2025

Daigoji

開催日時

2025年9月6日(土)

開場 17:30 / 開演 18:30

放送

2025年秋 予定(MBS・TBS系列全国ネット)

Performance

September 6, 2025, 6:30 PM

Doors Open

5:30 PM

Broadcast

Scheduled for Autumn 2025(JNN stations nationwide)

Concept

鼓動

人は山に登り、問う。
生きることは、なぜこうも苦しいのかと。

野に伏し、山に伏し、
我、仏と共にあり。

山に籠る者は、山を母胎と呼ぶ。
母の身体に還り、
うまれかわることを願った。

やがて近づく漆黒の夜に、
ひとは「生きたい」という本能を知り、
差込む朝日に、生きる希望を抱いた。

葉擦れの音、獣の声。
木霊する姿なき音は、母の鼓動。
いのちの歌。

人は山に問い、そして誓う。
生きることを。

The Beat of Life

People climb the mountain, searching for an answer
Why is life filled with such suffering?

Monks who seclude themselves in the mountain call it a womb
Returning to her body, longing for rebirth.

Lying upon the earth, embraced by the mountain,
they breathe I am one with Buddha.

As the darkness of night deepens,
a primal instinct awakens I want to live.
In the morning light that pierces the abyss,
a flicker of hope emerges.

The rustling of leaves, the cries of beasts.
An unseen echo resounds
a mother’s heartbeat, the beat of life.

They encountered the mountain and vowed
to live.

THEME SONG of OTOBUTAI 2025 by Marihiko Hara

原 摩利彦

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ABOUT“Daigoji”

Daigoji Temple: A Legacy of Devotion and Tradition

Founded in 874 by Rigen Daishi, a disciple of Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai), Daigoji Temple is the head temple of the Daigo school of Shingon Buddhism. For over 1,150 years, it has served as both a monastery for the esoteric and exoteric teachings of Shingon Buddhism and the head temple of Shugendō, Japan’s tradition of mountain ascetic practice.

Extending from the foot of the mountain to its peak, Daigoji houses Kyoto’s oldest National Treasure, a five-story pagoda, and preserves 75,537 cultural artifacts, including Buddhist statues, paintings, and manuscripts. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it remains a sacred place of prayer and spiritual devotion.

Since its founding, Daigoji has upheld the principles of compassion and tradition, passing down prayers and traditions alongside its invaluable cultural heritage.

Artists

  • Yuka Iwai K-BALLET TOKYO

    Ballet

    Born in Iwate, Japan, Yuka Iwai began studying ballet at the age of four. In 2014, she moved to the United States to join the Joffrey Ballet Trainee Program, later entering its Studio Company in 2015. She was named among the Top 12 Finalists at the 2016 Youth America Grand Prix NY Finals and joined the main company of the Joffrey Ballet in 2017. In April 2021, she returned to Japan to join K-BALLET COMPANY (now K-BALLET TOKYO) as a Soloist, and was promoted to Principal Dancer in December 2024.
    Her notable roles include Odette/Odile in Kumakawa’s Swan Lake and the title role in Cinderella. With a repertoire spanning both classical and contemporary works, she continues to captivate audiences with her expressive artistry. Beyond the stage, she was also selected as a model for LOVECHROME®, extending her influence across artistic fields.

    Choreographer

    Shuntaro Miyao

    He began studying ballet at the age of 14 and, at 17, moved to France to train at the École Supérieure de Danse de Cannes Rosella Hightower. In 2004, he joined K-BALLET COMPANY, and in 2014, he founded Ballet Gents, a creative unit in which he serves as director and choreographer. As a resident choreographer of K-BALLET COMPANY, he is also active in the field of choreography. He was promoted to Principal Dancer in 2015 and has performed leading roles in nearly all major productions. In 2026, he is set to direct and choreograph the full-length ballet The Flames of Paris for K-BALLET TOKYO.
    In addition to his ballet career, he has appeared in numerous film, television, and stage productions. He is currently appearing as Tanuma Okitsugu in the NHK Taiga drama Berabou – The Dream Tale of Tsutaya Jūzaburō.

  • Julian MacKay

    Ballet

    Julian MacKay, a principal dancer with the Bavarian State Ballet, has also garnered a devoted following in Japan through his performances in K-BALLET TOKYO productions such as Giselle and Cinderella. Originally from Montana, he entered the Bolshoi Ballet Academy at age 11 and became the first American to graduate with a full Russian diploma. At 17, he made his professional debut as Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake.
    He has since danced with major companies including The Royal Ballet, the Mikhailovsky Theatre, and the San Francisco Ballet, earning international acclaim for his artistry.
    A trailblazer both on and off the stage, he co-founded MacKay Productions with his brother Nicholas, producing international performances and films that bridge classical ballet with global audiences. Named a Friend of the Maison by both Cartier and Dom Pérignon, he is recognized not only as a leading ballet dancer but also as a cultural ambassador and global influencer, redefining the role of the modern ballet artist.
    This marks his second consecutive appearance, following last year's performance at Horyuji OTOBUTAI.

  • Taeko Onuki

    Singer

    Taeko Onuki is a Tokyo-born singer-songwriter. In 1973, she co-founded the band Sugar Babe with Tatsuro Yamashita and others, releasing their influential album Songs in 1975 before the group disbanded in 1976. That same year, she made her solo debut with Grey Skies, and has since released 27 original albums.
    Since her 1987 concert at Suntory Hall, she has continued to perform in both full-band and acoustic formats, often accompanied by a string quartet. In recent years, she has embraced a wide range of concert styles—from orchestral collaborations to performances incorporating computer-based music.
    In addition to her musical work, she has authored numerous publications, including the essay collection Watashi no Kurashikata (The Way I Live, Shinchosha, 2013). Her contributions to soundtracks span commercials, films, TV, and games. Notable works include the main theme for the film Shall We Dance? (dir. Masayuki Suo, 1996) and music production for Tokyo Biyori (dir. Naoto Takenaka, 1998), which earned the Best Music Award at the 21st Japan Academy Prize.

