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Aim! A workshop that will make you feel better by watching, laughing, and experiencing it.

目指せ!観て笑って、体験して元気になるワークショップ

A cypress stage for Kyogen artists living in the 21st century
Vol.6 A workshop that will make you feel better by watching, laughing, and experiencing it.
Ozo doctrine (Noh performer Kyogen style Ozo school)

Learning is play. Play is learning.
When did you first encounter this word?

When I was in elementary school, the blue litmus paper we used in science experiments turned red when immersed in an acidic aqueous solution. I still can't forget how excited I was from my feet to my head at this discovery and surprise. The wonder created by a piece of paper and liquid stimulated curiosity and became more than just a "class" but a "play".

Recently, I have been receiving many requests for hands-on workshops for children.
I had experience in workshops before, but the target audience was basically adults. In between performances, the audience was brought up on stage to experience various ways of expression, such as basic postures, shuffling, vocalizations, etc., and the duration was around 20 minutes at most.

The first workshop job I took when I was around 30 years old was an event that even preschoolers could participate in. We were not used to performing for children, so we showed Kyogen and taught them various expression methods and forms, such as basic postures and surashi.

The children are bored.
I got bored within 10 minutes.
Some children left midway through.
The remaining 50 minutes are for parents.
It's an event for children.
I still can't forget that setback.
Sigh, just remembering it makes me sick...

I'm ashamed of myself for thinking that since we live in the world of classical performing arts, it's bound to break the mold.
First, I thought about what I was missing and what I should do to make it more enjoyable. It was like replacing cells in the body.

Workshops are about playing, not learning. With that in mind, I gathered all sorts of things.

Self-made Kyogen Kamishibai.
Fan Kid allows you to make your own original fan.
There will also be time to try on Kyogen costumes.
Over the next several years, we were able to create an ``exciting workshop'' that you can enjoy without breaking the ``authenticity'' and ``formality.''
Children's faces laughing and having fun watching Kyogen.
During the experience, you will see energetic movements and loud voices that can be heard.
The way they express themselves with great enthusiasm.
As I watched the child who was sitting in the back gradually come forward, I gradually gained confidence.

What is the true appeal of "classical performing arts"?
What kind of "traditional performing arts" should we really cherish?
I strongly believe that we want to be a place where people can learn while having fun.

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