ZOTTO ぞっと
A SUPERNATURAL IMMERSIVE ADVENTURE
The Japanese Arts Network (JA-NE) has partnered with Stories of Solidarity, Western Sound Alliance, Filmmaker Bruce Tetsuya, Producers Courtney Ozaki and Leah Podzimek, Community Organizer Joie Ha, and local Denver music, dance, and visual artists to bring you this chilling, or 'zotto' (in Japanese), supernatural immersive and multi-sensorial journey!
JAPANESE FOLKLORE
Japanese yokai (supernatural spirits and monsters) and obake (yokai who specifically transform, like ghosts, monsters, fairies, and goblins) folklore are strewn throughout this story as we navigate a complex and twisting audio-visual and tactile journey following our main character throughout Downtown Denver, the historic Five Points neighborhood and Capitol Hill in Colorado.
Akemi Tsutsui-Kunitake's depiction of FUJIN, "The Wind God" from ZOTTO
Nu World Danse Theatre in CHAPTER #5: NUE from ZOTTO, Film by Bruce Tetsuya
WHAT IS ZOTTO?
This journey will be best experienced by driving to each of 7 locations to be there in-person in their cars while listening to audio tracks or viewing videos. Only two locations will have the option of leaving the car, including the first stop at Pacific Mercantile and the final stop at Cheesman Park. Each next location will be disclosed by the audio tracks, videos, or the envelopes held within a package that will be mailed to each audience member upon purchasing the experience. A digital experience will also be available for those who are unable to drive, are not comfortable leaving the house, or are out of state. Audio and video tracks will be downloaded via a dedicated Bandcamp page. Each audience member will also be provided with clear directions to help them navigate between stops, as well as informative directives about how to engage with the provided interactive elements which, as mentioned before, they will receive via mail in advance of embarking on their journey.
The Historic Rossonian Hotel and Lounge (N Washington St, Denver, CO 80205)
DENVER'S SORDID HISTORY
ZOTTO aims to educate audiences about Denver’s rich yet sordid history and dynamics through a storytelling and artistic lens. The program provides historical context for the lived experiences of cultural communities in Denver and touches upon social issues including neighborhood redlining and segregation, Japanese American resettlement in Colorado following WWII, the Anti-Chinese Race Riots and terror caused by the KKK, transient life on East Colfax, and displacement of indigenous peoples.
All audio tracks and stops along the journey will have a coinciding website where we invite you by a dedicated QR/URL link to dive deeper into the stories of the people and places visited while acknowledging current-day parallels. This journey will be best experienced by driving to our locations in-person, though a digital experience will also be available to make it as accessible as possible.
HELP US TO SUPPORT ZOTTO! \
We are still fundraising and appreciate your support in making this production possible! Also, enjoy exclusive perks from local Japanese American and independent artists!
THANK YOU to our GENEROUS sponsors & PARTNERS!
