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Dear Customers and Friends
This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.172.
Hello from Yuka- today I am writing this newsletter.
Next year is the year of boar(inoshishi)- we are so happy to inform
that John Marshall san's new article about Eto(Japanese zodiac).
His new article can be seen from our top page from tomorrow when new
arrival is added. http://www.ichiroya.com
To see what animal is your zodiac animal, you can see the chart here:
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/12-zodiac.shtml
Last Friday, I had an opportunity to go to Bunraku with my friend.
What is Bunraku? Without her invitation, I might not have gone to see
Bunraku -- I lived in Osaka for a long time but Bunraku(which is
originally started from Osaka) was something I thought I could go any
time. As I am a BIG fan of manzai(stand up comedy),I just thought these
traditional performance must be just `boring`.
The story was quite a drama -- this man(Jihei) from an established house
who has a wife and a son, and his star-crossed mistress(Koharu, she is a
courtesan), they had to commit suicide in spite of the efforts of the
people around them to stop this suicide. His brother tried to stop Jihei,
Koharu told a lie that she did not really like Jihei(because Jihei's
wife Osan asked her)- the story is very complicated but it was in a way
like Romeo and Juliet, but nothing could avoid them from their suicide.
The emotion of each character with great subtlety are shown- by the
puppets!
Yes Bunraku is an exceptional traditional puppet play originally started
from Osaka about 300 years ago (during Edo period).
Just as other traditional performing arts, I had an impression that you
really have to be serious and needs to `study` at the theater, but it
turned out to be very different. It was a lot of fun -- and I was SO
lucky to meet all these players in the back stage too(thanks to my
friend!) I can go on to speak about these CHARMING bunraku performers
and hard to decide what to write, but this time I write about tayu
(chanter) and shamisen hiki(shamisen player) who proceed the story
from the right side small revolving platform called `Yuka`(it is same
with my name--but it means floor). Tayu is like an opera singer, narrator
and like an comic chat artist sometimes. Please see the face expression
of Chitosetayu(one of the best tayu)-I think it can tell you more than
my description:
(Please go down and see the photos of him on the left side)
http://www.lares.dti.ne.jp/~bunraku/mystery/tayuu/index.html
I met Chitosetayu san in person and he was such a charming man, I was
surprised to see his florid complexion and his smile was just so
charming. They wear kimono and kamishimo and have this small sandbag
around their waist under kimono that press their stomach for their
abdominal breathing. With strike clappers sound to tell the start of
the performance, the revolving platform opens and here come Tayu and
Shamisen hiki-they seem to be sitting down but Tayu is not really
sitting , he is placing his buttock on the small stool and supporting
his body with his legs and toes while the long (about an hour of each
performance)chant is done. We are completely enchanted by the
chant- he does all the voice of the characters on the stage and also
does the narration too. The shamisen players add the dramatic effect to
go along with the chant and makes an elegiac or intense mood to the
stage. They have this rhythmic breathing. I met Toyozawa Tomisuke san
too(he is one of the best Shamisen player) and he is a very mild and
delightful person at off stage who I heard looks totally different on
the stage.
The chanter, shamisen player and of course the puppeteers (three
puppeteers makes one puppet to do the amazing acting)
I really recommend to see Bunraku if you have a chance to visit Osaka.
There is earphone guide in English available and you can see the real
puppet displaying in the theater. Once the performance starts, you will
be enchanted by the very subtle expression by the dolls, so if you can,
we recommend to see from the front row if possible.
This website introduces the charms of Bunraku- we hope you enjoy!
http://www2.ntj.jac.go.jp/unesco/bunraku/en/
We are adding Uchikake, kimono, furisode, obijime for furisode, obi
material and bolt and interesting antique goods tomorrow. Please
check with our new arrivals- you may find a perfect Christmas gift there!
Thank you very much for reading our newsletter. We wish you a pleasant
new week, dozo yoi issyukano.
Ichiro & Yuka Wada
Kimono Flea Market "ICHIROYA"
http://www.ichiroya.com
e-mail: info@ichiroya.com
address: Asia-shoji Bldg.301
1841-1 Nishi 1 chome
Wakamatsu cho
Tondabayashi city
Osaka 584-0025 JAPAN
TEL&FAX ****( international number ) - 81-721-23-5446
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