Succession and Reconsturuction of Festivals/Folk Performing Arts in Overaged and Depopulated Communities: Focusing on the Role of Mediator between Inhabitants, out-Migrants, Incomers, and Volunteers.

This research investigates how inhabitants have continued the local festivals from generation to generation in rural area in Japan. To take over them, residents need supports from out-migrants, migrants, and volunteers. In the process of taking over the indigenous customs, participants re-construct the festivals and performances. This research analyses the transition and make clear the function of cooperation between inhabitants and migrants in overaged and depopulated communities. Moreover, it aims to show the possibility of local festivals to empower the community because they play the role of mediation among diverse collaborators.

This research focuses on conflicts and misunderstanding between residents and other stakeholders. Through the negative incidents and feelings, people can learn how to live and cooperate in the community together. The research conducts the participant observation and interview for participants in a festival at fishing village in Japan. Research cases are festival called Kanmai in Iwaishima Island, Kaminoseki town. In this island, most of the inhabitants have been opposed to the construction of nuclear power plants on the other side of the island since 1982.

After the Great East Japan Earthquake and the accident of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2011, the island attracted attention of people in Japan as an island opposed to nuclear power plants, and some people emigrated to the island. They sympathize with residents of the island opposed to nuclear power and trying to continue living mainly on fishery and agriculture. In this research, through interview on the island and participation observation of preparations for the festival, I analyze how immigrants are familiar with the culture and lifestyle of the island through preparation of the festival, and on the contrary, how the inhabitants of the island accept the immigrants, and the problems on the coexistence of residents and migrants.