A cypress stage for Kyogen artists living in the 21st century
Vol.5 Enjoy the new year
Ozo doctrine (Noh performer Kyogen style Ozo school)
At the end of the year, the rehearsal halls begin to be cleaned, and New Year's decorations are put up to invite the deity of the year...this is the same in every home.
Order daikon shiren, kadomatsu, yuzuri, urajiro, paper tares, ring decorations, tama decorations, and shimenawa...these are the things you need to decorate your practice room.
Shimenawa ropes are strung on all sides of the upper part of the practice hall, daikon shimena is placed on the household altar, and a beaded decoration and kadomatsu are placed at the entrance. Important places such as alcoves are decorated with ring decorations and mochi on yuzuri and urajiro. This is a New Year's decoration.
New Year's Day. The disciples gather at the rehearsal hall and perform the ``Utai hatoshiki'' ceremony.
On the new day, the company (classroom students) also gather together to perform the ``Mai Hatoshiki'' ceremony.
This is a tradition and is probably an event unique to the Noh theater world.
On the stage are a hanging scroll of the Imperial Ancestor God, and the mask and bell of the ``Kurokujo'' used by Kyogenka in the ``Okina'' play, which is considered the most sacred in Noh. Sakaki brought down from the altar, salt, rice, and sake. These are displayed on a special altar, and the ceremony is held in front of it. As we celebrate the New Year, we also pray for a safe performance throughout the year.
At the end, we purify ourselves with the sacred sake, salt, and rice on the Sanpo, and then go to the New Year's party.
The most exciting part of the New Year's party is the ``fukubiki'' event. It may be done anywhere, but there is an interesting ``game'' that is unique to Kyogen. The key is to write and paste Kyogen lines on the noshi that match the lucky gifts (approximately 500 yen) prepared by the participants.
“Now, it’s time for the lucky draw!”
We started with a bang with the voices of our employees.
``The one that hit Mr. 〇〇 is an entry from Mr. XX. There is a line from ``Gun Yakuren'' that says, ``Well, you can smoke it, you can smoke it.'' Now, what is the content? ”
By the way, ``salting'' is an external medicine that is applied to a piece of paper or cloth and applied to the affected area to suck out the poison. The Kyogen play ``Hoyakuren'' is a story about a ``smoking comparison'' between Kamakura and Kyoto's Onyakuren.
So, the contents of the lottery item is "desktop cleaner".
The exchange of gifts involves the use of clever wordplay that is unique to Kyogen, but while some of the gifts are well-done, others are so learned that I don't really understand them, and I can't stop laughing.
Nowadays, I think of it as the perfect start to the year for Kyogenkata, but when I was a child, I hated the series of events that occurred during the year-end and New Year holidays.
I seriously thought, ``I don't need New Year's gifts, I just want to have a 'normal' New Year's Day!''
Well, there are only a few days left this year.
When cleaning, we look back on the past year and reflect on our failures while being grateful for new encounters and successes.
As the new year begins, we pray for the happiness and development of the many people who support us.
Although it is said to be the "last year of the Heisei era," I want to welcome the new year with a smile and a feeling of gratitude just like every year.
