Folklore is the study of culture and traditions accumulated in people's lives. Professor Takakumai is researching the performing arts performed at festivals and events. Various performing arts passed down in local communities, such as Kagura, Bon Odori, Noh theater, and Kabuki, contain important themes that help us think more deeply about human society.

What we focus on is the relationship between individuals with performing arts skills and the groups that organize the festivals where these arts are displayed. Performing arts are linked to religious ceremonies and are carried out by families or individuals, while festivals are events that involve the community = group, so even if an individual with performing talent tries to run a festival, it will not work. The relationship between individuals and groups is an essential element in understanding local performing arts.

To explore this relationship, they conducted "key person research," identifying key people in local festivals and researching documents and history to understand the role of performing arts in the local community. For example, in one area of Akita, there is an ongoing custom of inviting a zatō (a zatou) known as "bosama" to a festival. By looking at key people, it becomes easier to analyze the relationship between individuals and groups and historical changes, deepening understanding of customs that continue to the present day.

The challenges facing local festivals and performing arts are that they are at risk of disappearing due to a declining birthrate, an aging population, and the concentration of population in cities. Even if people from outside the region are brought in to pass on the performing arts, there are many cases where survival is difficult because relationships between individuals and the group cannot be built. Performing arts that are flexible and can change form little by little to adapt to the times tend to survive, while those that do not tend to be selected out.

"Tanko-bushi," originally sung in the Chikuho coalfields of Fukuoka, has been refined and spread throughout the country, becoming a staple folk song at Bon Odori festivals. Even if the form of performing arts changes, it doesn't affect the survival of the groups that enjoy them; performing arts of the past have survived by making choices in this way. The SDGs are similar to performing arts. While we as individuals must be determined to continue, it is also important to acknowledge the changes in society as a whole and focus on contributing to the creation of a new society.