  • Jin Oki

    Flamenco Guitar

    Jin Oki studied flamenco guitar under masters Hiroshi Oka, Hideo Ito, and Serranito. Early in his career, he received the Encouragement Prize at the Japan Flamenco Association’s Newcomer Performance.
    He made his major debut in 2006. In 2010, he became the first Japanese guitarist to win the international division of a flamenco guitar competition in Spain, earning acclaim for his artistry on the global stage. In addition to his solo performances, he has collaborated with artists across a wide range of genres, including orchestras, ballet, traditional Japanese music such as Nagauta and Noh, and pop acts like EXILE. He has also composed music for television commercials and authored instructional books on flamenco guitar.
    Known for pushing the boundaries of flamenco, Oki blends tradition with innovation, expanding the expressive possibilities of the instrument. His work reflects a deep commitment to creating new artistic value for flamenco guitar in contemporary music and culture.
    He currently serves on the board of the Japan Flamenco Association and continues to champion the richness of flamenco both in Japan and around the world.

  • Hayoung Choi

    Cello

    South Korean cellist Hayoung Choi, born in Bielefeld, is the First Prize winner of the 2022 Queen Elisabeth Competition for Cello. She also won top prizes at the Krzysztof Penderecki and Johannes Brahms International Competitions, and received the “Landgrave of Hesse Prize” and “Leyda Ungerer Music Prize” at the Kronberg Cello Masterclasses. Recently, she became the inaugural recipient of the FENDI Music Award.
    Highlights include performances with the Brussels Philharmonic, Belgian National Orchestra, KBS Symphony, Boston Philharmonic, and others. In the 2023/24 season, she debuts with the LA Philharmonic, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester, Seoul Philharmonic, and Filarmônica de Minas Gerais.
    She made her solo debut at age twelve with Camerata Salzburg performing Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 1, and has since played with Kremerata Baltica, the Frankfurt Opera and Museum Orchestra, and Barcelona Chamber Orchestra.
    Choi has been invited to major festivals including the Amsterdam Cello Biennale, Kronberg Cello Festival, and Prades Pablo Casals Festival. She studied at the Purcell School and earned her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Professional Studies diplomas at Kronberg Academy under Prof. Frans Helmerson and Prof. Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt.
    She performs on a 1707 ex-Starker Joseph filius Andrea Guarnerius cello, generously on loan from an anonymous donor.

  • Marihiko Hara

    Music Director

    Marihiko Hara is a Kyoto-based composer and sound artist whose work explores the subtle boundaries between sound, silence, memory, and space. His compositions blend field recordings, acoustic instruments, and electronics into quiet, immersive soundscapes.
    Largely self-taught, he began composing while studying lifelong education at Kyoto University. His music spans film, dance, theatre, and installation—evoking the passage of time and the resonance of absence. Recent film scores include *Kokuho* (dir. Sang-il Lee), selected for Cannes Directors’ Fortnight 2025, and *Deaf Voice* (dir. Kazutaka Watanabe), nominated for the International Emmy Award 2024. He has collaborated with Ryuichi Sakamoto, Damien Jalet, Kohei Nawa, Min Tanaka, NODA MAP, and the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company. He is also a member of the artist collective Dumb Type, and has released solo and collaborative works internationally. His installations and site-specific compositions have been presented in museums and public spaces, exploring how sound shapes perception. Hara also leads a peace-driven sound project, creating new works from recordings shared by individuals affected by displacement and violence.
    His music has been featured worldwide in films, exhibitions, and performances. He welcomes commissions and interdisciplinary collaborations.

  • Presented by Grand Philharmonic KYOTO

    Orchestra

    Established in 2018, the Grand Philharmonic brings together some of Japan’s top musicians and up-and-coming young talent performing in Tokyo, with composer Akira Senju serving as Executive Producer.
    The orchestra has established itself as a pioneer of a new ensemble, transcending the classical music realm by performing a wide range of musical genres.
    Their collaborations with top Japanese artists have included, but are not limited to, Yo Hitoto, Yoshihiko Inohara, Kiyoharu, Taeko Onuki, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Aya Shimazu, Shonan no Kaze, Kiyotaka Sugiyama, and Shinji Tanimura.
    In addition to their collaborations with singers, the Grand Philharmonic’s versatility extends to recording for video games such as SQUARE ENIX’s Triangle Strategy and Pokémon’s Pokémon UNITE, as well as TV shows like Netflix’s Rilakkuma and Kaoru.
    For this concert, the Kansai-based Grand Philharmonic Kyoto will make a special appearance.

    Conductor

    Shimpei Sasaki

    One of the young Japanese talented conductors. After studying musicology and conducting in Japan, he also studied abroad in Munich, Germany. He received the honorable awards in several international conducting competitions in Europe. So far, he has conducted almost all major professional orchestras in Japan. Now, he has displayed his talent in every musical scene like pioneering subscription concerts, special classical concerts, music appreciation classes for young people, television or radio music programs, recordings for soundtrack on movies, pops and video games at studio, in conducting symphony orchestra, brass band, chorus, opera, ballet etc. He has tried to devote himself to a state of enlightenment as a conductor with a supple mind all over the world.

  • coming soon

    Actor