1. Title of the Project

Nekko Bangaku Hozonkai (Nekko Bangaku Preservation Association)

2. Name of the Performing Art Concerned in the Project

Nekko Bangaku

3. Geographic location of the Community

Aza Nekkomata, Ani-nekko, Kita-akita City, Akita Prefecture, Japan

4. Introduction of the Performing Art

Bangaku is a kind of kagura (Shinto musical dance) that has been passed down by yamabushi mountain ascetics worshipping in the mountains to people in the villages. The dance is performed to ward off evil, appease spirits and pray for good health and longer life. Bangaku is said to be classified as a style of Noh or Kyogen, but it does not purely belong to either of them.

The characteristics of Nekko Bangaku are that its lyrics are excellent as literature, and the style of dance was created before Noh was born. Nekko Bangaku was designated as one of Akita Prefecture's intangible folklore cultural assets in 1964, and registered as one of the nation's "intangible folklore cultural assets to be recorded" in 1972, as well as one of the nation's significant intangible folklore cultural assets in 2004.

5. Problems the community faced before the launch of the project, and the factors which caused the decline of and threatened the performing art

The tradition has been passed down from old times mainly by youngsters of the community. Nekko Bangaku Hozonkai (preservation association) was operated based on a strict system, under which only the eldest sons of the association member families could be admitted as new members. The skills of the art were transmitted only to the association members who practised very hard to succeed the tradition. The performance of Nekko Bangaku has been playing a valuable role in offering entertainment to the community from old times.

This situation changed when Japan went into the rapid-economic-growth period in the 20th century. More young people and adults living in the countryside started moving to urban areas to look for stable jobs. The Hozonkai was no exception and many of its members left the community.

6. Details of the project for solving problems of the performing art, especially who and how it started, finance, and involvement of younger generation

The community's youth group Yuwakai voluntarily started conducting activities to pass down Nekko Bangaku as part of their annual activities. They gathered to preserve and pass down Bangaku, which was almost disappearing, to future generations. The Yuwakai, whose members average 30 years old, decided to receive instruction on its dance and music from members of the Nekko Bangaku Hozonkai, the main body for preservation, in order to help revive Nekko Bangaku. They later joined the Hozonkai and succeeded in maintaining the preservation activities.

The Yuwakai who were inexperienced non-members of the Hozonkai started their weekly activities with a long-term vision. Enthusiasm of the Hozonkai members as instructors and the young people in the Yuwakai gradually rose and gained the attention of other local residents.

Decline of the Hozonkai's activities due to the members' aging became a great concern. The collaboration between the new Yuwakai and the traditional Hozonkai stimulated the community.

The Yuwakai did not seek additional funding, since the main purpose of its activity was to let youngsters learn the skills of the dance and the music and to reproduce the tradition within the village without external support.

In 1964, when Nekko Bangaku was designated as one of Akita Prefecture's intangible folklore cultural assets, the "Bangaku Kodomokai (Children's Association)" was established based on the local elementary school in cooperation with the Hozonkai. Their after-school activities contributed to preservation of the tradition and continued up to its closure in 1998. This Children's Association activity was taken over by three student groups of local schools and is continuing till today.

7. Project's Outcomes Including Success Stories and Difficulties

Achievement of the Project

• Reconfirmation of the importance of community activities
• Provide a model activity for community development to the community
• Awareness of importance of their folk performing art
• Participation of young people in preservation activities and efforts to pass on the performing art
• Revitalization on realising handing down of the tradition at a technical level
• Strong encouragement from organisations inside and outside the community

Involvement of Young People

• Establishment of the Yuwakai which could convince the community to adjust their tradition to safeguard Nekko Bangaku
• Activities which broke through the old barriers and conducted preservation activities to encourage wider participation of the community
• Creation of ideal forms of activities in cooperation with the elders, especially of the Hozonkai

Future Problems and Issues

• Decline of the preservation activities due to falling birthrate and aging population
• Neglect caused by lack of awareness of the value of traditional folklore in the community
• Promotion of enhancement of performance skills and joint-training with interested organisations (social activities)