7.Constitution of Noh #2

The next of "Shitekata" and "Wakikata ", introduce "Hayashikata".

 

In Noh, it is “Hayashikata" to be in charge of the music of the chanting of a Noh text. “Hayashikata” consists of four kinds of musical instruments, for example, a flute (“Nohkan”), a small hand drum, a hand-drum (“Odutumi”) and a drum. These are called “Yon Byoshi” (it means Four beats). The performance plays a position by one. Players cannot play other one's charge. Each musical instrument is divided into each specialty, and traditional technic is inherited and succeeds to a high technique and style. By the performance, a drum takes the lead of the time. However, the performance that a drum is not contained in, a hand-drum leads a small hand drum. Not only percussionist play a musical instrument, but also they shout, for example, "yo-i", "ya", "ha" and "iyaa". At the time of the presentation of the Noh, the charge of each musical instrument sits in "Hayashiza" of the stage rear one by one and plays percussionist.

 

O.K. then, move to the introduction of each musical instrument. At first, about a flute.

 

 

A flute used with Noh is called a Noh pipe and made of the bamboo. Though it is the only melody musical instrument, in “Yon byoshi”, it mainly play rhythm than a melody in the Noh. The technic of such a flute is a characteristic of the “Hayashikata” of the Noh. Because percussionist do not make much of a melody, the Noh pipe is different in the position of length and the hole in each one. Because it is not tuned, pitch and musical scales are different. Styles that exist now are “Morita style” and “Fujita style”.

 

The next about a small hand drum.

 

 

This is so-called "Tutumi" and controls time. Because moisture is indispensable to leather, for the beautiful tone, percussionist breathe during a performance and soak saliva. The small hand drum is a musical instrument needing the attention consistently.

 

The next is about a hand-drum “Odutumi”.


 

 “Odutumi” is a hand drum of the closing a bargain to control time. The sound of “Odutumi” is fixed at the strength and weakness when beat and whether control leather after having beaten. Hand-drum is hit with the finger of the right hand putting the left knee. It is necessary to dry leather to make a firm sound and roasts it by a charcoal fire before a performance for approximately one hour. “Kazurano style”, “Takayasu style”, “Okura style”, “Ishii style” and “Kanze style” are exist now.

 

 

References

http://www.the-noh.com/jp/

Breaking News: South Africa's Nelson Mandela dies in Johannesburg

Nelson Mandela died at 95 years old.  He instructed an apartheid abolition campaign as the South African first black president and won Nobel Peace prize. It was this month 5. After his spending three months at a hospital, and having left the hospital in November of this year, he received concentrated treatment because of lung infections at home. The person given Nobel Peace prize honor was one of a politician respected most in the world that preached a settlement of black with a white in spite of having been shut in in the prison by white for 27 years.

 

Nelson Mandela was born in South Africa as a child of the chief of the people of Tenbu on July 18, 1918. He entered the law department in Witwatersrand University. He worked on an anti- apartheid campaign while he was in the university attendance at school and joined African National Congress (ANC ) in 1944 at school. After he was graduated, he founded a young man alliance and took office as the young man alliance member of the executive committee and worked on an anti- apartheid campaign. In 1,950 years, he took office as the ANC young man alliance chairperson. He was contained in the prison for 27 years in 1964 by imprisonment for life of the national treason. He abolished a law about the apartheid by talks with the political power of white after he was released in 1990 and played an active part as a leader of the African National Congress (ANC ). In 93, those activity was accepted and won Nobel Peace prize.

 

Nelson Mandela attended at various activity energetically after a retirement. He made a speech for the first time in United Nations Security Council on January 19, 2000. However, prostate cancer was detected in July, 2001 and received 7-week radiation therapy and disappeared from the public place at one time. And he sent a video message to the opening ceremony of FIFA World Cup South Africa meeting held on June 11, 2010. In addition, he attend at a closing ceremony. He do not appear in the public place after this time. And his physical condition let aggravation, an infectious disease recur from June, 2013 and took the rehospitalization from June 8. He left the hospital and underwent medical treatment at home afterwards.

