A staging of “Holy Mother in Nagasaki,” a contemporary Noh piece first performed in 2005, with another contemporary Noh piece, “At Jacob’s Well,” a Japanese-Austrian collaboration which premiered in a three-city tour of Europe in 2019. As a portrayal of the misery of war, conflict between different ethnic groups, and a spirit of peace and tolerance, this production explores the possibilities of Noh as a performing art that resonates with a modern audience.
Program
Contemporary Noh “Holy Mother in Nagasaki,” “At Jacob’s Well”
Performers
Shimizu Kanji, Tonoda Kenkichi, Obinata Hiroshi, Ogasawara Tadashi, Ogasawara Hiroaki, Myonfa, Matsuda Hiroyuki, Iida Seiichi, Shirasaka Nobuyuki, Konparu Soemon, Hatano Mutsumi, Kanze Tetsunojo, others
Staff
Oda Sachiko, Sato Makoto, Yokohara Yu, Iina Naoto, Okamoto Hagoromo, Ito Tatsuhiko, others
Public Interest Incorporated Association TESSEN-KAI
Established in 1918 and led by the Kanze Tetsunojo family, a branch family founded in the late-Edo period when Kanze Sakon was the 15th grand master of the Kanze School. In more modern times, under the leadership of Kanze Hisao, eldest son of 7th generation leader Kanze Tetsunojo, the group took a fresh look at Noh from a broader performing arts perspective, receiving high acclaim for a concentrated performance style resulting from the group’s philosophy of placing value on every role. The group has continued with this philosophy since Hisao’s death; under the late 8th generation leader Tetsunojo and the subsequent grand master Tetsunojo 9th, Tessen-kai continues to engage in theatrical projects that resonate with today’s audience, including the reevaluation of ways to direct and produce traditional/existing works.
Mukawa Yoshiki
Office Manager
Public Interest Incorporated Association TESSEN-KAI
4-21-29, Minami-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0062
Tel:+81-(0)3-3401-2285
Fax:+81-(0)3-3401-2313
E-mail:info@tessen.org
Za‐Koenji Public Theatre, Suginami City, Tokyo