Photos: Yoshihiro Abe

Sangaku is an art form that traveled across Eurasia, along the Silk Road to Japan in the 8th century. It’s a combination of various performing arts, including music, dance, acrobatics, juggling, impersonation, plays, magic tricks, and puppet shows. Over the years, Sangaku performances have all but faded from memory. Today, this group featuring Kodo alumnus Masayuki Sakamoto on taiko is bringing a modern interpretation to audiences of this visionary performance art, “Gendai Sangaku” (Contemporary Sangaku). Based on illustrations and other records that describe this performance art, the troupe channels its essence into a modern form. Using Japanese instruments including orin (brass bells), bamboo flutes, sho (Japanese wind instrument), and taiko, coupled with Turkish and Western instruments, the cast will play music that evokes the international, intercultural exchange along the Silk Road. A narrator will share comical stories and beautiful poems in Japanese, and you’ll be treated to spectacular juggling acts, too. Prepare to be captivated by this extraordinary new performance.

Aug. 18 (Sun) 13:10–13:30

Triangle Park Fringe Stage

Yutaka Ota (Flute, Saxophone, Orin / Artistic Director) Takeaki Bunno (Sho, Violin) Kiyoshi Ohira (Saz) Masayuki Sakamoto (Taiko) Tomohiro Morita (Juggling) Tsunehiro Hayashi (Narrator)

Free event *Performances will proceed rain or shine.