 

 

 

 

(Nelson Mandela  Source:http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%8D%E3%83%AB%E3%82%BD%E3%83%B3%E3%83%BB%E3%83%9E%E3%83%B3%E3%83%87%E3%83%A9)

 

His activity is considered to be a symbol of all ethnic harmony. And those activity is shown as "A nameless prison guard of Mandela" of 2007 and "Invictus" of 2009. His activity will be handed down forever from now on.

 

 

References

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25249520

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%8D%E3%83%AB%E3%82%BD%E3%83%B3%E3%83%BB%E3%83%9E%E3%83%B3%E3%83%87%E3%83%A9

6.Constitution of Noh

The Noh is a drama made from complete division of labor. The duty consists of three roles “Shitekata”, “Wakikata” and “Kyogenkata” in charge of the chanting of a Noh text and performance. The “Hayashikata” in charge of the accompaniment is comprised of four positions of flute, small hand drums, hand-drums and drums. And each position is divided into some styles.

("Shitekata" http://www.bunka.go.jp/1hogo/shoukai/geinou/site.html ) 

 

Until the Edo era, “Wakikata”, “Hayashikata” and “Kyogenkata” called “the three key posts”, and the school of “Shitekata” came to have contracted the three key posts. However, the organization collapsed by the Meiji Restoration. When it is now, 24 styles is included in seven positions.

 

These styles are different in a literature, sing and conduct. In addition, Beating time with hands and the technic of the musical accompaniment are different every each style in a musical accompaniment. The combined team of the different styles is not made basically. However, the combination of styles while the position becomes free now.

 

“Shitekata” is the leading role of the Noh, and a child's play, the chorus are the role of “Shitekata”, too. In addition, waiting in the hinder part of the stage and carry some things such as small tools and repairing disorder of the attire is important work of “Shitekata”. The role of “Shitekata” is very extensive. Therefore, the number of people increases predominantly in comparison with “Wakikata”, “Kyogenkata” and “Hayashikata”.

 ("Wakikata"http://www.ntj.jac.go.jp/topics/nou/25/2949.html )

It is the duty that "Wakikata" becomes independent from “Shitekata” in the Muromachi era, and established a specialized field. It has been succeeded as speciality. After the long times, it become independent now in every style. There are “Takayasu-style”, “Hukuo-style”, and “Shimokakehosyo-style”. “Wakikata” has some rules. At first, “Wakikata” is the co-star of “Shitekata” who is the leading role. And it is almost a trouser part and must not attaches the mask. While the Noh is a masque, “Wakikata” who is an important actor of the stage who is fixed that “Wakikata” rather do not hang a mask. This is because “Wakikata” is drawn as a living person practically. It is a person standing opposite to a protagonist and, so to speak, takes a role to stand on the side same as the audience. The program of Noh expresses a great variety of views of the world. “Shitekata” sometimes appears as the existence in the impractical dream and illusion. And sometimes act with great tact as a real human being intensely. In this way, by the difference in role of “Shitekata”, the stage of the Noh changes variously. The reason why it is established as a series of stage dramas is that “Wakikata” helps to share the world between made on the stage and audience.

 

 

References

http://www.ntj.jac.go.jp/topics/nou/25/2949.html

 http://www.bunka.go.jp/1hogo/shoukai/geinou/site.html

http://www.the-noh.com/jp/sekai/shite.html

 

 

5.The famous programs in Noh

  It is said that it is official that the event of the Noh plays five songs per day. First, the god become “Shitekata” (the chief character of the story). And the chief character of the second piece is a man (a man suffering from an armed fight), the third piece is a woman (a beautiful woman), fourth is a Mad (Madman or woman), fifth is an ogre (brutal person) as know-how to put the different atmosphere together effectively. But it is not completely  decided because it may be played in the first that an ogre is “Shitekata” (last piece) if its content is happy. Noh was played the fifth in a day in old days. However, it is rare that it organizes a program to the fifth in a day now.

 

The current music (music recognized as a program today) of the Noh is approximately 240 pieces. Probably it maybe be "Takasago" to be the most famous. In the banquet of a Japanese style wedding ceremony, Japanese cannot miss "Takasago" that is congratulatory address music. It is great as a program of the Noh, but is the certainly best of various Noh songs. Particularly, it may be “Hagoromo" to be known widely. This program appears in the textbook of the junior high school of Japan. This was based on a Hagoromo myth of Matsubara of Miho. In other, "Adachigahara Atsumori", "Aoinoue”, "Ukai", “Sotoba Komachi " are famous programs.

