Securing the Future of Traditional Art and Culture – Art & Culture Studio Kotonoha

One of the biggest effects on the economy that COVID-19 has caused is the impact it has had on the entertainment industry.
More than 70% of industry-related jobs, such as acting and staging, have been lost since 2020, with some artists declaring 50% less entry, and 80% declaring they have no income. no monetary input. Nearly 90% of events have been cancelled, and mental health-related issues have increased as these out-of-work artists have lost track of their goals due to COVID-19.

Of course, the entertainment industry is not alone in suffering from the virus. During the previous year, the number of unemployed in Japan reached 1.97 million people (an increase of 380,000 people in the same month of the previous year), in addition to 3.43 million people who saw their income significantly reduced.
These financial difficulties may seem like an individual problem, but they actually have a lot to do with how we choose to spend our time and money. For example, 26.8% of people who have abandoned their lessons related to traditional culture and artistic performance (dance, theater, etc.) since the start of the pandemic, have been for economic reasons.

As fewer people engage with and learn about traditional arts and culture, the danger of their disappearance grows. For this reason, those who know them and are passionate about preserving traditional culture are working together to teach their knowledge and pass them on to the next generation.

On June 7, 2021, the Art & Culture Studio Kotonoha opened its doors in order to ensure the future continuity of traditional Japanese arts by offering direct lessons and experiences.

Art & Culture Studio Kotonoha was founded to counter the current situation by passing on the knowledge and skills of Japanese culture, traditional performance art and entertainment, which are at high risk from COVID-19, to new generations.
The Sugamo-based studio offers highly detailed classes and hands-on experiences with various forms of Japanese art and culture that revolve around Japanese sword fighting and dance. In addition, the studio plans to distribute its content online, so that it can be enjoyed by more people around the world.

The studio plans to offer classes in traditional Japanese art and culture such as Japanese theater, Japanese dance, sword fighting, calligraphy, and sake tasting. The classes will be held with a lot of attention from the teachers so that everyone, regardless of age, can enjoy and learn from the experience.

Art & Culture Studio Kotonoha
Grand Opening: 7 June 2021
Address: Sugamo Daiichi Building 3rd floor, Sugamo , Toyoshima-ku, Tokyo