[Participants Wanted] Charity Event Supporting Wajima Lacquer Craftsmen: "Inheritance: Hiko-Jū Makie" Held on April 6

KOGEI Next, a movement to realize the next form of craft, and its derivative project, Melody in Japan, are recruiting participants for the charity event " Inheritance: Hikojiro Makie," held on Saturday, April 6th, to support lacquer artisans in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture.

Wajima lacquerware, designated by the national government as an Important Intangible Cultural Property, is a traditional craft representing Japan, born from the fusion of artisan skill and local environment. The Noto Peninsula Earthquake of 2024, which struck this past January, caused many artisans to lose their livelihoods, workshops, and tools, plunging the lacquerware industry in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, into crisis.

This event will feature a talk session and live performances by Takashi Wakamiya, representativeof Hikojiro Makie; Sebastian Takagi, producer at Shogakukan's Cultural Affairs Bureau; and Beni Ninagawa, a Tsugaru shamisen player and member of the Wagakki Band.

All proceeds from this event will be donated to Hiko-Jū Makie. Additionally, an exhibition and sale of Hiko-Jū Makie works is scheduled from Friday, April 12th to Wednesday, April 17th.

【Overview】
Date & Time: April 6 (Sat) ①4:00 PM - 5:30 PM ②6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Venue: Shiodome Hall, Japan-France Cultural Association
Performers: Takashi Wakamiya (Representative, Hiko-Jū Makie) | Ren Takamasa (Manager, Hiko-Jū Makie)
　　　Beninagawa (Wagakki Band / Tsugaru Shamisen Player)
　　　Sebastian Takagi (Producer, Shogakukan Cultural Affairs Bureau)
　　　Shinya Maezaki (Professor, Kyoto Women's University)
Admission: ¥3,000 (tax included)　※All seats are unreserved (no numbered seating)
Ticket Purchase:e+ (eplus)
Ticket Sales: Until April 6 (Sat) 16:00

■Event details here

【Program】

Part 1: Live Urushi Channel
Takashi Wakamiya × Sebastian Takagi

Part 2: The Untold Story Behind LYCORIS, the World's Only Electric Shamisen
Beni Ninagawa × Shinya Maezaki & Takashi Wakamiya & Ren Takamasa
※Performed by Beni Ninagawa

【Performer Profiles】

Benii Ninagawa ( Wagakki Band )
Tsugaru shamisen player. Member of Wagakki Band. Wagakki Band is an eight-member, new-sensation rock entertainment band that fuses shigin (poetry recitation), Japanese traditional instruments, and rock music. Their latest work is the original album "I vs I," featuring the opening theme "The Beast" for the anime "Hanma Hatsu: The Savage War Arc." Launched the "Barrel Fundraising Project" to support Japanese traditional culture and performing arts facing hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Supported Fukuyama Koto through Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, and Tokyo Wagakki, a major shamisen manufacturer facing closure. Actively supports not only instrument makers but also traditional Japanese culture such as Gifu Wagasa umbrellas, "Okinawa Prefecture's Traditional Culture and Performing Arts," and Wadaiko drums.

Ninagawa Beni (Tsugaru Shamisen Player, Wagakki Band)

Sebastian Takagi (Producer, Shogakukan Cultural Affairs Bureau)
On the "Lacquer Channel" broadcast via the audio media "Japan Culture Radio," Editor-in-Chief Sebastian Takagi and Takashi Wakamiya, head of Hiko-ju Makie, delve into the super-deep world of lacquer—covering its history, production process, materials, and more. They carefully and clearly explain the diverse and profound appeal of Japanese culture. They cover everything from art, tea ceremony, travel, kabuki, crafts, to slightly more intense historical topics.

■Lacquer Art Collective " Hikoju Makie "
A lacquer craft collective led by Takashi Wakamiya. While researching classical techniques, they actively pursue the development of new technologies. Through works featuring designs that are both old and new, incorporating ornamentation, playfulness, and humor, they are engaged in activities to revive the world of traditional lacquer craft.

■KOGEI Next
A movement to realize the next form of craft, one possessing new value beyond mere objects. This is achieved through works and activities born from the intersection of craft artists and modern society, which previously had little connection, and through engagement with the natural environment and social issues. It is hosted and promoted byKANEGAE, an art dealer based in Kyoto, and Cross Tech Management, which supports the development of IoT creators and startup businesses.

■About the "Harmony Resonance" Project
The "Harmony Resonance" is a uniquely Japanese sound born from the fusion of techniques passed down by the Japanese people, the trends of those who lived in each era, and Japan's climate and natural environment. The project uses not only traditional Japanese instruments but also the "resonance" created by various Japanese cultures bearing the name "Wa" (Harmony) as an entry point. It aims to rediscover the appeal of Japanese culture and traditional crafts, spreading it widely not only within Japan but also overseas.