This work, which includes Noism’s recent masterpiece “Fratres I”, develops themes I have explored in recent years, “the individual and the collective” and “the other world and the real world.” Through the mysterious presence of Marebito, the performance unfolds as a ritual surrounding the concept of the outsider. Marebito is an important concept in Japanese folklore (faith), introduced by folklorist Shinobu Orikuchi, and is a spiritual being that visits from the other world at specific times.
(From the director’s notes by Jo Kanamori)

This work was originally created as Noism0 and Noism1’s first outdoor performance for the project “Kurobe Theater 2023 Spring.” This year, it has been invited to two international festivals: the “SCOT Summer Season 2025” in Toga village, the sacred place of theatre arts, and the “Visavì Gorizia Dance Festival” held across the border between Slovenia and Italy. The piece was performed at the the gassho-style (steep thatched roof) theatre in Toga and at the SNG Nova Gorica (Slovenian National Theatre). After these performances, Noism will return for triumphant performances at its home base in Niigata and Saitama.

★Download the flyer here

"The Song of Marebito" Direction, choreography: Jo Kanamori
Music: Arvo Pärt
Costume: Kyoko Domoto, Shima Yamada
Performed by: Noism0、Noism1

For Noism's 22nd winter performance, we present “The Song of the Marebito”.

This work is a revised version of the piece premiered at the Kurobe Theatre in 2023.

The premiere was Noism’s first attempt at creating a work for an outdoor theatre. With many environmental and financial constraints, the challenge was significant. Kanamori, the director and choreographer, conveyed to the dancers the principle that “we do not rely on set design or costumes to convey meaning. We rely on the body that exists here.” These words set the dancers’ determination.

Nature is not something that tries to do or not do anything – it simply exists in a state of “nothingness”. Its overwhelming energy is not something we can easily confront in our usual state.

Feeling and overcoming nature’s power as a collective allowed the premiere to succeed greatly. Kanamori himself remarked at the time, “This is my second NINA*”.

Noism's early masterpiece, “NINA-materialize sacrifice”, was also born from confronting the essence of the body. And this new piece, “The Song of the Marebito”, created after many years and accumulated experience, began with the simple question of “confronting the body” and evolved into the more fundamental inquiry of “confronting humanity through the body”.

This work has journeyed from the open-air theatre, where earth and sky could be felt directly, to the stage of Toga Village's New Toga Sanbo, a closed Japanese house that nonetheless brings a cosmic expanse to the heart. Later, it departed Japan, traveled in the foreign land of Slovenia.

When the space or location changes, the dancer's body inevitably transforms too. Even when performing the same work, the body inhabits the space, and new spirits take root there.

We are confident that experiencing this transformation collectively will reveal new dimensions of Noism, and it is with this conviction that we have decided to stage this triumphant return performance.

*“NINA-materialize sacrifice” (Direction, choreography: Jo Kanamori, 2005) has been performed in 23 cities across 8 countries up to now.

This winter, we present “The Song of Marebito”, a revised version of “Selene, or the song of the Marebito”, originally performed at Maezawa Garden in Kurobe City two springs ago. The reason for removing Selene from the title is that it is the name of the moon goddess in Greek mythology, and this time, the work is no longer staged outdoors under the moonlight but in a theatre resembling a dark cave. Furthermore, the revision focuses on the keyword “Marebito”.
 
This work, which includes Noism’s recent masterpiece “Fratres I”, develops themes I have explored in recent years, “the individual and the collective” and “the other world and the real world.” Through the mysterious presence of Marebito, the performance unfolds as a ritual surrounding the concept of the outsider. Marebito is an important concept in Japanese folklore (faith), introduced by folklorist Shinobu Orikuchi, and is a spiritual being that visits from the other world at specific times. A something that influences our judgements and actions.
 
When one stays long within a particular place, group, and culture, certain things develop unconsciously. It deepens understanding of the land, generates culture, and shapes the spirit. However, it simultaneously carries the danger of losing critical perspectives, creating hollow customs, and generating spiritual stagnation that can only survive by drifting with the current of the time.
 
I am fascinated by Maribito because it arrives from outside of the place, the group and the culture. Moreover, because it visits as an invisible presence. It becomes an act of resistance against an international society rapidly closing in on itself and becoming increasingly exclusive. It also becomes as a warning to modern people, who increasingly rely on visual information and believe they can quantify (visualise) even the invisible powers residing within our bodies. To summon the marebito and listen to its song. This is to listen to the voice dwelling in the deepest part of our own body.

(as of 4 December 2025)
 

・Monday, 6 October 2025
■Theater Web Magazine “Confetti”
Born in an open-air theatre, traveling through Slovenia, returning home this winter.
This work naturally reveals Jo Kanamori's values in life.

※Also featured in theatre magazine “Confetti”.

・Thursday, 16 October 2025
■danceedition
“The Song of Marebito” Interview with Jo Kanamori & Sawako Iseki!

・Monday, 20 October 2025
■FIGARO japon website
Dance is hot right now! From Pina Bausch to K Ballet... 8 must-see performances.
Jo Kanamori's world confronting “the individual and the collective”, “the other world and the real world”.

 
・Wednesday, 22 October 2025
■BSN News “Yunavi” Exclusive report on Noism's Slovenia performance
 

・Thursday, 20 November 2025

■The Niigata Nippo, Culture page
Headline: Noism's “The Song of Marebito” receives high praise overseas after six years

・Saturday, 22 November 2025

■Numero Tokyo

Noism0＋1 “The Song of Marebito” triumphantly returns to RYUTOPIA and Saitama Arts Theatre!

・Friday, 28 November 2025

■BSN Niigata Broadcasting
Noism's “The Song of Marebito”, a work refined both domestically and internationally, returns triumphantly to Niigata City following its performance at the Slovenian National Theatre, SNG Nova Gorica.

・Friday, 28 November 2025

■The Daily Niigata

Headline: “We attended the public rehearsal and press conference for Noism0 + Noism1's “The Song of Marebito”!”

・Sunday, 30 November 2025

■Dance Cube, Noism0＋Noism1 “The Song of Marebito”

・Monday, 1 December 2025

■Pia, Noism0+Noism1 “The Song of Marebito”

・Tuesday, 2 December 2025
■The Niigata Nippo, Local page
Headline: Come and see the “Triumphant return performance”