Kyogen Master Nomura Spells out Traditional Japanese Drama at Soochow

Nomura Taichiro (野村太一郎), a celebrated professional actor of the traditional Japanese drama Kyogen (狂言), gave a detailed introduction and a lively demonstration of Kyogen and Noh (能) in Pu Ren Hall at Soochow’s Waishuangsi Campus on May 29^th, 2019. By displaying the stage props and costumes of Kyogen and explaining its history and development, the 29-year-old expert of the Izumi school (和泉流) hoped to help more Taiwanese know about and enjoy the 650-year-old Japanese art of acting.

Thanking Nomura for his visit and presentation, SCU President Wei-Ta Pan pointed out in his remarks that Kyogen (狂言), Noh (能), Ningyo joruri (人行徑瑠璃) and Kabuki(歌舞伎) have been considered the four major classic dramas in Japan, and have also been inscribed in the UNESCO’s “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.” In Japan, Kyogen has widely loved by the public because it presents common people’s daily life and folklore with exaggerated script lines and body movements which bring great humor and dramatic effects.

Asada Masako (淺田雅子), director of cultural affairs from the Taipei Office of Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, saw it a great pleasure to savor a deeper understanding of the profundity of Kyogen as she seldom watched it when she was in Japan. Chair of Soochow’s Department of Japanese Language and Culture Keh-Bow Su mentioned that he had watched Kyogen in Japan without much knowledge about it, but now, through Nomura’s presentation, he could better appreciate of the essence of Kyogen.

After rounding off his demonstration with acting and singing, Nomura once again expressed his pleasure of introducing Kyogen here in Taiwan, as well as his great impression of the passion and hospitality of people in Taiwan. He also hoped for a chance to perform Kyogen in Taiwan in the future.