Take it When You Get it

FINALLY!

No more rain.

But when I went to see Noh/Kyogen on Thurdsay it was pissing down proper. I REALLY need rainboots and that little thing that attaches my umbrella to my bike - imagine when it's rainy season come June and I have to go to Ritsumeikan. I really don't want to spend money on the bus, especially when I have the bike in the first place.

So I convinced Colleen to go to "the theatre," Japanese style. She told me about it at the weekly Ki-Zu-Na tea party and said it was free. She had some reservations about it since she has a paper to write (in Japanese! I tremble, though my essays are getting a bit better) and has to hand it in by Wednesday.

Colleen: Um...I don't know, I have my paper....
Me: This is a RARE opportunity. You take it when you get it! When are you going to be able to see Noh and Kyogen for FREE?

So off we went, with some kids from the Nikkensei group (Japanese Studies, 1 year Monbusho students). We walked. The blocks here are really long. Three days later, and my Uggs are still drying. I really need rainboots.


Turns out, the free Noh and Kyogen was sponsored by Kyodai and was offered to the Kyodai community (and I guess whoever knew someone who was in Kyodai in one form or another). The hall where the performances were held were specifically for Noh and Kyogen.

Kyogen is a form of comedy - it is always performed before Noh, which is VERY slow and VERY serious. The Kyogen piece was about a man and wife who were in the midst of a nasty fight and it then becomes a question of who is going to commit suicide with a sickle. I understood maybe like 1% of the dialogue since it was a bit arcane, but I did get one sentence, and laughed along with everyone else.

After the intermission, the Noh performance began. It was abut a priest who was walking around the ruins of an old palace, and meets up with Lady Rokujo, one of Prince Genji's lovers from "The Tale of Genji." I have tried to read that thing for several years on end now; it is a good book. So, since I knew a bit of the story, I was very interested.

The whole thing started at 6:30pm. It was 9pm, and Lady Rokujo JUST arrived on the stage. I told you it was long. Colleen and I left because it was late; the weather was still crap and I was getting a bit antsy. But I do know where the theatre is and I might go back again.

So, Noh and Kyogen are down. I am learning the koto. Need to see kabuki and sumo, and geisha dances. There is a tournament in Osaka in March.