 

The Noh has one story that concluded every one program. Here, I make “Takasago” an example. Takasago is a story of the time that the Emperor Daigo lived in. The Shinto priest of Kyushu Aso-jinja Shrine drops in the famous spot of Harima country (Hyogo prefecture) Takasago with an attendant in the middle of capital sightseeing. A Shinto priest was waiting for a person, and an old couple appeared. They praised that the way of the 31-syllable Japanese poem prospered in the present times to a Shinto priest. After that, they told that they were the incarnation of the pine tree and Takasago, and the old couple disappeared from a Shinto priest before long. The party of a Shinto priest starts a boat with moonrise chasing after an old couple. Myojin Sumiyoshi of the male figure appeared when I arrived. And Myojin Sumiyoshi blessed the peaceful world. This is a story compiling Takasago. In this way, in a story, a message is put in each.

 

References

http://www.syuneikai.net/information.htm

http://okwave.jp/qa/q8094406.html

4.Various styles of Noh

The style of the Noh is divided in two kinds. The first is the style that is called Yamato medieval Noh farce fourth-important qualified actor(Yamato Sarugaku Yonza). The second is the Noh that is native thing of the various part of Japan except the Yamato medieval Noh farce fourth-important qualified actor. It is four styles, “Kanse-za”, “Syouho-za”, “Konparu-za” and “Kongo-za”. Furthermore, it may be called “Ichiryu-Yonza”. It puts the Kita-style divided from the Kongo-za in thr Edo era together. After the outbreak of the Kita-style, it continued extending the power, and it was said that it was equal with other four styles for the Meiji period. The Kita-style doesn’t make a system to call “Za” since the style was found, and it is called “Yon-za Ichiryu” not “Go-za” because it was not called Kita-za.

Hideyoshi Toyotomi let Yamato medieval Noh farce fourth-important qualified actor absorb other medieval Noh farces. Therefore it had most of the medieval Noh farces of Japan as an affiliate virtually when the Edo era began. Today, Noh players of the system of the “Yon-za Ichiryu” organize association of corporate judicial person Noh, and a person joining association of Noh is placed with the Noh player as the careerist. On the other hand, there is the area where the Noh which was not unified by the Yamato medieval Noh farce fourth-important qualified actor remains in and can whatch the program which is not played with the “Yon-za Ichiryu” and peculiar dance. For a famous thing, there is Kurokawa Noh handed down to Kasuga Shrine of Yamagata, Osudo Noh divided from Noh of Kurokawa district.

Then, I easily explain the forth-important qualified actor. Kanse-style is the  mainstream style which Kanami of Yamato medieval Noh farce that prospred in Nara early in the Muromachi era completed. It have an elegant, delicate style. Hosho-style was completed by Hoshotayu. It is said that it was protected in last years of Muromachi by Hojo of Odawara. It is a kinsman to Kanze-style for a long time, and the style is near, too. There is a base in Tokyo and Hokuriku and has the style which attached great importance to the splendid chanting of a Noh text. Komparu-style is the family’s social standing that is the oldest in four styles. It bases on Tokyo and Nara, and the relation with Kofuku-ji Temple and Kasuga Taisa Shrine is close. Its feature is free and easy conduct that left an old-fashioned way. Kongo-style’s source is considered that the Sakado-za vested in Horyu-ji Temple for a long time. It play an active part around Kyoto and Tokyo. The characteristic are Realism and daring dance “Kongo-mai”  

3.Beautiful dresses of the Noh

Dresses that are used in the Noh are called the attire. The representative thing is used as the jacket and it is called "Karaori" Karaori is used by an actress of the woman position, and it may be said that it is the top-class in world stage costume in magnificence. The “Karaori” representing the Noh is high quality textile that weaved a pattern like embroidery with a thread which is various colors like autumn color. Especially, “Karaori” is the average clothing which is style called “the in kimono with no hakama on” of a woman appearing in the Noh.

