This photograph, taken at the Iwakubi rice terraces, captures the essence of Manda-la’s work, showcasing a single main character with the background as the focal point. The main character depicted here is “Zeami.”

Renowned as the master of Noh, Zeami was exiled to Sado after incurring the shogun’s wrath. Life on Sado Island at that time remains a mystery, but the preservation of various traditional performing arts on the island is a testament to individuals like Zeami, who passed on Kyoto’s culture to the local inhabitants. During the Edo period, cultural influences from diverse regions were introduced to Sado by individuals associated with the gold mines and Kitamae ships, resulting in the flourishing of various traditional performing arts.

Within the multitude of ships in this work, each symbolizes a traditional performing art that continues to thrive in Sado today. It appears as though they are arriving from across the sea. Which ship captured your interest? This piece may even inspire you to embark on a journey to experience these traditional performing arts firsthand.