SAIKU CULTURAL ART NIGHT 2025, produced by HITOHATA,INC., was held on 23 February 2025 (Sunday, national holiday) at Saiku Heian no Mori (Meiwa-machi, Taki County, Mie Prefecture). (Organised by the Meiwa Tourism and Trading Company).

Projection mapping images were projected onto the main hall of the Saiku Heian no Mori, which is located at the Saiku Site, the national historic site where the Saio lived in the past, featuring cultural assets such as artifacts excavated from the Saiku Site, the Tale of Genji Picture Scroll and the Tale of Ise Screen, which depict the story of the Saiku and Saio, as well as the stories interwoven with these artifacts, and a sword dance performance. There were also performances of sword dances, ritual dances and a collaboration between the Saio in Heian costume and projection mapping.

In addition, the Nishiwakiden Hall exhibited a digital installation that enabled visitors to experience the story of the Saiku and Saio in an immersive way, as well as explanations of cultural assets related to the Saiku that served as motifs for the projection mapping, and an AR experience that enabled visitors to interactively view cultural assets related to the Saiku using a smartphone.

This event was subsidised by the Agency for Cultural Affairs under the FY2024 ‘Subsidy for Cultural Resource Utilisation Projects (Promotion of the Utilisation of Attractive Cultural Properties in Various Areas of Japan)’.

Outline of the event

[Name] SAIKU CULTURAL ART NIGHT 2025

[Dates] 23 February 2025 (Sunday, public holiday) 18:00-20:00

18:00-18:30 Sword dance performance

18:30-19:00 Ritual dance

19:00 - 20:00 Projection mapping, special performance by performers in the image of the Saio.

*Projection mapping was a continuous projection of approximately 7 minutes of content with an intermission of approximately 1 minute.

*Collaboration between the Saio and projection mapping was held once every two times, together with projection mapping.

.

18:00 - 20:00 Digital installation exhibition, commentary on cultural properties, AR experience of cultural properties

[Venue] Saiku Heian no Mori (2800 Saingu, Meiwa-machi, Taki County, Mie Prefecture)

[Contents]

Projection mapping images featuring artifacts excavated from the Saiku site, cultural assets such as the Tale of Genji Picture Scroll and the Tale of Ise Screen depicting the story of the Saiku and Saio, and the stories interwoven with them will be projected onto the main hall of the Saiku Heian no Mori, the remains of the palace where the Saio once lived and the national historic site. In addition, a sword dance performance, a ritual dance and a collaboration between the Saio in Heian costume and projection mapping were also held.

In addition, the Nishiwakiden Hall exhibited a digital installation that enabled visitors to experience the story of the Saiku and Saio in an immersive way, as well as explanations of cultural assets related to the Saiku that served as motifs for the projection mapping, and an AR experience that enabled visitors to interactively view cultural assets related to the Saiku using a smartphone.

[Organiser] Meiwa Tourist Trading Company, Incorporated Association

[Cooperation] Meiwa Town, Saiku Historical Museum, Meiwa Town Japanese Heritage Promotion Council, National Historic Site Saiku Site Preservation Association

[Planning and production] HITOHATA,INC.