 (The picture of  Karaori  image offer:the-noh.com)

In old days, Karaori was used by limited person like generals as attire and the Noh costume. The attire of Kanami , Zeami Era was said to have been the rusticity because using everyday clothes , but a gradually luxurious costumes came to be used because it was with a patron , a samurai family, the nobility and a family of the shogunate gave Noh actors and actress their clothes. Furthermore, it came to be given an important post as traditional dancing art combined with the gorgeous culture of Azuchi, Momoyama era. But, in this way, the attire which became the work of art “is not real” for a duty. So, the Noh expresses a duty stylistic and figuratively though attire.

The attire, “False head of hair” to add to a wig or ahead “Headdress” such as formal headwear for court nobles or the crown “Jacket” such as a Happi coat and Kariginu “The dressing” such as Surihaku and Noshime “Jacket or dressing for two uses” such as Karaori and Atsuita “Hakamas” such as a Sashinuki and Hankiri “The other accessory” such as Koshiobi and Koshimino, can classify in seven.

   The Noh costume does not project the duty realistically, but can read various information such as sex, age, social position, an occupation and the character if you know the combination of decided promise by a duty. For example, it is the rule by the color. In attire of woman, “Kouiri” which contains red with the attire express the young woman and “Kounashi” which does not contains red shows the middle-age woman. This applies to many things from wig to waistband as well as the “Karaori”. In addition, the color of a collar includes a rule. White is regarded as important as the color that is purity with the Noh, two pieces of white collar stacks become highest-ranking. The combination of design and colors in Noh costume is freedom if follow the rule.

References

http://www.nohgakuland.com/know/shouzoku/index.htm

http://www.the-noh.com/jp/sekai/costume.html

2.The people who contributed to Noh

The Noh was supported and followed by various people. In this time, I would like to introduce the lives of two persons who contributed to development of the Noh.   

 At first, I introduce Kanami. He adopted elegant dances in the Noh which was mere mimicry art and greatly contributed to development of the Noh. Kanami (from 1333 to June 8, 1384) was a Noh farce player from the period of the northern and southern dynasties in Japan to the Muromachi era. He is the person who completed so-called the Noh with his son Zeami. He is a father of the people of Kanze and the name is Seiji. Kanami who was one of the Yamato yon-za, the founder of the Yuzaki-za made the new entertainment that introduced an unorthodox Noh song and a dance of the sound music of talk into the medieval Noh farce that was previous mimicry art. The famous Noh song “Sotobakomachi” “Zinenkoji” are masterpieces of Kanami. He played the Noh at Asama shrine in Shizuoka prefecture at last and there is the honoring monument.

 

Second, I talk about Zeami. Zeami (from 1363 to September 1, 1443) is a Noh farce player of the Yamato medieval Noh farce Yuzaki-za of the early period of Muromachi era in Japan. He was successful by a medieval Noh farce with Kanami who is his father and leave many books. The Noh play of Kanami and Zeami is inherited as the Kanze School in the present age. His real name is Gensei.

Kanami who was Zeami’s father was an infuluental actor of the Yamato medieval Noh farce at 31 years old when Zeami was born. Zeani appeared to the father’s stage from childhood. When 12-year-old Zeami appeared in the medieval Noh farce that Kanami just held in Kumano in 1374 or 1375, he was caught eye of Muromachi general Yoshimitsu Ashikaga. After that, Yoshimitsu came to protect Kanami and Zeami. Kanami dies in 1384, and Zeami inherits the back of father. Character to respect mysterious profundity was in the noble, samurai family society. Zeami matches the Noh with their preference, and it is thought that he completed “dreams and phantasms Noh” that having the mysterious and profound beauty in words, conduct, singing and dancing. Even if a general was charges of Yoshimochi Ashikaga after death of Yoshimitsu, Zeami let a medieval Noh farce deepen more and more. But, because Yoshimochi likes dengaku than a medieval Noh farce, protection of Shogunate was not received thanthe times of Yoshimitsu. Afterwards, oppression became severe, and he became a priest in 1422.

 references

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%A6%B3%E9%98%BF%E5%BC%A5
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%96%E9%98%BF%E5%BC%A5

1.What is Noh?

