Words by Sasa Cabalquinto
Photos by Kapwa Movement Team
What does it mean for Butoh, an art form born in postwar Japan, to move across borders and take root in new cultural landscapes?
Last February 6-8, 2026, Butoh artists from across Asia gathered in Manila for the first Asia Butoh Gathering, a three-day festival dedicated to the exchange, reflection, and performance of Butoh in the region. Organized by Kapwa Movement with the support of The Japan Foundation, Manila, the gathering created a rare platform where Butoh practitioners from different countries could meet, share their practices, and reflect on the evolving presence of Butoh in Asia.
The gathering was made possible through the work of a dedicated all-women team of cultural workers and arts managers from Southeast Asia, working together with a group of interns and volunteers from PUP Tanghalang Molave, UP Tomo-Kai and Ateneo Hinomoto who supported the festival behind the scenes. Their collective efforts helped create a space for artists and audiences in Manila to come together and make the festival bring to life.
Originating in postwar Japan through the pioneering work of Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo Ohno, Butoh has long traveled across borders through performances, workshops, and artistic exchange. Today, artists throughout Asia continue to engage with its philosophical and physical foundations while adapting the practice to their own cultural landscapes.
Throughout the festival, participants took part in roundtable discussions, lecture presentations, workshops, film screenings, and performances that explored the many ways Butoh has taken root across Asia. Conversations addressed questions of lineage, cultural adaptation, and the sustainability of artistic platforms in the region, while the performances revealed the diverse voices and embodied languages emerging from contemporary Asian Butoh.
The festival concluded with Falling Earth, Moving Sky, a performance program where Asian Butoh artists shared the stage for the first time, presenting solo works alongside a collective performance inspired by ecological interconnectedness.
As Butoh continues to evolve beyond its Japanese origins, the Asia Butoh Gathering affirms the importance of dialogue, collaboration, and cultural exchange in shaping its future. Through encounters such as this, new connections are formed and the living network of Butoh in Asia continues to grow. For more details about the event, please check the website: asiabutohgathering.com
