Tōno – a land where the presence of those from the otherworld vividly remains. Signs of animals, yōkai, and souls of the dead linger to this day in this region. The book “The Legends of Tōno” (1910) by Kunio Yanagita captured folklore tales surrounding yōkai, such as Kappa and Zashiki Warashi (parlour child).
This online platform aims to create and circulate a new culture by inviting fieldworkers – artists, researchers, and travellers – to Tōno to unearth various topics overlooked by contemporary society and connect them to their own creations and research.
This platform is organised by a team hosting a tour and concert event, “Tōno Meguri Toroge”, with members residing in Tōno and Tokyo. As more artists, creators, and researchers have visited Tōno, the team has felt the growing need to facilitate both online and offline platforms so that this movement can be shared within Japan and beyond. Residency programmes for creation and research are being established, signalling the emergence of Tōno as a place for expression and exploration.
The Research page curates themes that represent Tōno to inspire ideas about what kind of fieldwork is possible in this area. The Experience page introduces events where visitors can experience the world of the Tales of Tōno, along with created projects and related publications. We hope a variety of activities and expressions will continue to flourish.