Mr. Juen Wakayagi, Traditional Japanese Dance (Nihon Buyo) master will make his visit to Hong Kong again since 2018, to introduce the aesthetics of Nihon Buyo, as well as the music, costumes and stage design, to dancers and enthusiasts of traditional Japanese performing arts. He will also demonstrate representative dance pieces of Nihon Buyo, showcasing the heart and skill of traditional Japanese performing arts to the audience.
About Juen Wakayagi
Born in Kyoto in 1953, Juen Wakayagi is the eldest son of Wakayagi Jutaro II, the Third-Generation Grand Master of the Wakayagi Ryu school, one of the five major schools of Japanese dance. At the age of 12, he succeeded as the Fourth-Generation Grand Master of the Wakayagi Ryu school of traditional Japanese dance (Nihon Buyo).
He has performed not only in Japan but also in various places around the world, including Hawaii, Chicago, Korea, and Hong Kong. He even showcased Nihon Buyo to the Pope at the Vatican Palace, dedicating himself to introducing the Japanese traditional performing art. In 1990, he received the Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival Award and the fifth Hanayagi Juo Award for Newcomers.
In addition to organizing performances and solo recitals for his school, he has frequently participated in performances hosted by the NIHONBUYO Association and the National Theatre. He has created numerous dance pieces and given lectures in various locations.
In 2001, he became a director of the NIHONBUYO Association, and in 2019, he was appointed head of the Kansai branch. Currently, he has about 4,000 Natori (certified students) across Japan.
* Photo taken by School of Dance office
