A Story of "Beyond Boundaries" and "Circulation"
From Asuka to the World: The Return of Culture Transcending 1,400 Years and a Prayer for "Beyond Boundaries"
1,400 years ago, Asuka was a "microcosm of the world." As the terminus of the Silk Road, cultural winds from Greece, Persia, India, and the Chinese continent flowed into this land. It was through the blending of these diverse cultures that the miraculous performing art known as "Gigaku" blossomed. Japan did not merely imitate this foreign culture; rather, through a continuous process of "acceptance and sublimation" driven by its own unique sensibility, it has cherished and preserved this art form.
Now, from this land of Asuka, we begin to "give back" to the world. It is a grand "story of circulation"—passing the cultural baton once received from the world back to the global stage, after 1,400 years of maturation.
The theme of "Beyond Boundaries" championed by this project holds a meaning far deeper than simply crossing borders on a map. It signifies bridging the "eras" of the ancient and the modern, transcending "genres" by fusing traditional performing arts with cutting-edge technologies like 3D printing, and above all, overcoming the barriers of disability and the walls of the heart that separate us. The "Gyodo" procession, where professional performers, local children, and people of all backgrounds meet through masks and walk together, is the very embodiment of "Beyond Boundaries."
The Performing Art that Journeyed the Silk Road: A Ship of "Multicultural Fusion" that Reached Asuka
Silk Road
Maritime Silk Road
Masks originating far to the west in Greece and Persia embarked on a grand journey across the ancient Silk Road. Crossing deserts and absorbing the colors of India and Central Asia, this performing art was polished by eagerly assimilating the music and cultures of every region it passed. It stands as the very embodiment of "multicultural fusion," where civilizations blend together.
Introduced to Japan in 612 AD by Mimashi of Baekje, "Gigaku" created a sensation in Asuka, a bustling international city of the era. Prince Shotoku saw infinite potential in its "power to communicate visually beyond language barriers" and utilized it as a cornerstone for spreading Buddhism and nation-building.
Asuka, the "terminus" where the torrent of civilization finally arrived, was a vibrant cultural crossroad at the time. With camels, peacocks, and people from foreign lands coming and going, it bustled with an energy akin to a World Expo.
However, Gigaku eventually vanished from the center stage of history, its true nature veiled in deep mystery. The internationally influenced masks resting in the Shosoin Repository and the Kyokunsho, a treatise on dance and music containing fragmentary records, became a "1,400-year time capsule" that miraculously conveys the spirit of that era.
The greatest allure of this art form lies in its duality: the coexistence of the "sacred," protecting Buddhist teachings, and the "comical," where drunkards and animals invite laughter. It is the "headwaters of Japanese performing arts," passed down as the DNA for all forms of traditional Japanese entertainment, including Noh, Kyogen, Kabuki, and the Lion Dance (Shishimai).
"Gigaku is a ship that has carried various cultures and characters."
Through the hands of Director Kaiji Moriyama, the world's oldest masked performing art is now set in motion once again as the cutting-edge art form "GIGAKU," transcending 1,300 years of time. The atmosphere of the former international city of Asuka stirs our modern sensibilities; a moment of "Beyond Boundaries" is about to begin.
The masks that once journeyed the Silk Road now embark on a new voyage—this time, from Asuka to the world.
迦楼羅
崑崙
治道
獅子
Call for Support: About the Artistic Activity Fund
To ensure the sustainable operation of this project and to continue contributing to the protection of cultural properties and regional revitalization, Will Arts (General Incorporated Association), one of the operating entities, is seeking donations from the public. Your contributions will be carefully utilized through the "Artistic Activity Fund" for the production of GIGAKU costumes and masks, performance operations, and cultural property protection activities.
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Donation Desk: Will Arts (General Incorporated Association), Artistic Activity Fund
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Details & Application: Please contact the secretariat.
Gyodo Festival ~Asuka Road~ A Path Connecting Hearts and Time
As the inaugural step of this project, we held the "GIGAKU Gyodo Festival ~Asuka Road~." A total of about 50 participants joined the procession, including Director Kaiji Moriyama, professional dancers, local residents, and local children participating as "Taishi Kids." They were clad in masks and costumes dyed with ancient natural dyes, which they had personally helped create.
The group paraded through the historic sites for approximately three hours. The musical troupe, incorporating traditional Japanese instruments, Arab drums, pianicas, and even daily items like frying pans, played a sound of "Beyond Boundaries" that transcended both time and borders, captivating the audience along the route.
Organizer: GIGAKU Project Executive Committee
Co-organizers: Nara Prefecture Complex of Man'yo Culture, Will Arts (General Incorporated Association)
Supported by: World Heritage "Asuka-Fujiwara" Registration Promotion Council
Cooperation: Asuka Tourism Association, Asuka Historical National Government Park, Asuka-dera, Tachibana-dera, Gufuku-ji (Kawahara-dera Site)
Artistic Director: Kaiji Moriyama
Music: Yasuhiro Kasamatsu
Mask & Costume Design: Kaiji Moriyama Mask Modeling Design: GK Kyoto Production
Cooperation: eno design, Okamura Kobo / Costume Production: Maya / Ancient Natural Dyeing: Mizutani Natural Dyeing / Bird Call: Asuka String Instruments / Gigaku Adviser: Shunsuke Tatsumi / Photography: Asukairo, Video Shooting, EditingY oshimoto Kogyo
Special Thanks: Asuka Village, Parents and Guardians, Lead Co., Ltd., Kaiji Moriyama Office Co., Ltd.
Agency for Cultural Affairs, Fiscal Year 2025 "Subsidy for Cultural Resource Utilization Projects (Project to Promote the Utilization of Attractive Cultural Assets in Various Regions)" Adopted Project
Gyodo Festival Route
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Nara Prefecture Complex of Man'yo Culture (Departure)
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Asuka-dera Temple Site (National Historic Site)
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Asuka Capital Pond Site (National Historic Site / Place of Scenic Beauty)
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Asuka Palace Site (National Historic Site)
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Tachibana-dera Temple Precincts (National Historic Site)
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Kawahara-dera Temple Site (National Historic Site)
