Sonic Japan: Sounds of Chichibu

Entering the Chichibu Festival Museum, I was taken quickly to a darkened room with a video playing about the history of the Chichibu festival. There were no other visitors and the video was very loud in my ears, compared to the quietness of the museum. (2014/09/27)

Outside the Chichibu Festival Museum, speakers hidden in the garden on the street play festival sounds out to the street. This leaking of sounds from the museum, recreates the sounds of the drums during the festical. At first this is disorienting to the unknown visitor. Where is this sound coming from? It encourages a visitor to enter the museum to learn more about the festival but it also encourages a person to imagine the festival itself around them through sound alone. (2014/09/27)

Chichibu shrine is the main shrine in the town of Chichibu in Saitama. In this recording, a priest conducts a ceremony for a couple who are kneeled in front of him as she chants and beats a drum. (2014/09/27)