History of the Nishi-Shioko Revolving Stage Preservation Association

As a result of the study in 1991, the Nishi-Shioko Revolving Stage Conservation Association was set up in 1994 to preserve the stage, which was now recognized as a valuable cultural property. The Association was created with each household in the Nishi-Shioko area becoming a member, “restoration of the stage” and “acquisition of the stage assembly method and its transmission to future generations” being mentioned in the charter as the purpose and mission of the Association.

Unfortunately, the generation that actually had experience of assembling the stage had already passed away and the procedure and methods had to be reinvented virtually from scratch. Moreover, meetings of the Association were complicated by how the costs and labour were to be borne, and with some people saying, “After all this time, why do we now have to revive the kabuki stage?” the realization of the assembly of the stage was looking rather doubtful.

However, through the goodwill of the Sugao Assembled Stage Conservation Association in Akiruno City, Tokyo Metropolitan District, a visit was carried out to observe the stage assembly. By also holding exchanges with other groups involved in village folk theatre through participation in the National Village Folk Festival Summit, and so on, the awareness of the people of Nishi-Shioko gradually turned towards a revival of the revolving stage that had been bequeathed to them by their ancestors as an activity they could take pride in and that would honour their home village and lead on to local rejuvenation.

Five years after the survey, in October 1997, following a long period of trial and error, the Nishi-Shioko Revolving Stage was restored to its former glory after a gap of half a century, roughly three thousand spectators turning up for a performance that lasted only about two hours. The following autumn, under the slogan of “full restoration”, the stage was once again assembled, and with the hosting of the Ninth National Village Folk Festival Summit, the beautifully restored stage was unveiled to the village folk theatre groups who had gathered in Nishi-Shioko from all over Japan.

From that time up to the present day, the stage has been reassembled and village folk theatre performances given on a regular basis, in principle once every three years. These activities over the past twenty years have been very highly evaluated, and many awards have been received. This is due to the hard work and cooperation of a large number of people, all of whom deserve heartfelt gratitude.

At present, it is keenly felt that “continuation” rather than “preservation” is problematical, and the search is on for new targets that will help position the existence of the Nishi-Shioko Revolving Stage as one that is indispensible for the people of the community.

Taking a break during the assembly of the stage. (2001)

The visit to observe the assembly of the Sugao Stage in Akiruno City, Tokyo. At this point, there was not a strong sense among the villagers that they were actually going to assemble the revolving stage, and the visitors looked on impassively. (June 2004)

A Brief History of the Nishi-Shioko Revolving Stage Conservation Association
1991	Rural stage study conducted by Omiya Town History and Folk Custom Resource Center (to January 1992)
1994	Nishi-Shioko Revolving Stage Conservation Association formed Nishi-Shioko Revolving Stage designated as a Tangible Folk Cultural Property of Omiya Town Visit to observe the assembly of the Sugao Stage in Akiruno City, Tokyo
1996	Participation in the National Village Folk Festival Summit (Tohmi City, Nagano Prefecture) Submission of Activity Plan and Application for Subsidy to Omiya Town
1997	Conservation Association begins moves to assemble the stage and put on performances (meetings and discussions held daily) Timber and bamboo cut, stage assembled (from September) Performances to Commemorate the Restoration of the Stage (Late October) Stage dismantling (November)
1998	Performances to Commemorate the Revival of the Stage and hosting of the Ninth National Village Folk Festival Summit (Late October) Formation and participation of the Nishiwaka-za (Nishi-Shioko Young People’s Performing Group)
1999	Designated as a Tangible Folk Cultural Property of Ibaraki Prefecture
2001	Recruitment of volunteers to assemble the stage First Regular Performances (Late October) Shiota Primary School children participate in kabuki Adopted as Agency for Cultural Affairs Furusato (Hometown) Cultural Revival Project (to 2003)
2002	Implementation of culture transmission workshops for Gidayu, Tokiwazu kabuki music genres and Village Folk Theatre Stage equipment maintenance and improvement, work begins on the Heisei Main Stage Curtain Children perform kabuki at the Ibaraki Prefecture Local Folk Art Gathering
2003	Implementation of culture transmission workshops for Gidayu, Tokiwazu kabuki music genres and Village Folk Theatre Stage equipment maintenance and improvement, holding of workshop for transmission of stage assembly Second Regular Performances (Late October) Children perform kabuki at the Children’s Festival of Furusato (Hometown) Culture in Tokai
2004	Awarded the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award in the Third Traditional Village Culture Commendation Awarded the Grand Prize in the Eighth Furusato (Hometown) Event Grand Prize Adopted as East Japan Railway Culture Foundation Local Cultural Support Project (to 2006) Five Towns and Villages amalgamate to become Hitachi Omiya City (6th October) Princess HisakoTakamado inspects a children’s kabuki performance
2005	Children perform kabuki at the Furusato (Hometown) Kabuki Festival (NHK Hall, February) Nishiwaka-za (Nishi-Shioko Young People’s Performing Group) performs at the Marukita Traditional Space in the Marunouchi-kita entrance dome of Tokyo Station (September)
2006	Awarded the 28th Suntory Prize for Community Cultural Activities Children’s performance of kabuki at the opening ceremony of the 18th National Lifelong Learning Festival Manabi Pia Ibaraki (Early October) Second Regular Performances (Late October) Completion of the Heisei Main Stage Curtain Awarded the Incentive Award at the Ibaraki Image-Up Grand Awards
2007	Children perform kabuki at the Ibaraki Prefecture Local Folk Art Gathering
2008	Children perform kabuki at the Children’s Folk Art Exchange Meeting (in Sakuragawa City) Awarded the First Tiffany Foundation Award for the Preservation of Japanese Traditional Arts Nishi-Shioko Revolving Stage becomes the satellite venue for the opening ceremony and village folk theatre performance of the 23rd National Cultural Festival Ibaraki 2008 (Early November)