From Ambassador（Butoh Workshop and Performance, September 29 2025）
2025/9/29
Participants enjoying the Butoh Workshop
Performers at the National University of Samoa – group photo
Performer at the National University of Samoa
When we hear the word "Butoh," those of us who are familiar with Japanese language automatically assume it means “dance”. However, in the world of performing arts, "Butoh" refers to a specific genre, a performance style characterized by unique physical expression, believed to have originated in postwar Japan. Butoh has a variety of unique schools and performers, but the performances of the "Sankai Juku" group have received particularly high praise overseas.
Akihito Ichihara, a member of the "Sankai Juku" group, who also performs as a solo artist around the world, visited Samoa from August 12th to 21st. During his visit, he held a "Butoh" workshop for local artists and national university educators interested in performing arts. On the final day of the workshop, August 16th, the participants performed a "Butoh" performance in the large auditorium on the campus of the National University of Samoa.
This auditorium was built in a unique Samoan architectural style called a "fale," which features a dome-shaped roof supported by numerous cylindrical pillars and no walls on any of the four sides.
Many people, including children, took part in the workshop. Around 20 of them took part in the performance on the final day, performing in front of an audience.
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Ichihara-san for taking time out of his busy schedule to come all the way to Samoa.
We would also like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who participated in the workshop, especially the students from the National University's Faculty of Education and their supervisor, Leua-san.
＊Photo courtesy of NUS
Akihito Ichihara, a member of the "Sankai Juku" group, who also performs as a solo artist around the world, visited Samoa from August 12th to 21st. During his visit, he held a "Butoh" workshop for local artists and national university educators interested in performing arts. On the final day of the workshop, August 16th, the participants performed a "Butoh" performance in the large auditorium on the campus of the National University of Samoa.
This auditorium was built in a unique Samoan architectural style called a "fale," which features a dome-shaped roof supported by numerous cylindrical pillars and no walls on any of the four sides.
Many people, including children, took part in the workshop. Around 20 of them took part in the performance on the final day, performing in front of an audience.
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Ichihara-san for taking time out of his busy schedule to come all the way to Samoa.
We would also like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who participated in the workshop, especially the students from the National University's Faculty of Education and their supervisor, Leua-san.
＊Photo courtesy of NUS