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Yoshihiro Shioi
G6, Performer in traditional art, craft, dancing and singing
Although he was born as the second son of Shioi family, he decided to pursue the Japanese traditional performance called KABUKI. Shioi family has been engaged in so called takeout food business as the 3rd generation with great success, he decided however to take totally different career when he was very young.
He was fascinated by SUPER KABUKI ( recreation of very traditional KABUKI performance ) led by Mr. Ennosuke ICHIKAWA and started tough training when he 5 years old and started to show his talent in very early days. His debut was at 8 years old and granted to have KABUKI name as Mr. Reita FUJIMA when he was only 17 !
Countless performance he made in his career with amazing reputation, he decided to go to the promotion of Japanese traditional works like traditional art, craft, dancing and singing which were waiting for revitalization. Young talents are mostly coming from family businesses in these fields, graduated from distinguished universities to have many awards naturally, these fields are unfortunately facing with shrinking equilibrium.
Immediately he graduated from university he started the company called REI to assemble these talents to present their REBORN. He envisages another stage with young stars from abroad !
Session
Owning the Hidden: Revitalizing Unknown Japanese Family Cultures Through the Tapestry of Family Business
Workshop
Ancestral Japanese arts and traditions, such as Japanese calligraphy or Kabuki performance, are becoming increasingly popular worldwide. However, there are many hidden, unknown cultural activities which have lasted many centuries, and unfortunately some might disappear shortly if not taken care of. Music instruments like Biwa, Koto Nagabue, face painting of Kabuki called Kumadori, Shironuri for the ladies with Kimono are so delicate and precious but stand still ready to be forgotten or -hopefully- recovered. But, how? Yoshihiro started his business by nicely integrating these traditions, without losing their authentic value. His goal is to make these cultures known and appreciated internationally, Interestingly, he has pivoted his entrepreneurial family-backed project as a kind of coherent ensemble encompassing many of such noble antique practices, freshly enabled by digital technologies.