講演情報
[O30-01]Tracing the North Star: Maritime Lore, Oral Histories, and a Fulldome Interpretation from Japan
Masaru Hirohashi1, Yoshiko Murayama2, *Yuko Namiki1, Kouichi Kitao3 (1. Astrolab/Polano LLC (Japan), 2. CosmoPlanetariumShibuya (Japan), 3. Starlore Institute (Japan))
キーワード：
star lores、Japan、star navigation、Edo period、cultural astronomy、fulldome、art
For more than fifty years, Koichi Kitao—author of numerous works on Japanese star lore—has travelled throughout Japan to record traditional star knowledge preserved by local storytellers, especially elder fishermen. His long-term fieldwork has revealed a rich diversity of regional star names and the deep connection between the night sky and the daily lives of coastal communities.
Among Japan’s maritime traditions which Kitao researched, the legend of Tokuzō Kuwanoya stands out as a symbolic story of Edo-period seafaring culture. Tokuzō is a figure who has also been the subject of kabuki plays.The tale, which appears in multiple regional variations recounts how Tokuzō’s wife discovered that the supposedly “unmoving” North Star shifts slightly over time. While working late at night, she noticed the star’s changing position
against the wooden lattice of a paper sliding door and conveyed this insight to her husband.
This presentation first introduces fieldwork conducted by Kitao, followed by a fulldome visual interpretation of the Tokuzō legend created using traditional kirie (paper-cut) artwork. By combining documented oral histories with immersive media, the project illustrates how cultural astronomy can bridge historical star lore and contemporary planetarium storytelling.
We aim to present these works within a dome space, creating an immersive experience that brings the cultural and astronomical themes to life for the audience.
Please also see the oral presentation “A study of the characteristics of star lores in the Japanese archipelago” by Koichi Kitao and the poster presentation "The North Star Moves: The Legend of Kuwamaya Tokuzou's Wife" by Yoshiko Murayama.
speaker: Yuko Namiki
Total time you would request for a session: 15min
Among Japan’s maritime traditions which Kitao researched, the legend of Tokuzō Kuwanoya stands out as a symbolic story of Edo-period seafaring culture. Tokuzō is a figure who has also been the subject of kabuki plays.The tale, which appears in multiple regional variations recounts how Tokuzō’s wife discovered that the supposedly “unmoving” North Star shifts slightly over time. While working late at night, she noticed the star’s changing position
against the wooden lattice of a paper sliding door and conveyed this insight to her husband.
This presentation first introduces fieldwork conducted by Kitao, followed by a fulldome visual interpretation of the Tokuzō legend created using traditional kirie (paper-cut) artwork. By combining documented oral histories with immersive media, the project illustrates how cultural astronomy can bridge historical star lore and contemporary planetarium storytelling.
We aim to present these works within a dome space, creating an immersive experience that brings the cultural and astronomical themes to life for the audience.
Please also see the oral presentation “A study of the characteristics of star lores in the Japanese archipelago” by Koichi Kitao and the poster presentation "The North Star Moves: The Legend of Kuwamaya Tokuzou's Wife" by Yoshiko Murayama.
speaker: Yuko Namiki
Total time you would request for a session: 15min