04.Traditional performance art~Kabuki~

Today, I introduce Japanese traditional performance. Have you ever watched any of them? Actually, most Japanese, especially young people like me, seldom watch them in daily life. I have watched one of them, “Noh (能)”, which is one of Japanese tradition, in my high school event to appreciate Japanese culture only once. I have less knowledge about them comparing to topics of other entries. But they are really wonderful and have long history. Therefore, I hope to learn about them through this blog entry with you. 

There is so many traditional performance art in Japanese culture. It includes singing, dancing, stage arts, crafts and “Gei-do(芸道)” which I will introduce in the one after next post. In this post, I share a traditional Japanese theater, “Kabuki(歌舞伎)” .

“Kabuki”, a theater with dancing, started in 400 years ago. It has appeared as an entertainment of the people.  The stage is showy. The most interesting thing to me is all the members in “Kabuki” is man. Their face make is so special too.

　

The theater;

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Watching Japanese traditional performance is so exciting XD

Watching them when you get the chance too!

Video time! You can watch the first 1 minutes and feel the air of Kabuki.

References

http://www.eigotown.com/culture/tjapan/culture/culture_p1.shtml

http://www.kabuki-bito.jp/eng/top.html

http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E5%82%B3%E7%B5%B1%E8%97%9D%E8%83%BD

(195 words)

03.Court music~Gagaku~

Hi, today I'm going to introduce the court music of ancient Japan “Gagaku”.

Comparing to topics of my 1^st and 2^nd posts, this topic is less popular not only in foreign countries but in Japan. But I think the court music is an important Japanese culture as well as Japanese meal and clothes or so. I love that.

Actually, most people in Japan don’t listen to this music in daily life. It was played mainly in the events of the Imperial Family, which is lasted from ancient to today and defined as a symbol of Japanese.

Not so many, but concerts of the court music are sometimes held in Japan. I hope someday it will be held in Taiwan. I have listened to the court music once. Instruments used in it are traditional and very different to instruments of nowadays. I think its sound was special because I felt so good when I listened to that.

Gagaku is composed of dance and music. They use three types of Wind instruments, three types of percussion instruments and two types of string instruments. Particularly, I love the Wind instruments, “Sho(笙)”, “Ryu-teki(龍笛)” and “Hichiriki(篳篥)”. “Sho” represents light from heaven (sound of heaven), “Ryu-teki” represents dragon between heaven and earth (sound of sky), “Hichiriki” represents voice of the people (sound of earth). Therefore, ancient people thought ensemble of these three instruments can make cosmos.

Nowadays, the performer “Hideki Togi” uses these instruments and play modern music like POP music. Let’s listen to that!!♪

Reference

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%9B%85%E6%A5%BD

(281words)

02.Japanese meal~Washoku~

"Washoku" is traditional Japanese food. In Japan, not always but sometimes my mother cook it. I love it. Sooooo delicious!!! I hope everyone who read this article will be able to have it someday. Although there are some Japanese restaurants in Taiwan, I feel a little bit difference comparing to Washoku that we have in Japan.

A true Washoku meal balances dishes from each group. Variety of vegetable, fish, meat and grain are included. Mostly, we have rice with other dishes, they are called “okazu”. As we cook “okazu”, we use seasonal ingredients just right for that season.

“Washoku” was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2013. It was defined as following.

”It is associated with an essential spirit of respect for nature that is closely related to the sustainable use of natural resources. Washoku is a social practice based on a set of skills, knowledge, practice and traditions related to the production, processing, preparation and consumption of food. The basic knowledge and the social and cultural characteristics associated with Washoku are typically seen during New Year celebrations.”

 “Well-balanced and healthy Washoku diet"  

Washoku diet composed of rice, miso soup, several dishes of fish, vegetables and pickles.

Let’s go to Japan and have “Washoku”!

Reference

http://st.japantimes.co.jp/news/?p=no20131220

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e620.html

http://www.bento.com/tf-recp.html

01.Festival～Matsuri～

Introduction
I pick some of Japanese culture and introduce them in this blog. Although there are many articles about Japanese culture,I introduce them from the perspective of a Japanese teen girl. I hope we will be able to understand it more than ever before. Please feel free to give me your thoughts and opinions:)


"Matsuri" is the traditional festival in Japan.Time that is done, the content is very different to the local and regional basis. Many of them are affected by the customs of the  folk beliefs, Buddhism and Taoism. Today, they are held at "Shinto shrine(神社)" and "temple(お寺)" .Their significant and purpose is "Rich harvest", "Peaceful","Thanks giving"etc...

They have a lot of food cart like this↓

The festival at the shrine has "Mikoshi(神輿)", a special carriage for the gods, in general. 

Also, there is a  spectacle to the festival each.

There are many festivals in Japan, but the three major ones are Gion(Kyoto), Tenjin(Osaka) and Kanda(Tokyo), these are called as Japanese three major festivals. 

This is the photo of Kanda festival.In the climax at this,100 Mikoshi fill the town.

It is interesting to see Mikoshi move in urban modern.

Finally,let's have a look on the video!

reference

http://www.alc.co.jp/eng/hontsu/kihon/21.html

http://english.cheerup.jp/article/790