Kabuki Lecture and Performance: School Report
By Minako Oskay in San Diego
School Name: Otay Ranch High School
Location; Chula Vista, San Diego County, California
26 students, 3 parents and 2 teachers attended the Kabuki performance. The cost was covered by parents or fundraising. Students are from the Japanese 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students. (9th to 12th grades)
Here are some of the students' comments:
"This was my first time experiencing traditional japanese music, dancing and folktale. By attending kabuki, it has broadened my studies of Japanese culture and language."
"The show has been a very informative and once in a lifetime experience. I was able to learn more about the traditional Japanese theater; the behind the scene view of Kabuki and understanding all the elements that allowed me to enjoy the show."
"The actors showcased how they complete their makeup and costumes on stage, which would be very rare to find even in Japan. It was a very culturally enriching experience."
" I learned more about Japanese culture and hope to see it again next year."
"The kabuki presentation was one of a kind experience that left me thinking about it long after the play wes over. Not only were we fortunate enough to see a real kabuki play but we actually saw how the actors prepare, truly a wonderful experience."
'"The performance were really beautiful to watch. I've never been so hypnotized. The music was perfect for the stories being told and it really made me feel like I was in Japan. Another thing I liked were the costumes, which were very striking. the lectures made my experience even more special because I learned so much about Kabuki and the culture of Japan."
"Kabuki was fun and entertaining experience. I can see the actors are versatile with long time experience and training. I was intrigued by the unique quality of kabuki that it is played only by men. I learned more about Japanese culetue and hope to see it again next year."
Two lead actors to showcase
essences of Kabuki
Cultural News, September 2009 Issue
The world-renowned Shochiku Company of Japan will send its lead Kabuki actor
Nakamura Kyozo for a lecture and performance program at five U.S. cities in October.
Nakamura Kyozo will perform Sagimsume. (Courtesy of the Japan Foundation)
The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles and the
Japan Foundation presents a Kabuki theme lecture/performance including two Kabuki
dance classics: Sagi Musume (The Heron Maiden) and Lion Dance of Shakkyo
(Stone Bridge) on Thursday, October 15, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Aratani/Japan
America Theatre in Little Tokyo, Downtown Los Angeles. Tickets are $25 for the
general public. Call the box office at (213) 680-3700 or visit www.jaccc.org.
Nakamura Kyozo
Nakamura Matanosuke
The world-renowned Shochiku Company of Japan will send lead actors Nakamura
Kyozo and Nakamura Matanosuke (Japanese names are spelled in traditional order
with last names appearing first) along with a professional costume stylist, wig
master, musicians, and prop masters.
The Los Angeles program is part of a five U.S.-city tour sponsored by The Japan
Foundation, a cultural exchange institution funded by the Japanese government.
Actor Nakamura Kozo started his professional career as a member of the Nakamura
Jakuemon IV troupe in 1982. The acting name Kyozo was given by his master,
Jakuemon IV.
Nakamura Kyozo has since then continued his professional career through regular
monthly performances at the nation’s Kabuki theaters. He also has participated in
various lecture and performance tours sponsored by the Japan Foundation outside of
Japan.
Prior to Kabuki training, Nakamura Kyozo graduated from Hosei University in Tokyo
as a Japanese literature major.
Actor Nakamura Matanosuke graduated from the Training School for Kabuki Actors
of the National Theatre in 1986, and started a professional career as a "tachi-yaku"
or a male role under the guidance of Nakamura Matagoro.
The accompanying musicians are Yoshimura Ichishiro and Yoshimura Ishinosuke on
nagauta (as vocalists), Kineya Shoen and Kineya Rokujiro on shamisen, Tanaka
Dentaro on fue (flute), Mochizuki Tashu and Mochizuchi Takijuro on tsuzumi (small
drums).
This traveling program is called "Backstage to Hanamichi - A Behind the Scenes
Look at the Color, Magic and Drama of Kabuki."
With its magnificent beauty and highly refined skill, Kabuki is a rare jewel amongst
the great theater traditions of the world.
Kabuki actors must undergo years of rigorous training in order to master its three
artistic components of music (ka), dance (bu) and drama (ki) before being allowed to
perform before an audience.
In order to create the magic that is seen on stage, the Kabuki actor is supported
backstage by a team of unseen artisans and craftsmen including costume stylists,
wig masters, musicians, and prop masters.
The "Backstage to Hanamichi" program provides the audience with a rare glimpse
into the traditional world of this centuries-old theater and the painstaking preparations
that lead up to an actor's grand entrance onto the hanamichi stage.
The hanamichi (meaning flower path) is the long stage that Kabuki actors use to
appear or exit the main stage. It is one of the main components of the Kabuki stage
allowing the audience to experience the theatre to the fullest.
At the Aratani Theatre in Los Angeles, two Kabuki dance classics: Sagi Musume
(The Heron Maiden) and Shakkyo (Stone Bridge), contrast the lyric style of the
onnagata (actor specializing in female roles) with that of the dynamic, acrobatic style
represented in the heroic Lion Dance.
Sagi Musume is a tragic story of unrequited love between a man and a heron who has
assumed a woman's form. She tragically dies a resentful slow death.
In contrast, Shakkyo is a dance drama of a miraculous tale about mystic lions that
appeared at a natural stone bridge in Mount Tendai during the Sung dynasty, China.
It is about a woman at a party who is intrigued with a lion's mask, which possesses
her once she holds it. In a matter of minutes she is transformed into a huge lion,
dancing in a frenzy as its mane swirls in wild circles.
This program is presented in conjunction with the 100th Anniversary Celebration of
the Japan America Society of Southern California.
Following the Los Angeles performance, the program will travel to:
San Francisco, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2 p.m. Presented by San Francisco State
University at McKenna Theatre, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132.
General admission will be $20; $10 for students. Contact the Box Office at (415)
405-2849 or halladey@sfsu.edu
Seattle, Monday, Oct. 19, 7 p.m. Presented by the Seattle Cherry Blossom &
Japanese Cultural Festival Committee at Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at
Benaroya Hall, 200 University Street, Seattle, WA 98101-3428. Box Office (206)
215-4800, scbjcf@earthlink.net. $20 or $10 (All seats are assigned).
Portland, Oregon, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 7 p.m. Presented by Portland State
University at The Dolores Winningstad Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway (at Main Street),
Portland, OR 97205. Box Office (503) 248-4335. $20 for general; $12 for
senior/students.
Denver, Colorado, Saturday, Oct. 24, 7 p.m. Presented by the Japan America
Society of Colorado at the June Swaner Gates Concert Hall (University of Denver),
2344 E. Lliff Ave, Denver, CO 80208. Box Office (303) 871-7720. Tickets are available
at ticketmaster.com, (800) 982-2787 or Ticketmaster Outlets. $25 general admission.