From Friday, March 12 to Sunday, March 14, 2021, a traditional performing arts event titled “Representation of Prayer” will be held at a special venue against the backdrop of the Imperial Palace’s Nijubashi Bridge. This will be a great opportunity for people to enjoy a variety of special performing arts, from Noh to Kyogen, in a beautiful natural setting at the Imperial Palace. The performance will be available for online and VOD (video on demand) streaming, with the sale of tickets starting 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 16. The project is being organized as part of the Japan Cultural Expo, a nationwide festival of Japanese arts and culture led by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Japan Arts Council.
A Prayer for Peace
Friday, March 12, 2021 from 12 p.m.
The event will kick off with a special Noh performance of “Okina”, which prays for peace amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. The performance will consist of traditional Noh and Kyogen in various forms by great performers. These include: iccho, which is a form of Noh performance with only one percussionist and one chanter which will be showcased in the well-known play of “Kakitsubata”(‘The Iris’); maibayashi (‘dance’ and ‘Noh instruments’), a dance excerpt performed without the full costume and mask of a Noh theater, this time featuring the masterpiece “Hagoromo” (‘The Feather Robe’);
a congratulatory dance of a Kyogen drama, “Sanbon Bashira” (‘Three Poles’);
and the latter act of a Noh theater written by Zeami, called “Takasago” (‘Takasago Bay’).
A Prayer for Recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake
Saturday, March 13, 2021 from 5:30 p.m.*
A traditional sword dance of Urahama Nenbutsu Kenbai from Ofunato City in Iwate Prefecture will be on stage, to pray for the continued recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. A Noh theater of “Toboku”, set in a spring season with blooming plum trees, will be performed as a maibayashi, followed by a Kyogen comedy with songs involved, called “Yobikoe” (‘Tricked by a Rhythm’). Lastly, a special performance of “Tsuchigumo” (‘The Ground Spider’), a Noh drama about a precious sword passed down within the Genji clan will be performed. The climax of the play features spider threads splendidly stretching out to the night sky
*Please note that the performance was originally scheduled at 6 p.m., however, has been moved forward in order to end by 8 p.m.
A Prayer for Recostruction of the Ryukyuan Dance
Sunday, March 14, 2021 from 2 p.m.
Ryukyuan Dance performances developed from the Ryukyuan missions to Edo will be performed to pray for the reconstruction of the Shuri Castle, which was destroyed by fire in 2019. A congratulatory Noh drama of “Iwafune” (‘The Stone Ship’) performed in maibayashi will be followed by a Kyogen play, “Kusabira” (‘Mushrooms’), with enormous mushrooms multiplying endlessly. The special performance will conclude with “Shakkyo” (‘The Stone Bridge’), a Noh theater with a lion dancing at the Pure Land of Monju Bosatsu (Manjsuri Bodhisattva). The lion’s dance playing with gorgeous peonies will surely make the Imperial Palace’s Nijubashi Bridge look as if it is covered in blooming flowers.
Official website for “Prayer of Representation”: https://japanculturalexpo.bunka.go.jp/en/rop/
Details for online streaming tickets:
Tickets available from: Tuesday, February 16, at 10 a.m.
Price: 1,200 yen (tax incl.)
For details, please visit: https://japanculturalexpo.zaiko.io/e/representation-of-prayer
Please also note the following:
– The video will be available in both English and Japanese.
– Tickets are sold individually for each day.
– Tickets are available for purchase until the day of the performance.
– VOD (video on demand) viewing for the same performances of the tickets purchased will be available later, currently scheduled for a week in late March.
Tickets are also available to watch live at the venue. Please see below for details.
Admission*:
*The fund raised from the admission will be used to promote arts and culture.
– Tickets available from: Tuesday, February 16, at 10 a.m.
– Prices: S seat for 4,000 yen; A seat for 3,000 yen; B seat for 2,000 yen (prices incl. tax / reserved seating only).
– Tickets available for purchase here: https://ticket.ntj.jac.go.jp/top_e.htm
Venue:
The front plaza (also known as the Imperial Palace Plaza) by the Kokyo Gaien National Garden
Please note:
– The performances may be canceled due to weather.
Program and lead performers
Friday, March 12, 2021 from 12 p.m.
Okina Kanze Kiyokazu, Nomura Mansai, Kanze Saburota
Iccho – Kakitsubata (The Iris) Konparu Norikazu
Maibayashi – Hagoromo (The Feather Robe) Tomoeda Akiyo
Kyogen – Sanbon Bashira (Three Poles) Nomura Mansaku
Noh – Takasago (Takasago Bay) Kanze Kiyokazu
Saturday, March 13, 2021 from 5:30 p.m.
Urahama Nenbutsu Kenbai (traditional sword dance) Urahama Nenbutsu Kenbai Preservation Society (Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture)
Maibayashi – Toboku (The Northeast Pavilion) Kongo Hisanori
Kyogen – Yobikoe (Tricked by a Rhythm) Yamamoto Tojiro
Noh – Tsuchigumo (The Ground Spider) Kanze Tetsunojo, Umewaka Minoru
Sunday, March. 14, 2021 from 2 p.m.
Ryukyuan Dance Tamagusuku Seigi, Agarie Yukichi, Arakaki Satoru, Miyagi Shigeo
Maibayashi – Iwafune (The Stone Ship) Hosho Kazufusa
Kyogen – Kusabira (Mushrooms) Ishida Yukio
Noh – Shakkyo (The Stone Bridge) Kanze Kiyokazu, Kanze Tetsunojo
If you wish to use images relating to this event, please download the application form from the link below and return it to the Japan Cultural Expo Press office.
http://bit.ly/36ZWEWZ
About Japan Cultural Expo
Since 2019, the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Japan Arts Council have been leading the Japan Cultural Expo, showcasing art exhibitions, traditional performing arts, and cultural festivals that portray Japan’s rich culture and beauty. Some projects which were postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic will resume gradually.
There are eight fields featured in the Japan Cultural Expo: Art and Cultural Treasures; Performing Arts; Media Arts; Lifestyle Arts, Literary Arts, and Music; Food Culture and Nature; Design and Fashion; Inclusive Society and Coexistence of Cultures; Disaster Recovery. The project will showcase a number of cultural treasures and performing arts that were created, preserved, and passed on by previous generations, presented in various forms including exhibitions, live performances, and interactive and online programs.
Please see the Japan Cultural Expo’s official website and social media for latest information.
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/JapanCulturalExpo/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/japanculturalexpo/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/enJPCultureExpo
Official Web – https://japanculturalexpo.bunka.go.jp/en/
Footage and VR videos of various projects can also be found on the link below for everyone to experience the appeals of the Japan Cultural Expo online.
DIGITALGALLERY - https://japanculturalexpo.bunka.go.jp/en/gallery/
Please contact below for any queries.
Japan Cultural Expo PR Office
TEL: 080-7092-2070 (Japanese only) / E-Mail: press@japanculturalexpo.jp
Office hours: 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (except weekends and national holidays)
