Events
Regular program of Noh theater
2017.11.03(Fri) 13:30 - 17:00
Overview
MOA Museum of Art presents a special annual program of Noh theater for 2017 in celebration of the renewal of the museum building. For the November performance, the head of Kanze-ryu school of Noh, Kiyokazu Kanze, plays Hagoromo (The Feather Mantle), a legend-inspired story of a fisherman who meets a nymph in Miho no Matsubara, a well-known scenic spot in Shizuoka prefecture. The Kyōgen number is Mizukumi (Fetching Water), presented by Ukon Miyake of the Izumi-ryu school of Kyōgen. The act tells a story of a young monk in training and a maiden who fetches water as they reciprocate their sentiments for one another through poetic singing. Visitors may also enjoy the special exhibition, The Beauty of Chanoyu Curated by Sen So-oku. It offers an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in the depth of rich Japanese culture - enjoy the Japanese traditional performing arts of Noh and Kyōgen coupled with exquisite displays of fine art in our brand-new remodeled galleries.
November 3, 2017 Starting at 1:30 p.m.
◆Program
Noh Hagoromo in Kanze-ryu style, by Kiyokazu Kanze
Kyōgen (Noh farce) Mizukumi in Izumi-ryu style, by Ukon Miyake
Advance tickets are available at the museum reception, and can also be reserved by telephone. In the case of booking by phone, please pay the ticket fee by postal transfer. Tickets will be sent to you upon its arrival.
Noh: Hagoromo by Kanze-ryu, peformed by Kiyokazu Kanze
Kyogen: Mizukumi by Izumi-ryu, performed by Ukon Miyake
with Kenkichi Tonoda (waki actor),
Hiroaki Terai (flute),
and the percussions Shinkuro Kanze (kozutsumi),
Hirokazu Kakihara (ōzutsumi), and
Sashichi Kodera (taiko)
◆Synopsis
[Noh: Hagoromo]
Hakuryu is a fisherman living near Miho no Matsubara in the Suruga province (present-day Shizuoka prefecture). One day, he sets out for fishing as usual. As he gazes at the spring ocean, there comes a petal shower from the sky. Music plays and a pleasant scent wafts from nowhere. Fascinated, Hakuryu looks around and finds a piece of beautiful garment hanging on a pine branch nearby. As he takes it in his hands, a woman appears and claims that the garment is hers. She confesses that she is a nymph, and that the garment is made of heavenly fabric. Hakuryu, on learning this, insists that he should keep this extraordinary mantle as a treasure of his country. The nymph is distraught as she is unable to return to her heavenly domain without the mantle. Taking pity on the tormented nymph, Hakuryu offers the garment on condition that she dances her heavenly dance for him. She gladly accepts the offer, and requests that he hand over the angelic mantle so that she could dance. Hakuryu is in doubt that she might trick him and disappear as soon as she has the mantle back, but he is persuaded by the nymph’s words, “doubts are in the human nature, while the heaven is nothing but truth.” The nymph slips into her retrieved costume, and performs a dance, which, as legend has it, later became the Surugamai, a famous Japanese traditional dance. As she dances, she tells a tale of the palace on the Moon, praises the scenic beauty of Miho no Matsubara, and disappears into the spring haze, ascending to the heaven.
[Kyōgen: Mizukumi]
A maiden is washing clothes in a stream, where Shinbocchi, a young monk in training, appears. He has been sent here by his senior monk to fetch water for tea. Shinbocchi sneaks up to the girl from behind and covers her eyes with his hands, when he starts singing poems, asking her to get some water and sing a little song for him. The maiden does as his requests and sings a poetic song. Shinbocchi soon joins her in singing. The two exchange little poetic songs of mutual feelings side by side as they scoop water from the stream. The girl stands up and starts toward the temple to deliver the water, but Shinbocchi stops her, suggesting that they linger a little while longer. The girl responds with her little poem and ...
◆HIGHLIGHTS
- Grand master of Kanze-ryu school of Noh, Kiyokazu Kanze himself performs - Renewal special program
Kanze-ryu derives from one of the four major Sarugaku troupes of Yamato, known as the guild of Yūzaki, with its leading actor Kan’ami Kiyotsugu as a founding figure. Today, it is a celebrated school of Noh dance in Japan, admired for accomplished singing and sophisticated performance. Kanze is taken from Kan’ami’s childhood name Kanzemaru. Kan’ami’s son, Zeami, made new compositions of his own, including Takasago and Izutsu, establishing a genre of Yūgen Noh, characterized by fantasy and phantoms. He also wrote several treatises on Noh theater, notably Fūshikaden, where he discussed the principles of this performance art to elevate the artistic status of Noh. The present master Kiyokazu is the 26th head of the family troupe. He has been active both in Japan and abroad, having performed in a number of countries including France, India, Thailand, China, USA, Germany, Poland and Lithuania. His repertoire includes not only the classic numbers such as Hakozaki, but also contemporary compositions, including Rikyu and an exotic Christian-themed piece, The Conversion of Paul the Apostle, which was first performed in 2012.
Awards:
The Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Decoration of a Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government
The Art Encouragement Prize by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2012
Decoration of a Medal of Honor with a Purple Ribbon by the Japanese government in 2015
He is a collective holder of the Important Intangible Cultural Property title for the Noh performance, recognized by the Japanese government.
- Hagoromo - a classic repertoire set in our local scenic spot, Miho no Matsubara
Hagoromo is one of the most popular Noh repertoires, with the theme taken from a famous folkloric tale Ama no Hagoromo (the cloak of heavenly feathers). The scenes are set in Miho no Matsubara, Japan’s favorite scenic spot which, together with Mount Fuji, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage cultural site in 2013. The story unfolds against the backdrop of this beautiful landscape with calm spring sea, white sandy beach and hazy Mount Fuji in the distance. The elegant dance of the nymph is icing on the cake. It is the best-known piece of heroin-featuring Noh play (known as kazuramono). With beautiful costumes and masks of the nymph as well as the clear-cut story, it is a title that appeals to a wide audience.
◆Fee
Reserved seats only. Tickets include the admission to the Museum galleries.
Seat Classes Standard Fee Membership Concession
Standard Fee Membership Concession
A 7,800 yen 6,800yen
B 6,200 yen 5,200yen
C 4,500 yen 4,000yen
Student tickets 3,500yen (upon presentation of a student ID)
*Student tickets require student IDs to be presented upon purchase.
*MOA Museum Members’ Club premium prices apply to purchases of tickets for three or more performances, or a group of 20+ people.
◆Postal Transfer
Account number: 00860-2-187378
‘MOA Museum of Art Nohgakudo’
◆Application
‘MOA Museum of Art ’