Culture City of East Asia 2023 with Sori Festival

“Culture City of East Asia” is an annually-held musical exchange project for the practice of “recognizing East Asia, cultural exchange and harmony, and understanding cultures of each other” under the flag of respect toward the cultural diversity among Korea, Japan, and China. Jeonju (Korea), Chengdu and Meizhou (China), and Shizuoka Prefecture (Japan) are chosen as this year’s project-participants. Until the end of the year, these participants will offer each other various opportunities of experiencing different cultures and thereby widening mutual understandings.

This year’s project, in collaboration with Jeonju International Sori Festival, shows the results of cultural and musical exchange among the three countries. New opportunities for understandings of respective cultures through traditional art performances, collaborative concerts, and world music workshops with commentaries will be offered.

 YAMATO with Imsil Pilbong Nongak, Korea & Japan

Sept.23 (Sat) | Norimadang | For all ages | Free

“Yamato,” established in 1993 at the central region of Japanese traditional culture, celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. The group has offered more than 4,000 times of performances in 54 countries so far. On the festival stage, Yamato that has been communicating with a wide range of international audience through the possibilities of a universally-played instrument – drum – will collaborate with “Imsil Pilbong Nongak,” a representative musical form among nongak (lit. farmers’ music) of Honam-jwado province.

Tens of different drum forms, including two-meter-diameter taiko made by a huge wood of 400 years old or older, will yield a music that is not just appreciated through ears but also through one’s whole body. Let us enjoy the fascinating rhythms and beats originated from the two countries.