Art and culture international exchange

Since 2007 Nakanojo Biennale has been encouraging cultural exchange between locals and artists, including international artists. Many artists have participated in traditional events or exchanged food cultures and I often hear they maintain a relationship as if they were family. Above all, I'm very happy the area has been so receptive and it seems like everyone is enjoying themselves.
Foreign artists have also moved to Nakanojo and it is giving more opportunities for people who live in mountain villages to interact with different cultures. It teaches us how we don't realise our unique local culture unless it's seen from an others perspective. Thus international art cultural exchanges play an important role in learning about our own culture.

At Pavilion Zero, which took place at Venezia Biennale 2013, we were given an opportunity to screen a film which shows how Nakanojo approaches art; Also Masumi Saito (based in London) presented a performance inspired by the traditional dance form Shishi-Mai(Lion dance). From this experience I realised again how beautiful the culture from Nakanoyo is and I found it necessary to protect and share this culture with many others.

Each time at the opening ceremony of Nakanojo Biennale we make a platform for local people and artists to collaborate. Performers are mainly local children and the music is played by local people who support the traditional music culture Gakudan (orchestra).
They collaborate in completely different genres such as Jazz and Gagaku (ancient court music), contemporary dance and Kagura (sacred dance).Participants enjoy more than the audience and make theatre together.This is a very fascinating approach, we carry on our traditions and the collaboration between local people and internationally acclaimed artists allows us all to discover new art forms.

In 2014 we visited the little town of Acelum in northern Italy which, like Nakanojo, is listed as one of "The most beautiful villages". We inspected how they introduce art and culture through art or film festivals to the mountain village life, alongside beautiful nature.
It is not as convenient as city life but life amongst beautiful scenery has many similarities to the mountain village culture in Gunma.

Nowadays there is a trend that culture is originating in rural areas instead of cities, which are loosing their character, and many tourists are visiting to take advantage of this. I would like to shine a spotlight on local festivals and unknown customs which have roots in local people's lives, and to introduce more of the beautiful culture which has been passed on by many generations, not only the tourist spots like nature and hot springs.

I hope the local area will be full of pride and Nakanojo's original culture will be passed on to the next generation because of the art and culture international exchange program.