About Project

The exhibition titled “Toto-tarari-tarari-rarari-rarari-rarari-tou" is based on the oldest Noh play "Okina”. The  exhibition explores a new perspective on nature from a unique standpoint by focusing on "Okina," which is said  to be "everything that exists”, and on Noh plays performed by “Jingai”, non-human entities living outside of  human realm. A variety of events will be held during the exhibition period, such as a specially re-edited  performance of "Shiranui" by Michiko Ishimure, and a series of talks among cultural anthropologists and others.  The exhibition thus aims to redefine the widely discussed concept of "ecology" in recent years. The Noh play “Okina”, beginning with a celebratory chorus of “Toto-tarari-tarari-rarari-rarari-rarari-tou", equivocally embodies divinity such as a form of communication with the other world through the womb, the   cosmic worldview, the mystery of reproduction, or the path of life and death. It has also been passed down  through generations as a performance that manifest the domestic view of nature, religion, ideology, and the  national view related to the emperor system, which runs through the foundation of all the performing arts.   Inspired by the unique Noh "Okina", this project treats human beings in the equal way as nature, both living  and non-living, and fairly refers to multiple sources from folklore, literature, painting, performing arts, and  history. It attempts to unravels the ecosystem intricatelyintertwinedbetween spirits,  living beings, non-living  things, words, and actions, and to excavate ancient cultural strata on which the seed of future ecology would  ground.
Historically, Noh performers traveled from village to village to perform the Noh play "Okina”. Dedicating "Okina” in Kabukichō; “a city that you arrive at the end of drifting”, this project seeks to break free from  Western subjectivist anthropocentrism, to reconnect the spirits and gods which sleep in the ground, and to quest for ecology rooted in our bodies and lands in the face of climate change and  environmental contingency. 
Exhibiting the works of not only Japanese and international artists, but also of those from diverse fields and  backgrounds which do not necessarily fit into contemporary art, such as food, the Internet, writers, directors, pet  shop, flower shop in context with facts related to human history, the environment, and nature, this exhibition  presents a distinct world-view. 
Furthermore, during the 10-day exhibition period, this project no only features performances of “Okina” and  “Shiranui” written by Michiko Ishimure but also holds talk sessions among intelligentsia in various related  fields in order to deepen our thoughts from perspectives of both the contemporary and historical, as well as of  practices and discourse.