Japanese Culture Fall 2024

Japanese Culture - Fall 2024

• Course coordinator: Amal Refaat
• JICA Volunteer: Kazuyo Takehara

Looking Back to What We Studied

• A review of the studied material is indicated.

Cultural Diversity

• A map of Asia is shown, highlighting different regions.
• The regions of Asia include East/Southeast Asia, Indian Subcontinent, Central Asia, and West Asia.
• The countries and regions shown are numerous, including countries and regions from East/Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, Central Asia, and West Asia.

Japanese Theatre

• Noh & Kyogen
• Kabuki
• Ningyo Jyoruri
• Bunraku
• Takarazuka

Japanese Theatre in relation to Religion

• Noh & Kyogen: The oldest theatre traditions in the world
• Kabuki: Old-fashioned dance and music theatre (male actors only)
• Ningyo Jyoruri: Puppetry shares many themes with Kabuki
• Bunraku: One sect of Nigyo Jyoruri established in Osaka
• Takarazuka: Modern musical theatre (female actors only)

Noh & Kyogen ("skill", "craft", or "talent")

• History of Noh and Kyogen is about 650 years, since Muromachi era
• The earliest existing Kyogen scripts dated from the 15th century.
• Noh was a spiritual drama, combining symbolism from Buddhism and Shinto and focusing on tales with mythic significance.
• Noh is often based on traditional literature, with supernatural beings transformed into human form.
• Noh uses masks, costumes, and props in a dance performance requiring highly trained actors and musicians. Emotions are conveyed primarily through stylized gestures.
• Kyogen, the comic partner, serves as a link between the theological themes of Noh shows and everyday life, with theatrical farce and slapstick.
• Noh and Kyōgen plays are often performed together in a series of nine plays.

Noh: General Information

• Noh theatre originated in the 14th century and evolved from earlier forms such as Dengaku and Sarugaku.
• Noh uses stylized masks to convey emotions, which are elaborate and indicate characters' social status and role.
• The music in Noh involves vocal chanting and traditional instruments like the flute and drums, creating a haunting atmosphere.
• Actors master gestures and postures, as every movement is symbolic while enhancing narrative depth.

First: Noh Stage

• Description of a traditional Noh stage.

Why the Pine Tree?

• Evergreen pine tree (Tokiwa no Matsu)
• Represents good fortune
• Symbolizes the presence of Gods

Second: Costume

• Images of traditional Japanese clothing, indicating types of garments.

Third: The Noh Mask

• Images of different Noh masks are presented.
• A list of mask names is given.

Meaning of Noh Masks

• Description of parts of Noh mask (men, front side /character, back side /actor/human)

Upturned Face vs. Drooping Face

• Eyebrows indicate sadness when upturned
• The eyes express joy when the face is upturned.
• The mouth usually expresses sadness when the face is upturned.
• The eyebrows express joy on a drooping face. – – Eyes express sadness on a drooping face.
• The mouth usually expresses joy on a drooping face

Okina Mask

• Images of Okina mask.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi & Noh

• Images showing Toyotomi Hideyoshi and a Noh performance

Fourth: Plays

• The plays are slow and precise, often mimicking natural movements
• The style of the play enhances the overall experience of the contemplative elements of the play.
• Vocal techniques vary in dramatic to melodic styles using a unique timbre.

Roles in Noh

• Four major categories of Noh performers: shite, waki, kyōgen, and hayashi.
• More details about each role is included in this section.

Noh Repertoire

• A table summarizing Noh plays, their themes, and notable characters.
• Some specific plays and their themes are mentioned.

Noh: Cultural Significance

• Noh has influenced various art forms in Japan including literature, painting, and dance.
• It promotes traditional values.

Noh and Nōgaku

• Noh is a major classical Japanese dance and drama form
• The oldest major theatre form in Japan.
• The difference between Noh and Nōgaku programs, including comedic Kyōgen plays

Kyogen (狂言)

• Description of Kyogen, including examples for actions such as walking (imagination) or roleplaying (fan, pantomime) and characters in a play style
• KYOGEN actions including descriptions of the characters, costumes, and props.
• Kyogen performances can include 2-3 actors.

Kyogen 1, 2, 3

• Images of Kyogen performers in action.
• Examples of Kyogen types/roles are indicated

Noh vs. Kyogen

• Brief comparison of Noh and Kyogen themes, clothes, scripts, and features.

Bunraku puppet theatre

• Description of Bunraku puppet theatre. -Links provided

Ningyō Jōruri & Bunraku

• Bunraku is a type of traditional Japanese performing arts.
• It is a collaborative performance involving narrative recitation, Shamisen music and puppetry.
• The origins of Bunraku is Ningyo Joruri.

Three roles on the stage

• Three people operate each puppet, often in black clothing but some cases show faces for important scenes.
• The narrator of the play (Tayu) brings the scenes to life.
• Music is performed by Shamisen players.

Kabuki

• Images of Kabuki.
• Details about the background of the form.

Kabuki - 1603, Izumo no Okuni

• Kabuki began in 1603 by Izumo no Okuni.
• Kabuki involved a new style of dance drama, which involved female dancers who performed with various styles.
• The three main plays or categories include Jidaimono, Sewamono and Shosagoto
• Kabuki actors continued performing after a ban against women in 1629.

Kabuki-mono

• Edo-period eccentric people with eye-catching clothing, peculiar hairstyles and weird behaviors.

The style of the mask is different from Noh

• The style/design of masks in Kabuki theatre is different to a Noh masks.

Kabuki

• Kabuki is known for its heavily-style performances.
• Historically female dancers and light sketches performed in Kyoto.
• The art form later developed into an all-male theatre form.

Why white powders on the faces?

• Kabuki actors use white powder (Oshiroi) to prevent color bleeding from oil and sweat.
• The powder is easy to use and creates a contrast with the colourful makeup.

Takarazuka since 1913

• All-female musical theatre troupe based in Takarazuka, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.
• Women play all roles in lavish, Western-style productions of musicals and stories adapted from films, novels, and Japanese folktales

Takarazuka

• A Japanese all female musical theatre form/troupe based in Takarazuka, Hyogo prefecture.
• All roles are played by women
• Performances are extravagant, in a similar style to Broadway productions