Traditional Performing Arts from Japan and China
Farewell My Concubine – Noh and Beijing Opera: Fusion of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage from Japan and China – Streamed from November 30, 2020 to November 30, 2021
The Japan Association for the Promotion of Beijing Opera (6-7-1-103, Funabashi, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo; USHIO Arata[MY1] , Representative Director) has worked to promote Beijing opera in Japan. The association in October held a newly directed performance titled “Farewell My Concubine – Noh and Beijing Opera: Fusion of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage from Japan and China –“ at the main stage of the training facility of Tessen-kai Noh Theater Association (Minato Ward, Tokyo). The collaboration of Noh and Beijing opera, traditional theatrical performance from Japan and China, was put on stage with taking measures to prevent infection of COVID-19 novel coronavirus disease. We broadcast the play on the internet for free, with subtitles in Japanese, Chinese and English.
The project forms part of activities to establish new forms of Asian traditional theatrical performance spearheaded by Beijing opera actor ZHANG Chun Xiang and Noh actor NISHIMURA Takao. The two performers found a kindred spirit in each other when they acted together in a performance of Kamomeza theatrical troop produced by SATO Shin, director. In their collaborative activities, the two actors make the most of the characteristics of their performance: stillness and dynamism. The two actors performed new production based on the Beijing opera “Farewell My Concubine” twice on stages of cultural halls. The third performance, based on the Noh repertoire “Kou (Xiang Yu),” was presented on a Noh stage. Along with dreamy lighting, the play expressed the subtle and profound taste by a new direction focusing on Japanese tradition, where Nohgaku (Noh and Kyogen) is based. A fusion of two forms of theatrical performance has created novel artistic taste, which enjoyed favorable reputations from both fans of Beijing opera and Noh.
In the wake of continued efforts to prevent further spread of COVID-19, the Beijing opera association realized the collaborative performance of traditional theater from China and Japan. The success is because the association is headquartered in Japan. The theatrical work participated in the Arts Festival of Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs. The project was chosen for subsidies of Japan Content Localization and Distribution Live Entertainment (J-LOD) by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Cultural Affairs Agency.
Farewell My Concubine – Noh and Beijing Opera: Fusion of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage from Japan and China –
Movie streaming URL:
Performance website [Japanese only]
URL：https://www.shincyo.com/event/201018/
Press materials (Photos of the performance, brochure, etc.) [Japanese only]
URL：https://www.shincyo.com/event/201018/press.zip
Date: Sunday, October 18, 2020
Doors opened 1:00 p.m.; performance started 1:30 p.m.; performance ended 3:00 p.m.
Venue: Main Stage, Tessen-kai Noh training facility (4-21-19, Minami-Aoyama, Minato Ward, Tokyo)
Starring Zhang Chun Xiang, Zhang Gui Qin and NISHIMURA Takao
Performers and staff members
Instrumentalists (recordings): TSUKUDA Yoshitaro (Otsuzumi), SAWADA Akira (Taiko), TORIYAMA Naoya (Kotsuzumi), NARITA Hirohito (Fue)
Utai (chorus recorded): NISHIMURA Takao, SHIMIZU Kanji and ANDO Takayasu
Koken and Hataraki (supporting actors): SHIMIZU Kanji, ANDO Takayasu, OHSHIMA Riku and KOBAYASHI Takanori
Lighting: YAMAGUCHI Koh and Theater Creation
Noh director and instructor: NISHIMURA Takao
Cooperated by Tessen-kai and ISHIYAMA Yuta
Recording: OHKUBO Rika
Video: Butai Eizo COLORS
Director: ZHANG Chun Xiang
Planner and Producer: UMEKI Toshiharu
Presented by The Japan Association for the Promotion of Beijing Opera
Supported by Cultural Office of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
Presented by The Japan Association for the Promotion of Beijing Opera
Supported by Cultural Office of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
* Participated in the 2020 (75th) Arts Festival of Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs
* Project subsidized by Japan Content Localization and Distribution Live Entertainment (J-LOD)
Inquiries about the project
The Japan Association for the Promotion of Beijing Opera
URL: https://www.shincyo.com/ (Japanese only)
6-7-1-103, Funabashi, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, 156-0055
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