Ryukyu Buyo was created in the era when Okinawa flourished as the Ryukyu Kingdom. It was the classical dance forms of that time that laid the foundation for a tradition that continues to this day. The various styles of Ryukyu Buyo include “Rojinodori” old men’s dances and “Wakashuodori” young men’s dances, but it is the “Onnaodori” women’s dances, with their graceful movements and glamorous costumes, that are regarded as ‘the flower of Ryukyu Buyo’. Onnaodori is imbued with a unique aesthetic sense, in which a burning spirit hidden within the extremely restrained movements and gestures is sublimated into dance.

Accompaniment is provided by the three-stringed sanshin, the koto, drums, and flutes. Why has this tradition been carried on for so many generations? We explore how ‘Chimugukuru – Sincerity’, the soul of Okinawan culture, has been inherited through dance.

Presented by: The Japan Foundation (JF) (https://www.jpf.go.jp/e/)

＜Program Credits＞
Performers:
【Dancers】 MIYAGI Noho, TAGUCHI Hiroaki, TAKASATO Fuka, NAKAMINE Yuria, MIYAZAKI Kasumi
【Musicians】 NISHIE Kishun, TAMASHIRO Kazuki, AGENA Kumiko, MIYAGI Hideo, KUSHI Daiki
Production Assistance: National Theatre Okinawa
Additional Materials: Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum, Okinawa Commemorative National Government Park (Shurijo Castle Park) ,NHK
Supervision: KAKAZU Michihiko
Video Image Production: NHK ENTERPRISES, INC.
Video Image Producer: HAMANO Takahiro
Video Image Director: TAKAKI Eiji
Video Edit: MIYAZAWA Hiroyuki

＜Subtitling Credits＞
English Translation: TOYOZAKI Yoko, Stuart VARNAM-ATKIN
Chinese Translation (Simplified): Hanqing ZUO
Chinese Translation (Traditional): Yunhsien LIANG
French Translation: NAKAJIMA Naoko
Indonesian Translation: Dewi ANGGRAENI
Russian Translation: Tatiana SOKOLOVA DELUSINA
Spanish Translation: Mauricio MARTINEZ (https://www.japonartesescenicas.org)
Vietnamese Translation: Nguyễn Dương Đỗ Quyên

End date of distribution: 13/1/2027