Kumi Odori-English

上左：黄色地鳳凰蝙蝠宝尽青海立波文様紅型綾袷衣裳 ,上中：色絵紅葉文風炉,上右：黒漆雲龍螺鈿東道盆,
下左：金杯,下中：朱漆巴紋牡丹沈金馬上盃,下右：白地霞枝垂桜燕文様紅型苧麻衣裳　いずれも那覇市歴史博物館

About 570 years ago, Okinawa was a land called the Ryukyu Kingdom. Ryukyu prospered through trade with Southeast Asian such as Vietnam and Thailand, as well as nearby China and Korea. As the country grew in wealth a culture unique to Ryukyu also grew, and some aspects of this culture have been passed down to the present day. There are unique performing arts of the Kumi Odori and Ryukyu Buyo in both of which performers dress in bingata-dyed costumes and traditional music with a distinct scale is played. Karate is a famous martial art that originated in the Ryukyu Kingdom. At Shuri Castle in the Ryukyu Kingdom, the nobility moved about in ryusou attire, and the king would feast on Ryukyuan cuisine, which now can be eaten by anyone at restaurants.

左：大美御殿の宴会 ,右：芸能／組踊「二童敵討」　いずれも那覇市歴史博物館

When friends and acquaintances are invited to homes, they are served tea and sweets. In the same way, when foreign visitors arrived in Ryukyu, the kingdom would provide hospitality and entertainment. One of the performances involved in this was called the Kumi Odori, which was first performed in 1719. When the Ryukyu Kingdom became Okinawa, the Kumi Odori continued to be passed down through generations, and the tradition even persevered through World War II, when costumes and props were destroyed and performers died. It continues today, and in 2010, it was recognized as Intangible Culture Heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and is highly regarded around the world.

The Kumi Odori Appreciation Program “Cinderella”

The Kumi Odori was created as a way to entertain important guests from overseas. When seeing the performance for the first time or just hearing its name, many people get the sense that it’s too difficult. That’s why we have created a Kumi Odori appreciation program that explains how to appreciate it to those who are viewing it for the first time. Through an adaptation of the well-known story of “Cinderella”, we are making it easier for people of all ages as well as visitors from overseas to learn how to enjoy Kumi Odori to the fullest.

This performance was created in 2014 Michihiko Kakazu, who was working in the National Theatre Okinawa at the time. A major feature of this work is that the audience not only watches, but the story is completed by them actually appearing on stage. In other words, the style of the performance will change drastically depending on the people in the audience. If there are children, it will be cute. If there are young people, vitality and innocence can be felt, and if there are people from other countries…who knows? For each performance, we will patiently show how to appreciate Kumi Odori using special works that are aimed at the audience’s enjoyment.

Kumi Odori “Shushin Kaneiri”

Once you know how to appreciate Kumi Odori from the Kumi Odori appreciation program “Cinderella”, you’ll be ready to see a real Kumi Odori. Performed in 1719 during the Ryukyu Kingdom Era and designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2010, “Shushin Kaneiri” will be presented. It’s performed in the Okinawan language and English speaking audience members can access an audio guide with a smartphone app, allowing them to fully enjoy humanity’s intangible cultural heritage of the Kumi Odori in English.
In its day, the Kumi Odori “Shushin Kaneiri” was only seen by the people of Ryukyu and visitors from China. About 300 years later, we can travel back to that time and have the same experience as those Chinese envoys and the people of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

SynopsisA handsome young boy was heading to Shuri for work. On his way there the sun had set, so he asked to stay in a house in which a young woman was staying by herself. At first the woman refuses, because her parents weren’t there, but after learning that he’s the famously handsome boy whom she has a crush on, she finally decides to let him stay. But, where will her love for him lead…?

When you are in the venue, just scan the QR code that is displayed on the screen of the stage. The app starts automatically and connects to the voice guide. When you first use the Zoom app, you need to enter the terminal name. If you cannot scan the QR code, start the Zoom app and enter your ID and password to connect to the the voice guide.

