My name is Shimamura and I am the manager of Premium Japan's kimono department. This time we produced an event for the FCCJ (Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan), an event to enjoy Japanese culture in kimonos, and we MCed it in kimonos.

The day was a great success with approximately 80 guests including FCCJ members, external guests, media personnel, and members of the Premium Japan Kimono Club.

To hold the event, I asked Mr. Kikunojo and Mr. Ippei to first give a presentation that would make the performance even more enjoyable, such as the origins and characteristics of ``Japanese dance'' and ``Kyogen,'' and ``Itseikai.'' things to do

FCCJ has many foreign members, and for them Japanese culture, especially traditional performing arts, is a mysterious world. Of course, even for Japanese people, there are many things that are unknown to anyone other than a few enthusiasts, so we decided to have two people who usually perform on stage give a presentation using PowerPoint materials.

Moreover, all the content has to be translated into English, so it takes double the time. It seemed difficult to get the timing right at first, but both of them were very good at explaining things and had a great sense of humor. I was worried about the presentation as there was no rehearsal, but my fears turned out to be unfounded.

Following the entertaining presentation, each of them performed their own piece.

First up is ``Uosekyo'' by Kyogen artist Ippei Shigeyama. A novice monk who is a former fisherman is suddenly asked to give a sermon to a monk. However, he is a monk who has never given a sermon. At a loss, he tries to explain the sutra by listing the names of the fish, but... It was a highlight to see Mr. Ippei recite the sutras so proudly, including the names of seafood in a fashionable way.

Noh and Kyogen combine to form the genre Nohgaku. Unlike Noh, which is a song and dance drama, Kyogen is a dialogue drama. Rather than using large-scale stage equipment, everything is expressed through words and gestures. The main characteristic of Kyogen is laughter. Using the daily lives and folk tales of common people in the Middle Ages as subject matter, he cuts out human habits and essence and turns them into easy-going ``laughter'' and ``funny stories.''

Mr. Kikunojo will dance ``Sukeroku'', a popular Kabuki play, with a technique unique to Japanese dance. This is a dance set in the red-light district of Edo, depicting a stylish man named Sukeroku visiting his lover. Both the glamorous and flashy part called ``aragoto'' and the glamorous charm of ``wagoto'' are well expressed. The choreography using Japanese umbrellas is also a highlight.

Japanese dance has been in people's lives since ancient times. It is common throughout the world to dance to pray for the prosperity of descendants, peace, and a good harvest, and for the repose of souls. The fundamental dance was divided into various forms, such as the roots of Nohgaku, the creation of Kabuki, and Ningyo Joruri, and was refined in each performing art. Among them, Japanese dance is most closely related to Kabuki, and has developed together with Kabuki, which has continued for over 400 years. Within Kabuki's aesthetic sense, costumes, wigs, and props were developed, and dance techniques were developed to express the characters' backgrounds and emotions, and these techniques and productions have been passed down to the present day. After the Meiji period, the artistry was particularly refined, and ``subodori,'' a performance in which dancers danced without costumes or makeup, was developed.

Japanese dance is characterized by the fact that, in addition to its existence as a dance piece, it also places importance on the spirit of human behavior and body language. For this reason, it is the most important skill required for actors who wear kimono in period dramas that require stylized acting. Japanese dance is a special art that is involved in almost all traditional performing arts.

Mr. Kikunojo explained to me that Onoue is characterized by elegant dance and high-class dance art that values ​​``dignity, freshness, and unexpectedness,'' and by watching the dance, I was able to understand. I was able to do.

◆What is Isseikai?

Dancer Onoue Kikunojo and Kyogen Noh performer Ippei Shigeyama are a two-person group that transcends their genres and pursues the possibilities of dance and Kyogen as new forms. Since 2009, the event has been created every year and held in various forms, and this year marks the 15th anniversary. In addition to performing classical works, we also study each other's genres and combine the similar and dissimilar performing arts of ``dance'' and ``kyogen'' to create new works as ``dance kyogen'' each time, seeking new possibilities that go beyond mere collaboration. , has been announced. To date, more than 10 Isseikai original works have been created.

◆Performance overview

[Schedule] August 2024th (Sun) - 8th (Sun), 18 *Closed on the 25st, 21 days, 7 performances in total

[Location] Cerulean Tower Noh Theater (26-1 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 2nd basement floor)

[Sponsored and Performed] Kikunojo Onoe/Ippei Shigeyama

"Performer"

August 8th (Sun) Ukon Onoe / Shigeru Shigeyama / Hiromi Shimada

August 8th (Monday) Koshiro Matsumoto / Munehiko Shigeyama / Takanobu Sakaguchi / Yoshikazu Shigeyama / Kyo Onoe

August 8th (Tuesday) Takanosuke Nakamura/Munehiko Shigeyama/Takanobu Sakaguchi/Kikushiro Onoe

August 8nd (Thursday) Ichitaro Nakamura / Sengoro Shigeyama / Yoshikazu Shigeyama / Hiromi Shimada / Bokuyuki Onoe

August 8rd (Friday) Nakamura Sodama / Shigeyama Chigoro / Hatori Ichiko / Shigeyama Shichigosan

August 8th (Sat) Shigeyama Shichigosan / Shigeyama Sennojo / Kengo Tanimoto / Yoshito Hatori / Bokuyuki Onoe

August 8th (Sun) Matsuya Onoe / Sennojo Shigeyama / Kengo Tanimoto / Yoshikazu Shigeyama / Yoshito Hatori /

Shigeyama Shichigosan / Onoue Bokuyuki

Admission fee: 10,000 yen (*All seats reserved/tax included, seats cannot be reserved)

Ticket application: Application starts from fan club on June 6th (Monday)

Applications will be accepted from the Onoue and Shigeyama Sengoro websites starting June 6th (Monday).

For ticket inquiries, please contact:

TEL: 03-3541-6344 (Weekdays 10:00-18:00)

MAIL: info@onoe-ryu.com

Kikunosuke Onoe
Onoue 4th Iemoto/Director of the Japan Dance Association (Public Corporation)

Born in 1976. He studied under his father, Onoe Kikunojo II (currently known as Bokuyuki) from the age of 2, and made his stage debut at the age of 5. In 2011, he succeeded the Onoue iemoto as the fourth generation and assumed the name of the third generation Onoue Kikunojo. He hosts his own recital, ``Onoe Kikunojo no Kai,'' and ``Itseikai,'' with his Kyogen master Ippei Shigeyama. He has directed and choreographed various genres such as new Kabuki, Hanamachi Dance, Takarazuka Revue, OSK Nippon Opera, and ice skating "Hyoen" and "Luxe".

Ippei Shigeyama
Kyogen Kata Okura School Noh Performer/Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (General Certification)

Born in 1979. She made her first stage performance as a child in ``Narihira Mochi'' when she was 4 years old. Afterwards, she performed ``Chitose,'' ``Sanbansan,'' and ``Tsuriko.'' In 1994, he formed the Hanagata Kyogen Shonen-tai with Munehiko and Shigeru and became active. In addition, since 2000, he has been co-hosting the Mind, Technique, and Body Educational Classical Kyogen Promotion Preparatory Training Training Group = ``TOPPA!'' with Senzaburo, Masakuni (currently Sengoro), Munehiko, Shigeru, and Doji. and activities. He has appeared in the NHK TV drama series ``Kyo, Futari'', ``Audrey'', ``Gochisousan'', and many other plays and commercials.