“We love the demonstrations of Utoro residents, with the Nongak Group at the front. They are absolutely the coolest!“*

Before, in Utoro, countless gatherings were held to defend both the land and the way of life. At those gatherings, the stirring beat of Nongak―the rhythms born on the Korean Peninsula, brought to Japan, and have since taken root here―filled the air.

Utoro’s Nongak began with its women as the torchbearers. It was after words like ‘eviction,’ ‘lawsuit,’ and ‘struggle’ were suddenly thrust upon them—amid their long days of labor for their families and raising their children and grandchildren—that they found in Nongak a means to express their resistance.

Out of this crucible of challenge to protect their land and home, the women forged a “voice”―Utoro’s Nongak, the musical expression of resistance and hope. Whether they led the protest marches through the main streets of Kyoto or emerged as the center of attention for an audience gathered to learn about Utoro through their performance, the Nongak Group moved countless hearts.

To know Utoro is to know its Nongak.

Through this exhibition, we hope you will encounter the spirited legacy of Nongak as it was first set in motion by these determined women.

*Excerpt from Utoro News No. 7, “700 People Gather for Utoro Town Development Meeting!” (Published December 1989).