Celebrating the New Year ~Kyogen's New Year with laughter~

A stage for Kyogen performers living in the 21st century
Vol.5　Celebrating the New Year
Ozo doctrine (Noh performer Kyogen style Ozo school)

At the end of the year, the practice room begins to be thoroughly cleaned, and New Year decorations are put up to invite the New Year's deity...this is the same in every household.
We ordered daikon shimenawa, kadomatsu (New Year's decorations), yuzu (paper stripes), urashiro (back-shiro), paper streamers, garlands, ball decorations, and shimenawa (sacred ropes)...these are all necessary decorations for the rehearsal space.
Shimenawa ropes are hung on all four sides of the upper part of the practice room, daikon radish decorations are hung on the Shinto altar, and jeweled decorations and kadomatsu (new-day pine decorations) are hung at the entrance. Important places such as the tokonoma alcove are decorated with wreaths and mochi placed on yuzu and urashiro paper. These are the New Year's decorations.

On New Year's Day, the disciples gather at the practice hall to perform the "First Noh Ceremony."
On a different day, the entire company (students from the class) will gather together and perform the "Maihajishiki" ceremony.
This is a customary tradition and is an event unique to the world of Noh.

On the stage is a hanging scroll of the Imperial Ancestors, a "Kokuroijo" mask and bell used by the Kyogen actors in "Okina," the most sacred piece of Noh theater. A sakaki tree, salt, rice, and sake are brought down from the household altar. These are displayed on a special altar, and the ceremony is held in front of it. This is a celebration of the New Year and a prayer for safe performances throughout the year.

Finally, we purify ourselves by drinking sacred sake, salt, and rice served on a three-tiered tray, and then we move on to the New Year's party.
The most exciting part of a New Year's party is the "lucky draw." While this may be something that is done anywhere, there is an interesting "game" that is unique to Kyogen. The key to this is that participants write a Kyogen line that matches the lucky item (roughly 500 yen) they have prepared and attach it to a noshi.

"Now, it's time for the lucky draw!"
We started off with a bang, with the voices of our respective positions.
"The item you won was submitted by XX. It's a "smooth ointment" with the line, "Well, suck it up, suck it up," but what's inside?"
Incidentally, "ointment" is an external medicine that is applied to a piece of paper or cloth and stuck to the affected area to absorb the poison. The Kyogen play "Ointment" tells the story of an "absorbing contest" between ointment makers from Kamakura and Kyoto.
So, the prize in the lottery is a "tabletop cleaner."
The gift exchange is full of witty wordplay, something only Kyogen actors can do, and while some of the gifts are well-crafted, others are so old they're hard to understand, which keeps the audience laughing.

Nowadays I think it's a fitting start to the year for Kyogen performers, but when I was a child I absolutely hated this series of events that take place around the New Year's holiday.
I honestly thought, "I don't need any New Year's money, I just want to have a normal New Year's!"

Well, there are only a few days left in this year.
During the spring cleaning, people look back on the past year, reflect on their failures, and express gratitude for new encounters and successes.
As the new year begins, we pray for happiness and prosperity for the many people who support us.
Although it is said to be the last year of the Heisei era, I would like to welcome the new year with a smile and a feeling of gratitude, just like every year.