Nou - Japanese Traditional Arts

24/11/2010

I had the chance to see the Nou traditional arts performance in Shibuya Tokyo. This was organized by a set of Nou lovers who practice Nou as a hobby. Professionals don`t perform at this level and they were not wearing the costumes. But this performance managed to give us a basic knowledge about Nou and what it looks like.

This is the timetable of the day s show.

The stage and a set of the audience

Recital

The reciters sit in the traditional seating position "seiza" and recites a story. Mostly all recites the story and when it comes to dialogs each reciter recites his part.They don`t sit still in the same pose all 20 minutes. They have several movements while reciting. Their position of the hands, position of the fan change according to the storyline.

Next was a drama like recital, more like opera. Four reciters recites the story while one actor uses his body to express the emotions. The most important tool was the fan. The opening , closing of the fans and also the steps(choreography) played an interesting part in the dramatic recital. Following is some captures of the performances. Please notice the second capture, where a woman is performing Nou. Guess you noticed women reciters in the captures above.In the real Nou world it is forbidden to perform Nou on stage, for women. As this is not formal Nou, this woman is allowed to play on stage.

Special thanks go to Mr.Ito and his father who invited us to the show. And again special thanks go to Hiroshi Moriguchi for the unforgettable SR400 bike ride to Shibuya.

Comments

Borobudur - Yogyakarta

2014/05/06 Borobudur is the worlds largest Buddhist temple, hence UNESCO World Heritage Site. We had plans to watch the sunrise at Borbudur over Mount Merapi. So it was an early trip to the temple around 4.30 in the dark by torch light, wait for the sunrise enjoy the view from the top of the temple, have breakfast at Manohara hotel and leave. It was pitch dark in the night, not much moon. The torchlight showed us the way and a silhouette of a temple came in to view when our eyes gradually got used to the dark. With the first rays of sunlight, we saw Mount Merapi. The beautiful but vicious volcano fuming. Loved it! All around the place is covered in mist, so the actual surroundigs are yet to be confirmed. By now the temple, which we have already climbed and waiting at the top, is coming in to view. The stupas, carvings and statues gradually emerge. The temple is a symmetrical stupa, consisting of nine stacked platforms: six squar...

Onabe - Japanese Hot Pot

15/05/2010 It was after spending the evening at Thai Festival 2010 in Yoyogi,Shibuya. The dinner was decided on "Nabe" at a shibuya chain restaurant of Japanese hot pot. I have always loved nabe. I have had shabu shabu hotpot, sukiyaki hotpot and seafood hotpot at Japanese houses and this was the first time I am having it at a restaurant. So I thought of sharing some moments of the supreme happiness of eating Nabe - the Japanese hotpot. Beef, eggs and the vegetables The whole table of ingredients for the Nabe in one shot Shabu shabu and sukiyaki on one hotplate finally you dip the boiled slice of meat in the "tare" and eat. This chain restaurant is in Shibuya and limitless "tabehoudai" for less than 2000yen. Good service and loved the meat. All Rights Reserved.

Tateyama Alpine Route - Murado Station

19/07/2010 Another dream coming true. I always wanted to go there.I was collecting leaflets, pamphlets about this but never thought of going due to the high costs. Well, luck was upon me this one time. It was early morning of 5.45 and I was waiting for my sensei s vehicle in front of Toyama Station. I did know the plans for the day but that we were going to Tateyama. Were we going to Kurobe Dam too, or going to Kurobe Dam?Were we going to take the Alpen Route or go straight to Kurobe? Surprises were waiting. We reached Tateyama Station and I knew it is my dream coming true. Weather and information of the day It was around 14degrees at the top of the mountain while it was nearly 36degrees at the foot. We were simply above the clouds and the temperature difference was too much to bear. It was cold in the summer. Early in the morning when we passed the Murodo staion on our way to Kurobe dam it was clear all around. in the aftern...

I Stopped At...

Search This Blog