[Director Kunio Sugihara] Talks about the possibilities of classical performing arts and theater, dance and the stage

Sugihara Kunio is a popular director and stage designer who works on everything from modern plays to Greek tragedies, Shakespeare, and Kabuki performances. At "What's SAMBASO - The Possibilities of Classical Performing Arts" to be held on July 23rd, he is planning a lecture by Kinoshita Yuichi, head of Kinoshita Kabuki, and a performance by Okura-ryu Kyogen actor Shigeyama Sennojo III, along with a cross-talk about performing arts. This time, we bring you an exclusive interview at the venue, Momijizaka Hall.

My mother invited me to watch a ballet.

--The Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center is celebrating its 60th anniversary. What will be coming to Momijizaka Hall?

Sugihara: It's been seven years since I was invited to the Kanagawa Prefecture School Theater Festival, an event related to school theater, in September 2016. But it's my first time seeing a completely bare stage like this, so it feels fresh. It's a very unique theater with a revolving stage of this size.

--That's an incredible professional perspective. Have you been interested in performing arts since you were a child?

Sugihara: From the time I started elementary school, I used to go to the local Chigasaki Civic Cultural Center with my mother to see ballet and kabuki tours, and musicals by the Shiki Theatre Company. I also remember seeing Yoko Morishita's ballet performance at the Kanagawa Prefectural Hall in Yokohama. Even when I was attending nursery school in Tokyo, if there was a puppet show or children's play, I would craft it while my mother was preparing dinner, and act it out with my twin brother (laughs).

--That's amazing! You have a wide range of arts, from ballet to Kabuki and puppet theater.

Sugihara: My parents are not related to the art world, but if there was something I wanted to see, they would immediately buy tickets and take me to see it. I think they wanted to expose me to things I was interested in from an early age, broadening my horizons.

--Did you still love art?

Sugihara: I liked playing outside, but I was also good at and loved drawing and crafts, so I always got good grades in art. Even in high school, I was always in a leadership position in school events, and I enjoyed working together with everyone at cultural festivals, sports festivals, choir competitions, and the like, toward a common goal and creating something together. I thought that a theater university was the place where I could study those things, where we could have cultural festivals every day! So I went on to Kyoto University of Art and Design (now Kyoto University of the Arts) where I could study performing arts.

Every day wasn't a school festival! I studied hard during my student days.

Mr. Kunio Sugihara being interviewed at Momijizaka Hall

--You entered university with the goal of becoming a creator, not a spectator or performer. What was it like in reality?

Sugihara: We couldn't have a daily school festival (laughs). It was different from what I had imagined in many ways. It was obviously more professional. At the time, there were many avant-garde and eccentric teachers in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts, and their teaching was unique and very stimulating (laughs). I had my preconceptions shattered, and I learned that there are many perspectives and methods for expression.

--What is one memorable encounter you had during your student days?

Sugihara: It was Shogo Ota, the playwright and director who was the head of the department at the time. He said, "When you put what you've created in the rehearsal room on the stage, it becomes socialized and exposed to the eyes of an unspecified number of people." Therefore, artists must not forget that their expressions are always being sent out to society. He was strict but warm, and taught me the attitude of a theater person.

--That really hits home.

Sugihara: Yes, I believe that the range of my expression has broadened by learning from such top-notch, respected teachers as dancer Setsuko Yamada and playwright and director Takeshi Kawamura.

Discover the unique charm of performing arts

Kyogen Noh actor Sennojo Shigeyama III performing "Sanbaso" on stage

--This summer, Sugihara will be involved in "What's SAMBASO - The Possibilities of Classical Performing Arts," which will be held on July 23rd here at Momijizaka Hall.

Sugihara: This project focuses on the play "Sanbaso/Sanbaso," which is often performed on auspicious occasions such as theater openings and New Years. By learning about, watching, and thinking about the play "Sanbaso," we hope that people will enjoy and feel the possibilities of the classical performing arts that have been cultivated in our country.

Leaflet for "What's SAMBASO: The Possibilities of Classical Performing Arts" held on July 23rd

--The leaflet also describes it as "an illustrated guide to the performing arts that they don't teach you in school."

Sugihara: Art isn't something to study! People tend to think it's hard to get into, but once you get to know it, it's not like that at all. This time, you'll learn about the plays through an explanation by Kinoshita Yuichi, who I highly recommend as the most understandable and interesting lecturer in Japan, and then you'll watch a performance by the contemporary and energetic third-generation Shigeyama Sennojo. Furthermore, I'd like to discuss the possibilities of performing classical arts as contemporary theatrical arts and how to direct them, based on my past works and creative experiences. They never teach you this kind of thing in school (laughs).

