Mayu Shirai
Elegance and Spirituality in Movement: Traditional Jiutamai
After captivating audiences at Japan Matsuri last year, Mayu Shirai returns to Japan Matsuri 2026 to invite us once again into the world of Jiutamai, a refined form of traditional Japanese dance characterised by restrained, elegant and deeply expressive movements.
Originally from Osaka and currently studying at the Dimitri Academy, Mayu has developed an artistic path that combines her training in contemporary dance, including studies in New York, with the rigorous practice of Jiutamai. She is a student of Yuho Furusawa, who leads the Furusawa school in its second generation and through whom she continues this long-standing tradition.
Rooted in the Furusawa school's tradition and its origins in Hyōgo Prefecture, Jiutamai is distinguished by its intimate and contemplative nature. Traditionally performed in spaces known as zashiki, tatami-floored rooms, it creates a unique sense of closeness between dancer and audience. At the heart of the performance is ki, the vital energy that, through subtle and natural movements, creates a profound connection between dancer and audience.
With her sensitivity and artistic interpretation, Mayu Shirai presents Jiutamai as a language of silence, memory and poetry, capable of conveying emotion through every gesture.
On Saturday, 19 September at 2:15 pm, on the main stage, Mayu will present a Jiutamai performance—a moment of contemplation and beauty, inviting audiences to immerse themselves in the elegance of traditional Japanese dance.
At 4:00 pm, she will then lead the Japanese Dance and Culture Workshop, an open session for everyone, with no previous experience required. Through simple movements, gestures, postures and a short choreography, participants will have the opportunity to discover Japanese dance and explore the cultural meaning behind its movements. The workshop will also explore the relationship with nature, grace in everyday gestures, rhythm and ma—the Japanese sense of space, pause and interval—elements deeply rooted in Japanese culture and aesthetics.
A unique double opportunity to discover Japanese dance from two perspectives: through the poetry and elegance of a live performance, and immediately afterwards through a hands-on experience designed for children and adults.
Dance Performance
Date: Saturday, 19 September
Time: 2:15 PM
Location: Main Stage, Pavilion C
Workshop
