On February 27th, a symposium "The power of entertainment to attract people" will be held at Michinoku Hall, Hirosaki University (Bunkyo-cho, Hirosaki City).

The symposium focuses on the “lion dance” performed at local festivals and events, rather than traditional Aomori performing arts such as “Neputa”, “Nebuta” and “Enburi”.

Taro Hirai, an associate professor at the university, says, “We will explore the performing arts that affect local communities, human relationships, and life, centering on the lion dance in Sai village on the west side of the Shimokita Peninsula.”

Sai village has about 2400 people living in 9 villages. Even in Aomori prefecture where the birthrate is declining and the population is aging, it is said that depopulation is a serious area. “There are young people in the village where there are few jobs and they feel inconvenient in their lives, and they are actively participating in performing arts. It may be called "God" and has invisible values that are not in the real world, "says Hirai. Among the students who continued to go to the village as fieldwork last year, some students said they wanted to move after graduating at their own expense.

The symposium will consist of two parts on the day. In the first part, three groups of lion dance preservation groups will perform. "The Yagoshi Youth Association, Sai Village, Aomori Prefecture, will challenge" shichigoncho ", which is said to be difficult," says Hirai. "It is the first time that a lion dance from the village is performed outside the village."

In the second part, representatives of the three groups will discuss about "the power of entertainment to attract people".

According to Mr. Hirai, lion dance has its own characteristics in each village, there is no fixed pattern, and it continues to change. There are also performances that have changed since the first time I visited the village four years ago, so I analyze that "identifying the differences establishes the identity." Invite the audience to pay attention to the performing arts that remain as culture, not tourism.

Holding time is from 14:00 to 17:00. free entrance.