Oshima, Hiroko (2025) The Power of Material in Performance : Paper in Japanese Rituals and Festivals. In: IFTR 2025 Annual Conference - Performing Carnival!, 2025-06-09 - 2025-06-13, University of Köln.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
From a scenographer’s perspective, this study examines how washi, an ancient Japanese paper, is used in performances of local festivals and Shinto rituals to enhance the impact of the performance. Particular attention is paid to how the performance space created by washi affects the emotions of the audience in terms of spatial composition, various sensory effects and interaction with the audience. In Japanese, GOD 'kami' and PAPER 'kami' are homonyms that cannot be ignored as a coincidence. White paper is an essential material for Japanese Shinto rituals, and its purity plays an important role in creating a sacred space. On the other hand, the washi used at festivals in the Tohoku region adds to the excitement of the festivities with its vibrant colours and dynamic designs. These contrasting examples explore the diverse expressive possibilities of washi. The rich properties of the material (transparency, strength and texture) produced by master craftsmanship are seen as material affordances, and how this traditional material influenced the rituals and festive gestures during the formation of extraordinary events, and how the sensory emotions evoked by the material contributed to the shaping of festivals and rituals. By focusing on materials that have long been handed down from generation to generation, and the cultural rituals to which these materials are key, it will be possible to apply the findings to discover new meanings of materiality in the creation of contemporary scenography.