info in english
Okinawa features a unique blend of natural and man-made environments, of which the ancient Ryukyu “Gusuku” (castle) sites are surely among the most spectacular. The old Ryukyu building masters were incredibly skillful at integrating their defensive castle constructions into a complex topography, and they did it in a way not seen in any other culture, be it Asian or Western.
The remaining old stone walls are evidence of a deeply sensitive dialogue between humans and nature that, unfortunately, seems lost in contemporary Okinawa. Itokazu Castle is one of the lesser-known Gusuku sites in Okinawa but is without doubt an outstanding example of this fascinating tradition.
Soundscape Okinawa adds a layer of sound and visual art to the scenic beauty of a traditional Gusuku site, sound that is inspired and augmented by this peculiar environment. A mixture of concert and “exhibition of sounds,” musicians create a soundscape that is “in tune” with a location of stunning beauty, while providing the audience with a new kind of experience in which the amalgamation of landscape and soundscape constructs a different notion of environment.
Musicians are distributed around the wide area of the Gusuku, each creating a distinct sound conceived from a dialogue with their surroundings and their peer musicians. The audience moves freely through a scenery of sounds and spatial situations while constantly assembling and reassembling the sound to create their very own soundscape. A unique and unprecedented combination of dense, atmospheric places with a collection of sounds invites the audience to immerse themselves with their senses in this very special natural and cultural environment.
Soundscape Okinawa has taken place two times, in 2020 and 2021, and a special edition, “Soundscape Ryudai,” was realized as part of the Ryudai+C research project in 2024 on the campus of the University of the Ryukyus.
While the 2020 edition featured only sound artists and musicians, the 2021 edition of Soundscape Okinawa invited four visual artists to create installation art works that blend into the natural environment while adding a layer of contemporary art to the experience of the Itokazu Castle ruins.
In the 2021 edition, we also had a “Soundscape Eve” pre-event, “Zenyasai” in Japanese, on November 19th, which featured a very special mix of DJ, electronic, and Okinawan traditional music. The “Zenyasai” event took place at full moon with only minimal lighting and therefore provided another very special kind of Soundscape experience.
Soundscape Okinawa 2021
“Zenyasai” Pre-Event
Date: November 19th (Fri.), 2021
Time: 17:00 - 21:00 (Entrance open: 17:00)
Soundscape Okinawa 2021 Main Event
Date: November 20th (Sat.) / 21st (Sun.) , 2021
Time: 13:00 - 17:00 (Entrance open: 12:00)
Participating Musicians:
C.H.B (Electronic)
Harikuyamaku (DJ, Electronic)
Yukino Inamine (Vocals, Sanshin)
Takuichiro Inuzuka (Keyboard harmonica, Percussion, etc.)
Takeshi Ishihara (Electric Guitar)
Nana Izumikawa (Clarinet)
Ryoichi Kamamura (Composition)
Yumi Kano (Crystal Bowl)
Mayako Koja (African Instruments)
Meiko Oshiro (Oboe)
Mariko Sawai (Vocals, Flute, Sanshin)
Robin Thompson (Ryukyu Koten Ongaku)
Participating Artists:
Tsutomu Hanashiro
Misaki Kodama
Hiromi Tsuha
Kazuya Uechi
Organizer: Art Initiative Okinawa (AIO)
Art Direction: Prof. Titus Spree (AIO Chair, University of the Ryukyus)
Managing Director: Naoko Uchima (AIO Co-Chair, ESM Okinawa)
Covid 19 countermeasure Advisor: Dr. Med. Kyushima
Video Direction: HIGEFILMS (Banana Concept Inc./Sochiro Shimoji)
Sound Engineering: Tordidori Factori (Makoto Maruyama)
Placemaking: CAMP-O Coop
Support: AFF Arts for the Future, Okigin Furusato Shinkokikin
Nanjo City, Itokazu Community Center
Soundscape Okinawa 2020
Date: December 12th (Sat.) / 13th (Sun.) , 2020
Time: 13:00 - 17:00 (Entrance open: 12:00)
Participating Artists/Musicians:
Mutsumi Aragaki (Vocal, Sanshin, Electronic)
Takuichiro Inuzuka (Keyboard harmonica, Percussion, etc.)
Takeshi Ishihara (Electric Guitar)
Jujumo (Vocal & Guitar)
Yumi Kano (Crystal Bowl)
Mayako Koja (African Instruments)
Mamiko Kinjo (Flute)
Yukiko Kinjo (Violine)
Meiko Oshiro (Oboe)
Mutsuko Taira (Marimba)
Remi Uehara (Cello)
Organizer: Art Initiative Okinawa (AIO)
Art Direction: Prof. Titus Spree (AIO Chair, University of the Ryukyus)
Managing Director: Naoko Uchima (AIO Co-Chair, ESM Okinawa)
Music Advisor: Claus Franke (University of the Ryukyus)
Covid 19 countermeasure Advisor: Dr. Med. Kyushima
Video Direction: Hige Films/Sochiro Shimoji
Sound Engineering: Makoto Maruyama
Support: Okinawa Arts Council, Okinawa Prefectural Government Office
Nanjo City Tamagusuku Itokazu, campo
Contact/Information: artinokinawa@gmail.com
Location: Nanjo City, Itokazu Castle
Itokazu-133 Tamagusuku, Nanjo, Okinawa 901-1400, Japan