Centuries of blessing — sacred lion of the Ryukyus
Kanamaru Shishi is a performing arts group preserving and sharing the sacred lion dance tradition of Tarama Island, located between Miyako and Ishigaki in Okinawa. Their performances trace their roots to the island’s Hachigatsu Odori harvest rituals, where dancers, drummers, and conch players come together in a ceremony that begins and ends with a lion’s appearance. With its deep growl and fierce grace, the lion purifies the space and blesses onlookers with health and good fortune.
Since 2014, the group has brought the spirit of Tarama to audiences across Okinawa and Japan, appearing at seasonal festivals, theatrical events, and international stages such as SOUL BEAT ASIA. A new cultural exchange project launched in 2024 has brought them even closer to their roots, as they collaborate with Tarama Island’s original lion dance community and use a handmade replica of its sacred lion mask.
Beyond the lion dance, the group also performs traditional pieces from Hachigatsu Odori, including Yuunsi, which portrays cheerful woodcutters hauling timber to Shuri Castle, and Bo Odori, a stick dance with piercing cries that reflect Tarama’s unique character. Through all of their work, Kanamaru Shishi carries forward the spirit of the Ryukyus—offering centuries-old expressions of joy, strength, and community to new audiences in Japan and beyond.
Many festivals have flags. Not so many have flags that were drawn in pencil by audience members, taken to the other side of the world by artists, and then colored, painted and turned into silk by students and minority groups.
Our flags have already seen many hundreds of thousands of sets of eyes. As they meet yours, maybe you will think about different times and different places. Or maybe you will just enjoy the display.
Their efforts on social inclusion and community involvement gained Toozalii an audience at the UK’s 10 Downing Street. That, too was a different time and different place.
SREINA is a sonic journey from the highlands of Gannan – the Tibetan plateau – led by Bone Lhamokyap, an artist whose voice and vision are deeply rooted in Tibetan heritage. Blending sacred tribal rhythms with contemporary sounds, SREINA invites listeners into an immersive experience of connection, healing, and peace.
The music draws inspiration from Bone’s ancestry in the Shongomah (Sangemao) tribe, a Tibetan minority whose ancient traditions are on the verge of disappearing. His performances are meditative yet powerful, weaving together chanting, handcrafted instruments, and rich, layered textures to create a true ceremony of sound.
Audiences are invited not only to listen, but to reflect, feel, and reconnect with their own inner landscapes. After captivating audiences across Asia and Europe, SREINA now brings its message of unity and transformation to Japan for the first time. More than a performance, this is music as a bridge between cultures—a breath between worlds.