--It's a luxury to be able to learn directly from three people who are active at the forefront of their fields.

Sugihara: I think that if you want to express something, you need to be proactive in "knowing" or else the scope of your expression will be narrowed. For example, I have performed "Sanbaso/Sanbaso" twice so far with Kinoshita Kabuki, which is led by Kinoshita-kun, but I always started by learning about it first. I watched many versions of "Sanbaso/Sanbaso" in Kyogen, Noh, Kabuki, etc., and bombarded the knowledgeable Kinoshita-kun with questions (laughs), and my desire to learn was overflowing. Because I think that if you don't know about the original play, you can't create something new.

--So in order to create, it's essential to "know".

Sugihara: With this project, I also wanted to turn "learning" into entertainment. I want people to know the joy and pleasure of learning. I want to convey that message especially to the young people who will be the future leaders of the performing arts world. If we don't do that, art will remain just a study forever. I want to convey that the classical performing arts of our country are so interesting and cool. I feel that that is why I direct classical performances.

Kunio Sugihara shares his thoughts in an interview at Momijizaka Hall

--High school and college students, the younger generation.

Sugihara: I'd like going to the theater to be like going to an amusement park or karaoke. For example, when you go to eat Italian food, do you go to a family restaurant? Or do you splurge a little and go to a restaurant? Just like when you want to see some entertainment, do you go to the cinema? No, this month I have some free time, so let's go to the theater (laughs).

--A little extravagant, a bit of a stretch?

Sugihara: To be honest, performing arts is an overwhelmingly luxurious form of entertainment compared to affordable, all-you-can-watch video streaming services. That's why the performers and creators must first be aware of the appeal and possibilities that only performing arts have. I hope that this project will help people realize this once again in the theater and gain confidence in their expression.

Kunio Sugihara shares his thoughts in an interview at Momijizaka Hall

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center

Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center, located on the lush, green Momijizaka slope

As you climb the lush, greenery of the autumn leaves in Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, you will come across the Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center. As one of the few comprehensive facilities for young people in the country, it has been widely used by the prefecture's residents since November 1962 (Showa 37).

The venue for this interview with Sugihara and the "What's SAMBASO - The Possibilities of Classical Performing Arts" event on July 23rd will be the newly renovated "Momijizaka Hall." With a revolving stage, small platform, and temporary runway, it is perfect for livening up theatrical and traditional performing arts performances. Look forward to the play "Sanbasan," a fitting opening performance for the theater!

"Momijizaka Hall" has completed renovation work starting in 2022 (Reiwa 4).

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Kunio Sugihara
KUNIO official website https://kunio.me/
Born in Tokyo in 1982, raised in Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Director and stage designer, founder of KUNIO. Graduated from the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at Kyoto University of Art and Design (now Kyoto University of the Arts) and the Master's course at the Graduate School of Art and Design. While still in the department, he began working mainly in directing and stage design, and in 2004 launched the production company "KUNIO" as a venue for presenting his own works. In May 2006, he directed 10 works for Kinoshita Kabuki, including "Yotsuya-kaidan" (written by Tsuruya Nanboku), "Sanbaso" and "Kanjincho". Starting next spring, he will also be a lecturer at COCOON PRODUCTION's "Cocoon Actors Studio".

What's SAMBASO - The possibilities of classical performing arts

[Date] July 23, 2023 (Sunday) 14:00 start
*Doors open at 13:30
*Preschool children are not allowed to enter.
*Those under 29 years old will be required to present identification on the day.
*Due to the production, there will be a period after the show begins where you will have to wait before entering.
* Wheelchair users and those with mobility issues should make reservations by phone.
Tel. 045-263-4475 [Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Hall Management Division]
[Venue] Kanagawa Prefectural Youth Center Momijizaka Hall
[Price] All seats reserved (tax included)
Adults: 3,500 yen, 29 years old and under: 1,500 yen
[Cast] Shigeyama Sennojo III
Kunio Sugihara
Yuichi Kinoshita
Flute: Ryo Noguchi
Small drum: Masahiro Sowa, Mitsuhiko Sumikoma, Takashi Mori
Drums: Kawamura Dai
[Staff] Stage Director: Yukihiko Fujita
Web: Kobayashi Taxi
Advertising art: Takashi Horikawa
Cooperation: Doji Company, Kinoshita Kabuki
Production cooperation: Sayana Nakajima
Produced by: Hiroko Sakai
Producer: Miho Kobayashi
[Organizer] Kanagawa Prefecture, KUNIO, Inc.
[Inquiries] Kanagawa Youth Center (Hall Management Division)
Tel. 045-263-4475 (Reception hours 9:00-17:00)
KUNIO,Inc. info@kunio.me