When you reach to the voice guide, switch it to sleep mode (locked mode). You can listen to the voice guide with sleep mode (locked mode), as long as the Zoom app is on.

Please refrain from starting other apps or using your smartphone during the play. These may cause battery drain or the Zoom app to stop accidentally. Please note that the QR code is not displayed during the play.

Face mask

Please wear a face mask while you are in the theater.
For everyone’s safety, masks are required in the facility.

Smartphone and earphone

Smartphone and earphone are required when showing your ticket and using the voice guide.
Photographing of the performance is strictly prohibited.
No smartphone/earphone are available for lending.

Smartphone with the Zoom app downloaded

The voice guide is available via the Zoom app.
With the Zoom app, the voice guide is easily accessible. With the Zoom app, the voice guide is easily accessible.
We have no guidance for the Zoom app in the museum. Please note to download the app to your smartphone and check how to use it before the play.

Wednesday,
December 28, 2022
15:00-17:00

Wednesday, December 28, 2022 15:00-17:00

Performers
“Cinderella”

Wizard：Takumi Tamaki
Cinderella：Kasumi Miyazaki
Stepmother：Sayuri Chibana
Prince：Kentaro Takai
Daughters：Takeshi Igei, Taishi Higa

Performers
“Shushin Kaneiri”

Nakagushiku Wakamachi：Shunsuke Kawamitsu
Woman：Shinichiro Shimoji
Head Priest：Takahiro Uehara
Apprentices：Taishi Higa, Takeshi Igei, Kentaro Takai

Music

Singing and Sanshin：Hideki Hanashiro,Taisuke Yonaguni, Yoshimori Nakamine
Koto (13-stringed Japanese zither)：Norito Machida
Japanese flute：Kentaro Oshiro
Kokyu (3 or 4-stringed Japanese violin)：Sanehito Takamiyagi
Drum：Daiki Kushi

Ticket Purchase Form

Please note that if any of the following conditions apply, you are not allowed to enter the venue. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Please note that we do not refund the ticket for anyone not following our infection control measures, which cause to refuse entry to the venue.

Wearing no face mask
With symptoms include fever, cough, or headache.
Anyone who visited areas or countries where covid-19 is widely spread within 14 days from the day to visit the museum.

Fully equipped with air conditioning system in Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum. There is always fresh air and ventilation.

Do you offer discounted tickets for children?

There is no discounted ticket for children.

Is free WiFi available?

“Be.Okinawa Free Wi-Fi” is available in the museum. But it may be unstable at the auditorium. Please refer to the following leaflet about how to connect to it.

1．Wi-Fi利用ガイド（日本語・英語・韓国語）
2．Wi-Fi利用ガイド（日本語・繁体字・簡体字）

It may be unavailable under conditions such as the connection is weak in certain locations, or when number of access users exceeds the limit.

I understand I can listen to the voice guide from my smartphone. Can I take photos of the play with it?

Photographing of the performance is strictly prohibited.

Can I charge smartphone at the venue?

You cannot charge smartphone at the venue. We recommend to bring fully-charged smartphone, or bring a portable battery charger.

Is there any guidance for how to use the Zoom app at the venue?

We have no guidance for the Zoom app. Please note to download the app and check how to use it in beforehand.

It is easy to connect to the voice guide. If the app is already downloaded to your smartphone, what you need to do is just scan the QR code to automatically start the app to connect to the voice guide.

Can I refund my ticket?

We do not refund the ticket as a general rule. However, if the performance is canceled because of unavoidable circumstances, such as a state of emergency is declared by the government, we will refund the ticket.

Please note that we do not refund the ticket for anyone not following our infection control measures, which cause to refuse entry to the venue.

Can I reserve a seat?

All seats are non-reserved, all open-seating.

Can I borrow smartphone and earphone?

No smartphone/earphone are available for lending. Please bring your own smartphone/earphone.

Kumi Odori-English

The Ryukyu Kingdom Era

Kumi Odori

The Kumi Odori Appreciation Program “Cinderella”

Kumi Odori “Shushin Kaneiri”

How to use the voice guide