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.
stage
Shocking, but …
StandardMaster 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.
Culture of Dance
StandardMaster 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.
Joy of Dancing
StandardMei-Shun finished learning how to dance Suisen-Tanzen today. Since it has been superficial so far, the role of a night butterfly in transient loves must be soaked into dancer’s limbs and mind from now. She has only three months and a half left before the stage performance. Practice, practice and practice would continue.
2015 Performance
Standard… has been set on November 15th, Sunday. Mei-Shun had just started to learn how to dance Suisen-Tanzen before her hospitalization. She has 7 months left for lessons, long enough to make it – hopefully.
Before Shiokumi …
StandardMaster Mei-Shu gave another idea for Mei-Shun’s 2015 performance – “Suisen-Tanzen“, an image of a flamboyant guy strolling through the downtown at night in the Edo period. Master might think of a kind of resemblance between “Shima-no-Senzai“, 2013 performance by Mei-Shun, and “Shiokumi“.
Shiokumi; Fisher Ladies
StandardMaster Mei-Shu gave Mei-Shun the first lesson of this year. They’ve picked up “Shiokumi” for the stage in autumn. This is a love story between a nobleman from Kyoto and fisherwomen sisters named Matsukaze and Murasame. In noh stages, older Matsukaze is the leading role shite while younger Murasame the supporting one waki.
Last Lesson
StandardMaster Mei-Shu gave Mei-Shun the last lesson of this year today. We talked about the next-year performance, laughed by an ogre*. Mei-Shun would like to play “Shio-Kumi” – a kind of challenge, claiming her best effort.
*“When we talk about next year, ogres would laugh at it” is a saying to tease unexpected, out-of-reach dreams.
Light Menu
StandardAfter 1-month interval, Mei-Shun saw Master Mei-Shu today. What would be on stage next year? We talked about it, mentioning a few candidates, and then started a short piece of dance anyway. Such ones are called “ha–uta” or “ko–uta” to mean short and light songs.
Interview to Master: 5
StandardMei-Shu II gives lessons at her home in Tsuchiura, while visiting Tokushima once a month to instruct Kikunoe masters. Our current head Sen-Sha, a popular kabuki actor Onoe Kikunosuke V, took office in 2012. This spring, we held a long-expected stage in Tokushima honoring late Mei-Shu I.
meishunkikunoe 