鼓童ブログ Kodo Blog

“Shishimai” by Kosuke Urushikubo


Shishimai

Photo: Takashi OkamotoPhoto: Takashi Okamoto

For our production “Kodo One Earth Tour: Mystery,” which is currently on tour, Kodo has arranged various regional folk performing arts for the stage, including the serpent dance Jamai and the demon-like beings known as Namahage.

Another folk art featured is a Japanese lion dance, Shishimai, and I am in charge of moving the lion’s head for this piece. Shishimai is found at festivals all over Japan and the style varies from place to place. For example, regional differences can include the number of people inside the lion, the expression of the lion’s face, the patterns on the lion’s body, and the movements of the lion.

Photo: Takashi Okamoto

I had never experienced Shishimai firsthand because there wasn’t a local festival with a lion dance where I grew up, so for this production I had to study about it. I watch the video recording after each performance to check how the dance went. I look to see how I can move the lion’s head, with its static facial expression, to make the audience feel its emotions and also how this lion is reacting and interacting each time with the female performers it meets on stage.

The spring tour of “Mystery” will continue until July 19.

I look forward to seeing you all at one of the theaters nationwide!


“Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery” Asakusa Performances
June 21 (Sat) – 25 (Wed) Asakusa Public Hall, Tokyo

鼓童ワン・アース・ツアー〜神秘(写真:岡本隆史)
▼About the Performance
Kodo One Earth Tour 2014: Mystery

▼Performance Dates & Times
June 21 (Sat) 16:00
June 22 (Sun) 15:00
June 23 (Mon) 15:00
June 24 (Tue) 18:00
June 25 (Wed) 14:00

▼Ticket Outlets
Asakusa Public Hall Tel. 03-3844-7491
tvk Ticket Counter Tel. 0570-00-3117 http://tvkcom.net/

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