JAPANESE MIND

Part 1 Away from Clamor & into the Dream World By Fujishiro Tsugio Photos: Kameda Kunihei History of Noh The father (then aged 42) and the son went through rigorous natural (then aged 12 and called Oniyasha) selections and their number came to When talking about the history of captured the teenage shogun’s heart – settle at around 200 during the Edo Noh, it is always emphasized that it is the father with his mature and elegant period (1603-1867). This figure has the world’s oldest theatrical art, lasting style of acting and the son with his not changed even today. In recent for 600 years up to the present time. innate beauty and flirtatiousness. years, newly written plays and revivals However, when we search its root more Yoshimitsu’s patronage and support of old ones are performed often, but in deeply, we find that it actually lasted for their lifetime. Although principle these are not counted as originated from Sangaku, a Chinese Sarugaku had not been as popular as today’s numbers. entertainment that was brought to Dengaku until that time, this event Japan during the Nara period (710- catapulted it to a meteoric rise. Noh plays are classified into the 794). Over the years, Sangaku fused While the power shifted from the following five genres: with Japanese indigenous folk Ashikaga family to Oda Nobunaga performing arts and separated into two (1534-1582), Toyotomi Hideyoshi 1. Shobanme-mono (first group) genres: Dengaku, which was primarily (1536-1598) and then to the Tokugawa [Waki-noh-mono (god plays)] music and dance, and Sarugaku, which family, Sarugaku Noh performers The protagonist is a deity. These was comical and involved mimicry. always managed to win the patronage plays are to pray for peace under the A few hundred years after this and protection of the ruler to establish heaven, security of the nation and separation, in 1374, the four schools of a solid footing for their art – with the abundant crops of grains, and praise Yamato Sarugaku (which later became help of favor-currying techniques one the virtue of the deity. the Kanze, Hosho, Konparu and Kongo would expect from seasoned schools) staged a fundraising Noh performers. There were many civil 1. Nibanme-mono (second group) performance at the Imagumano Shrine. wars during those years and [Shura-noh-mono (warrior plays)] Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (1358-1408), the sometimes Noh performers had to lie In the plays of this genre, apparitions third shogun of the Ashikaga family, low, but they always managed to rise of generals or princes of the Minamoto favored Dengaku up to that time, but by again like a phoenix before anyone or Taira families appear and show the a sudden whim, he decided to go to knew it. carnage of war or their suffering after watch Sarugaku at the shrine. This was death. how the rise of Sarugaku started. No. & Types of Noh Dramas Yoshimitsu completely enjoyed 3. Sanbanme-mono (third group) Sarugaku. The head of the Kanze When all schools are combined, there [Kazura-mono (wig plays)] School, Kan’ami, and his son did not are approximately 200 plays at present. Protagonists are elegant ladies of the miss this chance and succeeded in Although it is said that some 2,000 to imperial court, who demonstrate winning the patronage of the shogun. 3,000 plays were created so far, they graceful dances.

1. SHIN (god) “TAKASAGO”: The spirit of the pine (embodiment of God) appears as an old man. 2. NAN (man) “TAMURA”: A ghostly apparition of a general drives off the enemy. 3. NYO (woman) “YUYA”: YUYA, a nobleman’s lover, dances. 4. KYO(lunatic)"HANJO": One sleeve is taken off to express a woman going mad longing for people. 5. KI (demon) ”UKAI”: Demon in hell

1. SHIN (god) “TAKASAGO” 2. NAN (man) “TAMURA” 3. NYO (woman) “YUYA” 4. KYO (lunatic) “HANJYO” 5. KI (demon) ”UKAI” JAPANESE MIND

