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SOPHIA SYMPOSIUM 2025: EXPLORING A JAPANESE FISHING VILLAGE THROUGH ART

  • Writer: i-comcul
    i-comcul
  • Aug 5
  • 2 min read

Updated: Oct 24


November 12th/15th/16th 2025


This Symposium will present the findings of a collaborative research project by artists and academics who have engaged with the people, animals, history and environment of the village of Kitaushima on Sado Island to produce art works inspired by this unique place.

Dance, poetry, puppetry, visual art, theatre and film will be presented on campus at Sophia University and in hybrid form, alongside a theoretical discussion of the research and the meaning and impact of arts-practice research within universities and for society.


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Wednesday November 12th / 18:30 to 20:30 (Doors Open at 18:00，Screening from 18:30）

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Film Screening:

North Cormorant Island

（北鵜島）

A documentary film by John Willams and Yu Iwasaki


L-821, 8F. Library, Sophia University


FLYER in PDF: DOWNLOAD

Saturday November 15th / 18:30 to 19:30 (Doors Open at 18:00)


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Performance of a Play “The Blue Tanuki Dreams of a Two-Moon Night.” (In Japanese with English text explanation.)


A play with puppetry, music, dance, storytelling and song, based on the legends and stories of Kitaushima and the surrounding villages.


Venue: KULTURHEIM, Sophia University

Format: In Person Only

Maximum number of seats available: 60

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Sunday November 16th / 10:00 to 18:40


Exploring a Japanese Fishing Village through Art


This project involves multiple artists visiting Kitaushima and responding to the village through different art works and media. The project starts from the premise that measuring and quantifying can only give us certain kinds of information and that quantitative approaches might be usefully supplemented by forms of investigation that involve the body, senses and experience. This approach could give us a more complete and living picture of places that are often characterized as “problems” but which in fact may hold solutions to many of our contemporary dilemmas.


Guest speakers will reflect on similar projects in villages in Brazil, Norway and the UK.


  • Dr. Christine Greiner, Catholic University of Sao Paolo,

  • Dr. Elisabeth Brun, Kristiania College, Oslo,

  • Dr. Becca Voelcker, Goldsmith’s University of London

  • Poetry by Yasuhiro Yotsumoto

  • Artist Talks by Mike Collier, Hazel Barron-Cooper, Atsuko Nakamura and Ana Genioli.


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November16, 2025, 10:00 – 18:40

Room L-921, 9F, Library Building,

Sophia University

No registration required

In Person only


FLYER in PDF: DOWNLOAD

Full Program will be available soon

This research project was supported by:

ICC, JSPS, Sasakawa UK, Sasakawa Scandinavia, Daiwa Foundation, Sophia University Priority Research Grant, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, Sophia University Symposium Funding, Nordik Culture Fund, Newcastle University, Sado Island, Sado Galaxy Arts Festival.

Thanks to all the residents in Kitaushima, Masaragawa, Negai, Moura and Washizaki.



Images from the top to bottom

  • Mist in Kitaushima by Hazel Baron Cooper

  • North Cormorant Island flyer

  • Flyer image for the play 青いトンチンボの夢に月ふたつ

  • Nyksund in Northern Norway



 
 
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