 Osaka
Prefecture |
Shitennoji
Shoryoe Bugaku
(Designated by the national government
as an important intangible folk cultural property) |
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group has performed in many venues overseas, including
Carnegie Hall in New York. |
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An
ancient style of dance performance redolent of
continental culture
Shitennoji Temple was founded by Prince Shotoku
(574-622), and these dance performances are held
as part of the Buddhist rituals that commemorate
the anniversary of his death. They consist of
dances to the accompaniment of gagaku music
performed by the Tennoji Gakuso Garyokai, a group
that carries on the 1,400-year tradition of gagaku
at Shitennoji Temple. Two types of dances are
performed. The samai (literally, left dance)
is based on musical styles from China and India,
and the umai (literally, right dance) derives
from styles from the Korean peninsula and Siberia.
More than ten individual dances are performed,
including Soriko, which came originally
from Korea, and Karyobin, a children's
dance depicting the flight of a bird of paradise
which was performed during the Heian period (794-1185).
The dancers wear distinctive masks and colorful
costumes. As they perform on the outdoor ishibutai
(stone stage), the viewer is struck by the power
of this ancient performing art redolent of continental
culture. |
Tennoji-ku,
Osaka
Performed April 22
Tennoji Gakuso Garyokai
TEL:06-6641-0084
http://www.garyokai.org/GARYOUKAI_1.htm |
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The
Nose Ningyo Joruri
(Selected by the national
government as an intangible folk cultural property) |
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troupe is working to expand its repertoire through
the inclusion of ancient classics. |
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A
traditional performing art developed and handed
down by the entire town
The farming community of Nose, a town located
in the northernmost part of Osaka Prefecture,
has taken an interest in joruri (ballad
drama) since the Edo period (1603-1868), practicing
dutifully under the tutelage of a trained teacher.
In this region performances were traditionally
put on by a chanter and shamisen player
only, without the puppets employed in bunraku
plays. Even today there are some 200 active chanters
in the town, studying under three professional
tayu (bunraku chanters). The Nose Ningyo
Joruri was organized as a way to carry on this
rich cultural tradition in the form of ningyo
joruri (puppet drama). In 1993 the town opened
the Joruri Theater and the entire local community
has been active in collecting new plays as well
as the creation of puppets and stage props. The
first public performances were given in 1998,
with the assistance of the Ningyo Joruri Bunrakuza
theater, and interest in the performances has
been growing year by year. |
Nose
Town, Osaka Prefecture
Performed June
Lifetime Education Section, Nose Town Hall Joruri
Theater
TEL:0727-34-3241
http://www.town.nose.osaka.jp/jyoruri/ |
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