info in english
Okinawa features a unique blend of natural and man-made environments, of which the ancient Ryukyu “Gusuku” (castle) sites are surely amongst the most spectacular ones. 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 dialog between human and nature that unfortunately seems lost in contemporary Okinawa.
Itokazu Castle is one of the lesser-known Gusuku sites in Okinawa but 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 augment 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 construct a different notion of environment.
Musicians are distributed around the wide area of the Gusuku, each creating a distinct sound conceived from a dialog 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.
In this years edition of Soundscape we have invited four visual artists to create installion art works that blend into the natural environment while adding a layer of contemporary art to experience to the of the Itokazu Castle ruins.
For the first time we will have a “Soundscape Eve” Pre-Event, “Zenyasai” in Japanese, on November 19th, which features a very special mix of DJ, electronic and Okinawan traditional music. The “Zenyasai” event takes place at full moon and with only minimal lighting will provide another kind of Soundscape experience.
“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)
Tickets can be purchased online, for more information see the > tickets page
Please contact us if you need assistance in english language.
Contact/Information: artinokinawa@gmail.com
Location: Nanjo City, Itokazu Castle
Itokazu-133 Tamagusuku, Nanjo, Okinawa 901-1400, Japan
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