There was a passionate event that could brighten up the damp feelings of the rainy season.
On June 20, 2026 (Saturday), a flamenco stage performance titled The Scent of Earth was held at the multipurpose hall of Kurashiki City Kurashiki Monogatari-kan. Flamenco is an art form composed of dance, song, and guitar.
Flamenco in the Bikan Historical Area is a rare combination.
Having once learned dance, I wanted to experience a new genre and decided to attend.
Let me introduce the events of the day.
What is the flamenco stage performance "The Scent of Earth"?
The flamenco stage performance "The Scent of Earth" is a creative stage interpretation of the history of Kurashiki, organized by the Kurashiki Spanish Association.
The performance was composed of the following six parts.
- Earthy Kurashiki
- Cotton Field
- Workers' Song
- Joy
- Soleá - Solo -
- Epilogue
The dancer was Imai Mio, representative of the Kurashiki Spanish Association.
Imai-san is from Kurashiki City. She moved to Spain in 2020 and is a flamenco dancer who received professional training. The guitar and singing were performed by her husband, Joti de Jerez, who is from Spain.
The flamenco stage performance "The Scent of Earth" has also been selected as a project eligible for the 2026 Kurashiki City Cultural Promotion Fund.
Events of the day
On the day, despite the rain, guests began to gather at the multipurpose hall of Kurashiki City Kurashiki Monogatari-kan. Some people decided to drop in and watch after seeing the poster at the entrance of the Kurashiki City Kurashiki Monogatari-kan.
Originally a rice storehouse, the multipurpose hall features small windows and two large pillars. In front, two chairs were arranged with a guitar and cotton placed on them.
About 40 audience members attended, and the performance began at 5 PM.
The city of Kurashiki created by passion - Performance report part 1 -
The performance began with the resonant voice of Joti-san.
Since it is themed around the history of Kurashiki, cotton was placed on the chairs.
In the first part, "Earthy Kurashiki," Imai-san and Joti-san danced and sang in a powerful exchange. You could feel the strength of their souls colliding.
Next, in "Cotton Field," there was a solo performance by Joti-san. The beautiful fingerwork on the guitar and the crisp, sharp sounds were breathtaking.
Imai-san appeared in a changed costume.
The basket filled with cotton evoked the beginnings of Kurashiki's textile industry, and the passionate handclaps (palmas) and smiles combined with the lively performance.
Then came the third part, "Workers' Song."
Imai-san showcased her splendid steps, representing the dedication of the people working in Kurashiki. The sounds resonating on the floor reached the audience's bodies.
When the music stopped, Imai-san exited with a line in Okayama dialect, "Isn't there still work to do?"
This concluded the first half of the program.
The quiet space was suddenly enveloped in passion.
The joy of the city's development - Performance report part 2 -
The second half started with the upbeat "Joy."
Imai-san, dressed in a red costume, danced gracefully, and the fluttering fabric and the movements of her fingertips once again filled the venue with the atmosphere of Spain.
In the following "Soleá - Solo," the gentle sound of the guitar enveloped the quiet venue, as if a peaceful townscape was being created.
As footsteps echoed from the side of the stage, Imai-san appeared in a white costume. The quick steps blended with the sound of the guitar.
Imai-san's expressions varied from strong to smiling, conveying the joy of the city's development in Kurashiki.
The synchronized handclaps and footwork of the two grew louder, along with Joti-san's guitar sounds.
The audience also cheered with "Olé!"
Once again, Imai-san's intense steps captivated the audience. When silence fell, a loud applause erupted.
With expressions overflowing with emotion, the two embraced at the end.
The performance conveyed their love for Kurashiki through their flamenco.
After the performance - Words from Imai-san -
At the ending, Imai-san gave a greeting.
She realized that the history of Kurashiki and the history of flamenco are similar, and this work was born from that. She felt that this work might hold some significance for Kurashiki.
Finally, the waist part of the white costume she wore was made using tatami edging from Takada Orimono, which conveyed the spirit of craftsmanship from Kurashiki in the details.
After the performance, I was also able to take a photo with Imai-san and Joti-san.
I look forward to their activities bringing new passion to Kurashiki.
Conclusion
This was my first time watching flamenco live, and each movement and expression sparked my imagination about what emotions they conveyed.
Flamenco is a dance that expresses human emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.
It seems to represent the very act of living.
The Kurashiki Spanish Association plans to continue activities that connect Kurashiki and Spain. I look forward to Kurashiki meeting the passion of Spain and creating even more charm.
Data on the flamenco stage performance "The Scent of Earth"
| Name | Flamenco stage performance "The Scent of Earth" |
|---|---|
| Date | June 20, 2026 (Saturday) 5 PM - 6:20 PM |
| Location | Kurashiki City Kurashiki Monogatari-kan Multipurpose Hall |
| Participation fee (including tax) | 3,500 yen (advance and same-day) |
| Website | Kurashiki Spanish Association Instagram |
