Top image: Photo by Sosuke Komai
The stage for Kyogen performers living in the 21st century
Vol.1 East vs West ointment showdown on the Kamakura Noh stage!
Ozo doctrine (Noh performer Kyogen style Ozo school)
The Kannon statue overlooks this area of Hase in Kamakura City, which is bustling even on weekdays. On weekends, the number of tourists on Daibutsu Street, which runs from the station to the Great Buddha, is much higher than on weekdays.
However, once you leave the busy streets and turn into an alley, you will find a quiet residential area. This is where today's performance will take place, the Kamakura Noh Stage.
The venue seats 200 people. Tatami rooms and chair seats are available, and in the front row, you can almost reach out and touch the performers. Not only is there an explanation before the show, but there are subtitles during the performance, and there is a Q&A session after the show. I think it is quite rare to see a Noh and Kyogen performance planned with the audience in mind.
The day was divided into two parts, morning and afternoon. The first part featured the Kyogen play "Koyakuren" and the Noh play "Fuji Taiko." The second part featured the Kyogen play "Jizo Mai" and the Noh play "Hokazo."
"Ointment" is a story about a battle between an ointment maker from the capital and an ointment maker from Kamakura, competing to see which ointment is stronger. Each person sticks ointment on their nose, and the one who gets pulled loses.
The second part, "Hokazou," is a story about revenge. Kyogen actors must perform not only Kyogen but also Noh plays.
Photo: Sosuke Komai
Although there were no subtitles for the Kyogen performance, chuckles could be heard at key points. The small space allowed the performers to comfortably close the distance between the audience and the performers.
During Noh, some people follow the story while reading the subtitles and even nod along... It's proof that their understanding is deepening.
In the scene where they plot their revenge, the actors' tension reaches its climax. You can feel the audience's attention focused on the stage. At that moment, I felt like we connected with each other through the "drugs" and the "uh-huh," and it made me very happy.
Photo: Sosuke Komai
The performance ended in the evening. As I stepped out onto Daibutsu Street, the sea breeze from Yuigahama felt soothing. Released from the tension of the stage, I returned to the present.
A quick peek behind the scenes...
This is the beard oil used for the "ointment". It is an essential item for applying the "ointment" to your nose. Without it, you won't be able to compare the inhalations.
In the dressing room, he is absorbed in the work of applying hair oil to paper.
If it falls off in the middle, it's literally "not worth it," so to be on the safe side, I repaired it securely with double-sided tape.
This is yet another aspect of the Kyogen performer living in the modern age.
