Elena Gradkovskaya), which was created in 2022. It was selected from over 10,000 submissions and had the honor of performing at the opening of the 18th and 19th Arte Laguna Prize Finalist Exhibition. Additionally, we were given the opportunity to perform at a theater in Mestre, Venice.

① Performance and Talk Event at Teatro del Parco

On November 15, we had the opportunity to host a performance and talk event at Teatro del Parco in Mestre, Venice, organized by youTHeater. Over 150 attendees joined us, and through the fusion of traditional Japanese taiko drumming and contemporary dance, we were able to showcase the beauty and originality of Japanese culture and art.

Performers: Elena Gradkovskaya, Rikubouz, Shuichiro Ueda, Kota Igarashi, Shota Nakashio

Feedback Received

One of the best performances I've seen at this theater

An amazing performance that should be seen by people all over the country

I want to collaborate with the dancers and the taiko drummers!

During the talk event, we shared insights into the regional revitalization projects of Awaji Island and the behind-the-scenes story of the creation of 'Aioi no Matsu,' and we received many questions and enthusiastic responses. All of the performers are truly grateful for this valuable opportunity! We are also looking forward to the day when we can showcase our performance in Italy in the future!

② Performance at the Opening Ceremony of
18th-19th Arte Laguna Prize Exhibition

At the Awaji Art Circus performance "Miketsukuni Memoirs - Ama no Tabi Nikki" held in the autumn of 2022, the performance "Aioi no Matsu: Twin Pine Trees" (Concept, Composition, and Direction by Elena Gradkovskaya) was selected as a finalist from over 10,000 submissions for the prestigious Arte Laguna Prize. It had the honor of being performed at the opening of the 18th and 19th Arte Laguna Prize Finalist Exhibition.

The Arte Laguna Prize is an international art award established in 2006, featuring a large-scale art event with numerous artists from around the world.

On the day of the event, many attendees enjoyed the performance, and there was an unending applause afterward! We also received direct feedback with comments such as "It was wonderful," which made us feel the deep understanding and appreciation for this work in Europe.

Performers: Elena Gradkovskaya, Rikubouz, Shuichiro Ueda

As an official partner of the Arte Laguna Prize, our company, Pasona Group Inc., together with Awaji Art Circus, offered a special award to one artist out of 125 applicants: the opportunity to perform with Awaji Art Circus.

The award recipient is Duo A3 (Acrobatics, Unicycle)! We are already looking forward to their performance in the coming years.

In addition to the performance, we also hosted a talk event as a partner organization. The theme was 'Revitalizing Local Communities through the Power of Art,' where we introduced the regional revitalization projects being carried out by Pasona Group on Awaji Island, as well as the activities of Awaji Art Circus.

We were also joined by finalist artists Gabriele Mundula (Italy) and Damjan Popelar (Slovenia), who shared examples of their own projects. Q&A session was held, providing an opportunity to deepen the understanding of the potential and appeal of using art to revitalize local communities.

Aioi no Matsu（相生松）：Twin Pine Trees

Aioi no Matsu (相生松): Twin Pine Trees is a contemporary dance performance, inspired by the traditional Japanese Noh theatre play “Takasago”.

In this play, a man and a woman serve as guardians of two pine trees on distant shores — Takasago and Sumiyoshi. Their love imbues these trees with an otherworldly essence, transforming them into the symbolic "Aioi no Matsu," representing an eternal connection.

This unique physical performance reimagines the traditional tale using contemporary elements such as tricking, modern dance, movement art, and physical theatre. It is accompanied by traditional Japanese taiko drumming, creating a distinct and immersive atmosphere.

This collaboration demonstrates the artistic potential of reshaping a classic story within a modern context, resulting in an innovative and exceptional performance.

Production Team & Cast

Elena Gradkovskaya

idea,structure, stage direction, dance

Contemporary dancer with a Master's degree from the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Russia.

Since 2017, she has served as the artistic director, playwright, and director of the international performing arts festival Awaji Art Circus held on Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture. Her works include Gods Among Us, Miketsukuni Memoirs, Alice in Awajiland, and Living Legends of Awaji Island.

In 2024, Elena’s performance piece Aioi no Matsu was selected as a finalist for the 18th Arte Laguna Prize (Venice, Italy) and will be showcased at the opening ceremony on November 16, 2024.

Rikubouz

tricking, dance

Riku began practicing "tricking" in 2015, a freestyle acrobatic form rooted in martial arts. As an artist, he explores new forms of expression by blending tricking with contemporary dance and floor work. As an athlete, he actively participates in tricking battles, winning the Junior Division of the Japan Championship in 2016 and currently ranking second in Japan (2024). To share his expertise in tricking, he also leads workshops and classes both in Japan and internationally.

Shuichiro Ueda

taiko soloist, taiko composition, arrangement, and direction

After the Great Hanshin earthquake that struck his hometown of Kobe in 1995, Shuichiro sensed the immense power of taiko when performing at the evacuation shelters, leaving a deep impression on him.

He then became one of the founding members of Wadaiko Matsumura Gumi where he was an active core member for 8 years. He had also begun studying under the legendary taiko soloist Eitetsu Hayashi and became a member of Eitetsu Fu-un no Kai, performing in concerts held throughout Japan and all over the world.

​In 2004, Shuichiro began his solo activities in earnest. He was the first taiko player to appear in one of Heisei Nakamura-za kabuki troupe’s productions, “Natsumatsuri naniwa kagami” and co-starred with Nakamura Kanzaburo XVIII.

Making an appearance in the “NEW YEARS WORLD ROCK FESTIVAL” produced by Yuya Uchida and in the musical “Kiyomori no Yume” directed by Tamae Sha, Shuichiro has performed with artists from various genres, continuing to express his own unique world of music.

In the 2020 NHK’s taiga drama series "Kirin ga Kuru," he played the role of a military taiko drummer as well as composed music used during the scenes.

Kota Igarashi

taiko player
（member of KOTAN）

Shota Nakashio

taiko player
（member of KOTAN）

Taiko drum group ～KOTAN～

※Perform only at Teatro del Parco

​This taiko group, composed of young people from all over Japan, was formed to promote regional revitalization on Awaji Island. Under the guidance of Shuichiro Ueda, a renowned taiko drummer from Kobe, the group has expanded its performance area beyond Awaji Island to include regions across Kansai and Kanto. In March 2023, they made their international debut at the Mandorlo in Fiore festival in Sicily, Italy, earning second place among 26 participating groups. The group also collaborates with ballet dancers and performers from various fields, further broadening their presence in diverse entertainment spheres.