Welcome to the Official Site of Tadashi Ogasawara, Kansai representative of Yorozu Kyogen as born of the Nomura Manzou Household. (Nohgaku Master Instructor/Performer in the Izumi-ryu form.)
 |
Who is Tadashi Ogasawra ? | KYOGEN |
|---|---|---|
| The Kyogen Classroom | Lectures and Workshops | |
 |
Encountering Kyogen | On Kubihiki |
With the Japanese classic arts as a major theme, and in order to make Kyogen available to a wide variety of viewers, I hold lectures, classes, and workshops where participatns can appreciate for their own the art of Kyogen.
The following 6 lectures incorporated discussions and elementary Kyogen performances which present the art in it's simplest form as well as actual viewings at Noh performance halls.
| Session 1: | What are Classical Japanese Performing Arts? |
|---|---|
| History of Japanese Performing Arts in connection with the Performing Arts of China (gagaku-traditional court music, Bugaku-traditional court dance, gigaku etc.) | |
| Session 2: | The Art of Mimicry in Japan |
| The Transition from Sangaku to Sarugaku, and the relationship between the twin styles, Noh and Kyogen. | |
| Session 3: | Fortune comes to those who laugh! |
| New performing arts born of Kyogen: On the shared tradition of comedy in Rakugo and Kyogen. | |
| Session 4: | The Elegance of the Kamigata Area - Ningyo Joruri - Ballads and Dramas |
| On the transition from the monochrome world of Sumi-e ink paintings to the colorful world of Ukiyo-e. This lecture focuses on the difference between Kabuki, Bunraku, Noh, and Kyogen. | |
| Session 5: | Let's act together! |
| Using Kyogen styles and methods, students attempt simple expressions of emotion, happiness, laughter, sadness, and anger, as well as dancing and singing.. | |
| Session 6: | A Trip to the Noh Performance Hall. |
| A class trip to the Noh stage, and a group viewing of live Kyogen. | |
At present I am active in holding educational lectures and performance training workshops in partnership with various groups and educational organizations which are interested in learning and experiencing traditional Kyogen.
It is a given that classical performing arts can only endure through time only with support from the viewers who watch and appreciate these performances.
Participants of all ages are welcome. And I must emphasize the value and importance of providing youth who will become the future itself opportunities to enjoy and learn Kyogen in a relaxed and casual manner.
● Other programs and classes are available.
Lectures
Nohgaku - Fundamental Knowledge of Noh and Kyogen
- The contents of this lecture focus on the history of Japanese Performing Arts, from Kyogen to Rakugo, from their mideval beginnings to the present.
- The Various Branches and Styles of Noh - The various roles in a Noh Performance (the 3 role Noh, and the Shite, the lead)
- On the Inventors of Noh - Kannami, and Zeami
- On the Characteristics of Kyogen
- The Kyogen Repertoire
Comparing Noh and Kyogen
- On Expressions of Costume - Silk and Hemp
- The Use of the Mask
- Shimai and Komai
- How to use the Ogi, the Fan.
- Travel and Space in Kyogen
- On Emotions: Laughing and Crying
Workshops
Experience and Emotion - The Music of Noh: The Fue, Kotsuzumi, Ootsuzumi, and Taiko
- In this workshop participants learn the history behind the music of Japanese classical performing arts and experience a live performance.
The Classical Performing Arts
- Enjoying Japanese Classical Performing Arts - Participatns in this workshop receive guidance in how to perform Kyogen and attempt a performance on stage.
Vocalization and Vocal Expressions in Japanese Classical Performing Arts
- Participants learn about vocalization as a physical performance, and experience, live "voice"
Emotions
- Participants learn about laughter and crying, and the role of emotions in Kyogen.
The Japanese Taiko and Kyogen - Live Performance and Instruction in the Japanese Taiko
- In this workshop participants learn Utai (singing), Mai (dancing), body movement, expression of emotion, and the Japanese Taiko drum.
Experiencing Kyogen
- Assuming an Identity - Self-Introduction in the Kyogen Style
- Physical Expressions - Calling Out
- Physical Expressions - Laughter - WHOOOOOOOO, AAH HA HA HA HA!
- Physical Expressions - Crying - WAAAAAH! Wah wah wah wah wah
- Physical Expressions - Suriashi - Walking and Sliding
- Physical Expressions - Kinoko Aruki - "Mushroom Walking"
- Physical Expressions - Cutting Through Walls with a Saw - The Sound of Cutting: Zuka! Zuka! ZUKA, ZUKA ZUKA!
- Physical Expressions - Felling Walls - The Sound of a Falling Wall - Meri, meri MERIMERIMERIMERI!
- Physical Expressions with Props - Pouring Sake - Using the large fan as a sake bottle, a tokkuri, - The sound of pouring sake - Dobu dobu dobudobu. (Glub, glub glub glub.)
- Physical Expressions - Pouring the last drops - Pisho! Pisho! Pisho! (drip drip drip)
- Group presentation of learned expressions.
Live Experience of Kyogen Songs Kayoo
- Praciting with the Kotsuzumi: Percussion and Kyogen
- Kotsuzumi songs are learned, practiced, and presented in groups
|
Who is Tadashi Ogasawra ? | KYOGEN |
|---|---|---|
| The Kyogen Classroom | Lectures and Workshops | |
|
Encountering Kyogen | On Kubihiki |
