Guild名鑑 No.164　日本舞踊家　坂東 寛二郎さん

迷いなき道を舞う。
日本舞踊家 坂東 寛二郎さんの伝統を未来へ紡ぐ在り方
(The English version follows the Japanese text.)

港区を起点にいろんなところで働く・暮らす、楽しい時間を創りたい人たちによるコミュニティCreative Guild。このギルド名鑑ではそんなCreative Guildでつながったユニークな方々をご紹介しています。今回ご紹介するのは日本舞踊家・坂東 寛二郎さん。伝統芸能の価値を大切にしながらも、次世代の可能性を穏やかに、しかしながら力強く支え、未来への迷いなき道を示し続けています。

【Guild名鑑ファイルNo.164】日本舞踊家　坂東 寛二郎さん

日本舞踊家・坂東 寛二郎さんは、八代目坂東三津五郎丈の内弟子として研鑽を積み、六歳で初舞台を踏んで以来、半世紀以上にわたり日本舞踊の発展に尽力してきました。全国各地で指導や舞台演出、所作指導など幅広く活動し、子供舞踊塾の監修や有馬 和歌子さんとの親子共演などを通して、次世代育成にも力を注いでいます。古典を守りながらも現代の感性を取り入れ、オーケストラとの共演や異分野のアーティストとのコラボレーションなど、新しい挑戦も積極的に展開。伝統を今に生かし、その魅力をより多くの人に届ける活動を続けています。さらに2025年11月24日には増上寺で開催される若手アーティストのイベント「ONE STAGE CONCERT」にも賛助出演。世代を超えた共創の舞台を届けます。

そんな坂東 寛二郎さんは、ご自身の在り方をとても大事にしています。人の心に寄り添い、筋を通し、義理を果たすこと。そして時代の変化を受け入れて、今を一所懸命に楽しむこと。それは技の奥にある“心”を重んじる姿勢です。そしてその在り方を通じて、次の世代が迷わないように未来への道を示し、その歩みを支えています。だから坂東 寛二郎さんの周りには、世代や立場を超えて多様な方が集い、伝統から地続きの、けれども単なる過去の延長ではない新しい未来が紡がれているのです。

伝統芸能は、見た目の華やかさだけでなく、そこに関わる多くの人々の想いが紡がれた結晶です。それは芸能という枠を超え、時代ごとの社会や文化を学び、伝え、未来の礎となる知恵でもあります。しかし、急速に変化する現代社会の中で、その担い手は減りつつあり、とくに“心＝精神”の部分を伝えることが難しくなっています。一方で、伝統を無理に押し付けることもまた、未来を閉ざしてしまいます。だからこそ今、伝統と変化のバランスをどうとるか、そしてどのような意図をもって未来へ進めていくかが問われているのです。

坂東 寛二郎さんは、まさにその在り方を通じて、伝統的な価値を伝えながらも新しい変化を前向きに受け入れ、次の世代が未来に迷わないように道を示しています。一人ひとりの人生の舞台で舞うように、心をつなぐその姿は圧巻です。Creative Guildとしてもぜひ坂東 寛二郎さんの在り方に学び、一人ひとりの心をつなぐため、一所懸命に今を、世代も立場も超えてみんなで楽しんでいきましょう。それが未来を紡ぐ大きな力になるのですから。

Dancing to Guide a Path Without Hesitation.
Nihon Buyo Master Kanjiro Bando Weaves Tradition Into the Future.

Creative Guild is a community of people who live and work across various places, starting from Minato City, and who share the desire to create joyful experiences. In this Guild Directory, we highlight the unique individuals connected through Creative Guild. This time, we feature Kanjiro Bando, a master of Nihon Buyo (Japanese classical dance). While treasuring the timeless value of traditional performing arts, he gently yet powerfully supports the next generation, continuing to illuminate a clear path toward the future.

A lifelong student of the renowned eighth-generation Mitsugorō Bando, Kanjiro Bando made his stage debut at the age of six and has since dedicated more than half a century to the art of Japanese dance. His activities span choreography, stage direction, and instruction across Japan. Through his supervision of children’s dance programs and performances with parents and children, he devotes himself to nurturing young talent. While preserving the essence of classical tradition, he embraces modern sensibilities—collaborating with orchestras and artists from different disciplines to explore new creative forms. By breathing contemporary life into tradition, he brings its beauty to broader audiences. In November 2025, he will appear as a special guest at the ONE STAGE CONCERT at Zojoji Temple, joining young artists in a performance that celebrates intergenerational collaboration.

Kanjiro Bando places great importance on how he lives and acts. He values sincerity, loyalty, and compassion—standing close to others, keeping his word, and fulfilling his obligations. At the same time, he accepts change and strives to enjoy the present moment fully. This attitude reflects his belief that true artistry lies not only in technique, but in the heart behind it. Through this way of being, he shows the next generation a path forward, guiding them so they may move without confusion or fear. Around him, people of many generations and backgrounds naturally gather, and from their encounters, a new kind of future is being woven—one that flows from tradition yet transcends mere continuation of the past.

Traditional performing arts are not only about visual beauty; they are crystallizations of countless emotions and the dedication of many people. They go beyond performance, carrying the wisdom that studies and conveys the culture and spirit of each era. Yet in today’s rapidly changing world, the number of practitioners continues to decline, and conveying the spirit—the essence that lives within—has become increasingly difficult. Forcing tradition upon others, however, can also close off the future. The challenge now is to find a balance between preservation and change, and to move forward with clear intention and purpose.

Through his life and work, Kanjiro Bando embodies that balance. He conveys the enduring values of tradition while embracing transformation with optimism, guiding the next generation to walk their paths with confidence. His presence—dancing as if upon each person’s stage of life, connecting hearts through movement—is profoundly inspiring. The Creative Guild, too, hopes to learn from his example: to connect people across generations and roles, to give our best to the present, and to enjoy the journey together. For that, fun and commitment are what truly weave the future.