4. Yonbanme-mono (fourth group) that the programs, which were called usually last three or four hours. [Genzai-mono (realistic plays)] “formal five-play programs,” followed Therefore, one recommended way of Many of these plays are to console one pattern: opening with “okina” (old enjoying Noh is that once you settle into mothers who are in a frenzy over the man signifying God), played as a ritual, your seat at a Noh theater, you sever all death of their children. The plays in this and proceeding with the five genres of ties with the real world and throw genre are very dramatic and their plays in the order as described before, yourself into the dream world of Noh. protagonists are diverse, including the with a Kyogen play performed between Do not try to understand Noh, but young and the old of both sexes. each Noh play. Programs usually began empty your heart and mind to watch the at around 8 a.m. and lasted until around dramas. In a mysterious place that is 5. Gobanme-mono (fifth group) 7 p.m., which required fortitude on the beyond time and space, a heavenly [Kiri-noh-mono (final plays)] part of spectators. beauty moves without moving and will These are dramatic spectacles, in In the Meiji period (1868-1912), when lead you to a sweet place like a paradise. which ogres, tengu (long-nosed goblins the performance of both Noh and The slow motions in Noh are certain to believed to live in the mountains), fairies Kyogen became something for ordinary make you drowsy. Today, Noh is the and other supernatural creatures show people, eating boxed lunches and only theatrical art that will lead you to their feats. The last play of the day drinking sake in the spectators’ seat sweet dreams. In fact, it is only with always belongs to this genre. during performances were allowed. Noh that you can sever yourself from Even though Noh was opened to the the real world, which is nothing but These five genres of plays are also public as a rather high-class noise, and buy dreams. Then, on the called god, man, woman, lunatic and entertainment, it was not possible to other hand, a monster, which is far demon, respectively, because of the cheer or encourage loudly one’s favorite ahead of science fiction movies, may nature of shite, the protagonist or the performers as in the case of Kabuki or suddenly appear on stage to wake you leading actor. As players don the sumo wrestling since its status was as up. In that case, you will enjoy its costumes and masks appropriate for prestigious as that of the warrior class. dynamic movements and the stage. In their roles, Noh is a costume play with Manners have become even stricter any event, the structure, comprising jo stylized beauty. This is why it is called since World War II, and since it is not (opening), ha (transition) and kyu the world’s oldest masque. Some roles allowed to leave one’s seat except (suddenness), on which Zeami based do not require masks, however. These during intermissions, it has become his theory of arts and which he taught are called hitamen (face without a more confining. as a pattern of the development of a mask). In hitamen plays, the performer In addition, Noh has many stage story (the first part of jo is a god play, makes his own face into a mask; that is conventions and its tempo is extremely the first, second and third parts of ha a face that does not show any emotions. slow. For example, performers shuffle are a warrior play, a wig play and a This is a characteristic of Noh. quietly step by step, and if an actor realistic play, and kyu is a final play) is takes two steps, this means that he has very well in tune with human Noh Performance & How to Enjoy It traveled thousands of miles. When an physiology. actor looks downward (which means Once you are captured by the charm Noh is always paired with Kyogen, a “his face being clouded”) and holds his of Noh, try to understand it by studying short comical play. While Noh is to be hands in front of his eyes, this it little by little. The tradition which has called a classical tragedy that keeps represents weeping. Since all survived several centuries has been disciplined calmness, Kyogen can be movements are in strict accordance with perfected, and cannot be destroyed no said to be its direct opposite in that it is the styles set many centuries ago, matter what you do with it. However, a casual, modern art which invites attaching too much importance to Noh has not become rigid and it is a laughter. For centuries, a program for interpreting these stylized movements presence that continues to live. There is Noh performance presented tragedies will give you a stiff neck. a saying about blind men touching only (Noh) and comedies (Kyogen) The formal five-play program is hardly a part of an elephant and claiming what alternately. A look at programs of Noh performed any more. Even though the it was like, but an elephant called Noh performed on the stage of the Edo program has been simplified to three can make you feel its presence in its Castle (now the Imperial Palace in Noh plays plus one Kyogen play or two entirety, no matter which part of it you Tokyo) during the Edo period shows Noh plays plus one Kyogen play, they touch.

Fujishiro Tsugio is a board member of Wanya Shoten, a bookstore specializing in Noh books, and president of Nogaku Publishing Co. He has also served as editor-in- chief of Hosho, a magazine specializing in Noh. He has devoted himself to Noh for more than 60 years.

JAPAN SPOTLIGHT • September / October 2007 51