Fringe Japan 2026 – Kenshibu Event
2026/8/14
| On Friday, 14th August, the Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh co-hosted an event with the University of Edinburgh as part of Week 2 of Fringe Japan 2026. The event featured a lecture, demonstration and hands-on workshop on Kenshibu (a performance art combining sword dance and fan dance) led by Mr. Hyoga Konno, a Seiga-ryu school instructor currently participating in the Edinburgh Free Festival. During the lecture and demonstration, Mr. Konno explained the history of Kenshibu—which fuses Kenbu (sword dance) and Shibu (fan dance)—and introduced basic movements before performing. The audience was also given the opportunity to try out Shibu movements using fans. A lively Q&A session followed, reflecting the audience's keen interest in the art form. In the subsequent workshop, participants had the chance to try their hand at Kenbu using wooden swords. Through Kenshibu, a traditional performance art that preserves the legacy of Japan's samurai culture, participants were able to experience a new facet of Japanese culture. |