    Noh is a classical Japanese performance form. It has developed for about 600 years and is one of the oldest performance art all over the world. Most of the chief characters of Noh are ghosts who show the lives that were already concluded. So it seem to be a very mysterious world. You hear that a ghost appears, and you may think Noh to be scary. But, it is not so and is going to draw the human essence and emotions that don’t change by the times or country. 

   

     Its origin is not clear yet. But, it is thought that it came from China in the about seventh century. Originally Noh was called “Sanngaku”. From the Nara era through the Kamakura era, the Noh developed as an entertainment. At first, in the Nara era, “Sanngaku” (to play funny art, mimicry, acrobatic feats and conjuring tricks) and “Gagaku” (to play solemn dance and music) crossed from China. The Gagaku became the ceremonial dance played in the case of the Imperial Court and noble ceremony, the Sanngaku spread out among the common people s entertainment of the temple and shrine. We don’t know how long the word “Noh” was used clearly. But, it seemed to be used as words that express a play for a long time. Noh was divided into two kinds of “Sarugaku Noh” and “Dengaku Noh” from Kamakura era to Muromachi era. The Sarugaku Noh was art mainly on the mimicry. In contrast, the Dengaku Noh was art mainly on a dance figuratively.

    

    Afterwards, Kanami (he developed the Yamato Sarugaku) was recognized by the general Yoshimitsu Ashikaga and went into Kyoto. Kanami adopted factor of musicality and dance characteristics in mimicry-oriented Sarugaku Noh, and his child Zeami established Yugen Noh that pursue the mysterious and profound beauty and brought up the Noh in higher theatrical art. In Edo era, Tokugawa shogunate government protected Noh. Second generation general Hidetada Tokugawa made Noh ceremonial dance of the Shougnate. Noh had deeo-rooted popularity even between the common people. By the end of Tokugawa shougnate government, Noh took the crisis of the collapse. However, in the Meiji period, Noh get the back up of a financial combine and the government VIP and regain as the entertainment that general people can enjoy. These days, Noh is reborn in a modern system through much confusion such as the Meiji Restoration or the war and shows various expanses.

references

http://www.the-noh.com/jp/sekai/history.html

http://www.sense-nohgaku.com/noh/

Self-intoroduction

     Hallo everyone. My name is Hiroshi Utsunomiya. I am 18 years old and am student of University of Tsukuba. I have lived in Tsukuba city of Ibaraki since I was born. Tsukuba city is the city that has rich green, and is so beautiful that I love this city very much. I am four families with father, mother and the older brother. My brother is 3 years older than me. He is a junior and works job hunting hard now. My father is the principal of the tennis school and coaches the tennis to children. Mother works at a pharmaceutical company. My favorite is playing tennis.  
     
     I began tennis under the influence that father was a tennis coach and I play tennis for about 10 years. My dream was to become a professional tennis player. When I was junior high school student, I visited Florida in America and I experienced the high level of the tennis in America. Then, I gave up becoming a professional. But I have learned much many things through tennis. For example, through playing tennis, I got to know many people and was able to make many friends. Especially, at the age of a high school student, I made friend with a Korean tennis player. He studied in Japan and played it every day. I was impressed by the word to be able to do anything for his favorite thing. So, I decided that I would do my favorite thing with every effort at the university. I entered University of Tsukuba College of Policy and Planning Sciences in this spring. I want to study social engineering hard and live a significant life. My favorite is cycling too. When I was the first grade student at a high school, I bought Road motorcycle because my high school is 16 kilometers away from my house. I was gradually attracted by pleasure of the cycling. Now, I often go to cycling with my friends and sometimes go to climb Mount Tsukuba with bicycle. In this summer, I will go to Hiroshima Prefecture for 10 days with my best friend. 
     
     The thing which I do not like is an insect. I do not like the most is cockroaches. Approximately three cockroaches appeared in the house, and I have made a fuss in the days of a primary schoolchild. From then, When I watch an insect, particularly a cockroach, a head becomes blank and can’t move during a little. I have one more weak point. I don’t like vegetables and can eat almost none of them. So, I am trying to eat vegetables as much as I can. Recently, I came to be able to eat the green pepper and the eggplant. I try so hard that I am able to eat mushroom now. 
     
     Then I make my self-introduction the end. I can’t write English well. So possibly it may be hard to read. But I am glad if you read till the last. I hope that you think this blog to be interesting.