Kobe City Seeks Creators for Production of “Hirosaki Neputa” Promotion between Destination Cities

　On April 12, Kobe City began accepting applications for creators to participate in the production of the “Hirosaki Neputa” featuring Kobe. The project is operated by Kobe Design Center (3 Sannomiya-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe City).

Poster of “Hirosaki Neputa in Kobe 2023” held last year

　Kobe City and Hirosaki City have been working to promote the relationship between the two cities since March 2020, when Fuji Dream Airlines began direct flights between the two cities. Hirosaki City will hold “Hirosaki Neputa in Kobe,” an exhibition of the city’s traditional intangible cultural asset “Hirosaki Neputa” in Kobe City from 2022. This year, Kobe City will also launch the “Kobe x Hirosaki” Neputa Production and Operation Project to discover and nurture creators in Kobe City.

　This time, the city is looking for five creators and students who can participate in either August 1 or 2, when Hirosaki City will operate its neputa during the Hirosaki Neputa Festival, and who can attend workshops and meetings on neputa production to be held in Hirosaki City and Kobe City, respectively, before the festival. The students will be instructed by Hirosaki City neputa painters in designing, painting, coloring, and attaching pictures to the framework of the “Hirosaki Neputa,” which will be based on the theme of Kobe. No honorarium will be paid for the production, but transportation and lodging expenses for the visit to Hirosaki City will be waived.

　During the production period, on May 31 and June 1, Hirosaki City will hold “Hirosaki Neputa in Kobe 2024,” an exhibition and operation of the “Hirosaki Neputa” in Kobe City. In June, the city plans to launch a crowdfunding campaign to promote the project, as well as to announce the return gift that can be part of the “Hirosaki Neputa” on the day of its operation.

　Takeo Funabashi, president of Kobe Design Center, said, “Compared to Kyoto and Osaka, Kobe still lacks design companies and creative personnel, so we hope this project will bring out young creators who will lead the next generation. We will also hold online information sessions, so please feel free to participate,” he hopes. Many people in the Kansai region are unfamiliar with Aomori’s Nebuta and Neputa, so if you have even a passing interest, we hope you will enter and open new doors for yourself,” said Yuki Itado, head of the Kobe City New Industry Creation Division. We hope that those who are interested in gaining something new will feel free to apply.

　Applications will be accepted until April 26. Applications will be accepted through the project’s official website.