Japanese dance

Japanese Culture@holiday

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邦楽発表会 has been held one day before today so far. That gave us good convenience, since many of Mei-Shun’s friends interested in Japanese dance live around Tokyo. However, it was delayed toward 15th, Sunday this year. Our public holidays set in November do not apply to Happy Monday System, fixed on 3rd for Culture Day while 23rd for Labor Thanksgiving Day. We wonder why; the former accommodates a number of cultural events throughout Japan. Won’t you wish a national holiday followed?

Not a Weapon

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So it is one month before 邦楽発表会. Here is a handmade spear for practice — thank you, Master Mei-Shu. Several of her students have performed Suisen-Tanzen. Well, it seems difficult for normal citizens to keep such items new and clean. Mei-Shun would use it on the roof floor, never to hit Mikan-chan full of curiosity.

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Return Gift

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Mei-Shun arranged makimono (=roll-wrapped item) for coming performance. Dancers are supposed to prepare it showing their thankfulness toward guest audiences. It must be light enough to carry, in proper size and full of wit. On the other hand, lunch boxes, tea, fruits, etc. would be served at waiting rooms for respective ryu-ha (=dance school). Invitation cards should be written before posted. So many things to do give a kind of excitement.

Tsubo-Awase

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Meaning a preparation for a stage, it is also called katsura (=wig) awase (=fitting). Contracted staffs start arranging items for respective dancers. Those who are in charge of wigs take the longest time to make metal bases from scratch. Kimono fitters are in close contact with small properties shops, so Mei-Shun asked them to lend her the spear two weeks before performance.

Necessary Costume

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… for horseback riding includes a helmet, a vest, slim pants called culottes, boots and gloves. Mei-Shun ordered all (thanks a million, Shin), has not yet received any except for a pair of culottes. She is so much looking forward to seeing them soon. On the other hand, Japanese dance requires at least one cotton yukata, made with a texture on which a pattern of school where a dancer belongs to is dyed. Kikunoe Ryu has chosen this one, a pair of chrysanthemum profiles bound in calyx.

Daki-hiraki-kiku

Daki-hiraki-kiku

Wig Choice

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Japanese hairstyle for women had 4 basic 髷 (mage=bundling); 兵庫(hyogo)髷, 島田(shimada)髷, 勝山(katsuyama)髷 and 笄(kogai)髷 in Edo Period. Suisen-Tanzen normally employs a 島田髷 wig, yet our ex-head Onoe Kikugoro VII uses a 兵庫髷 one. And that is why Master Mei-Shu chose the latter, looking very handsome with a gorgeous 打掛 (uchikake=long kimono). Mei-Shun would like to look like her on the stage soon, at least in style.

Shocking, but …

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Master Mei-Shu kindly showed her Suisen-Tanzen performance of 23 years ago, commemorating Kikunoe-Ryu foundation. It was just excellent. Actually too brilliant for Mei-Shun to do the same. She found that the spear in her left hand must have looked almost sleeping so far. Such item symbolizes what the role has in mind. From now, her challenge to wake it up starts. Thank you so much, Master.

Cooler August

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In order to perform feminine* Suisen-Tanzen, we put on a long-hemmed kimono, which requires a technique to deal with. Many Japanese dancers therefore have this tool to wrap up the lower half of the body. However, it is too hard to use it in summer — we perspire much in legs even not in exercise. Well, does Mei-Shun have to say thanks to Typhoon Goni?

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*Suisen-Tanzen has a masculine version as well.

Culture of Dance

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Master Mei-Shu stays in Tokushima, her hometown, to enjoy watching Awa Odori tonight. She has grown up in ever-dancing culture, that would be a big envy among Japanese dance fanciers including Mei-Shun. And Tokushima people share a nice ground to welcome any dancer on the stage, shown in their manner to give warm applause at the beginning of each performance.