Tag ‘Kosuke Urushikubo’
“Performance in Kumagaya, Saitama” by Kosuke Urushikubo
June 28, 2014
Hello, everyone! Recently, the sun’s rays have been getting stronger as summer heats up. I hope you are all keeping well. Actually, I am not a fan of hot weather, so I’m battling against the heat everyday.
Tomorrow, on June 29, we will have a performance at Kumagaya Bunka Sozo-kan Sakuramate in Kumagaya, Saitama.
Kumagaya City is close to my hometown, so I would often go there to visit taiko shops, go shopping and see cherry blossoms, etc. I have a lot of memories there. Before coming to Kodo Apprentice Centre, I also came to Kumagaya to take the bullet train from Kumagaya Station. I am happy to perform in such a familiar place and I am really looking forward to it.
I’ll be waiting for you all at the theater!
“Shishimai” by Kosuke Urushikubo
Shishimai
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.
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
▼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/