JCC E-Magazine October 2018

During the event.

An evening of laughter – Bilingual Kyogen was held on last Friday, 7 September 2018 at library@esplanade with a full house! Co-presented by Department of Japanese Studies, National University of Singapore and JCCI, audiences were given a rare insight into Kyogen (狂言), one of Japan’s four oldest traditional performance genres that is characterised by humour, by renowned Kyogen performer Mr Doji Shigeyama and Mr Minoru Suzuki from Japan. This was also the second time JCC has collaborated with Mr Doji Shigeyama.

Mr Doji Shigeyama firstly gave an introduction to the history of Kyogen and explained its unique points that differentiated it from Noh, Kabuki, and Bunraku. Following which, both Mr Doji Shigeyama and Mr Minoru Suzuki demonstrated how the different kata or styles of Kyogen were expressed and performed, such as grief, laughter, drinking, fighting and animals.

Mr Doji Shigeyama demonstrating the different kata or styles of Kyogen.

Mr Minoru Suzuki demonstrating the different kata or styles of Kyogen.

Lastly, both of them presented a master-servant category performance, which was bilingual that is not seen in other kyogen performances. Mr Doji Shigeyama recited his lines in English and Mr Minoru Suzuki in Japanese. It was an exclusive treat as the Shigeyama Family is the only Kyogen performance group in Japan that performs bilingual pieces. It was an easily understandable and enjoyable piece. The enraptured audience also had many questions about Kyogen during the Q&A session.

Mr Doji Shigeyama and Mr Minoru Suzuki at the event.		Mr Doji Shigeyama and Mr Minoru Suzuki performing Kyogen at the event.
Mr Doji Shigeyama performing a bilingual master-servant category performance with Mr Minoru Suzuki.

< Home