Experience trip: November 8th 1pm30 at Gion Higashi Quarter
Members: Ms.Ikejiri; Ms.Kimura; Ms.Takahashi Wakako; Ms. Shiba; and me (Thao)
Thanks to Okami sama and Manager, we have a very precise chance to enjoy this event. I want to share something about it. It is one of the most valuable experience of my life.
Gion Odori, known as Maple dance, from the first time in 1894, it has been anticipated as one of remarkable events in Kyoto in Autumn. It is annually performed by Geiko(Geisha), and Maiko(apprentice) at Gion East Quarter from 1952. This year it is the 61st event of Gion Odori and in schedule from November 1st till November 10th. It is quite unexpected to me that the event of this year is inspired by the idea of Japanese traditional toys. It seems the organizers they want to pull Japanese Young Generation close to national traditional art???
We came to the Hall of Gion East Quarter at around 1pm to enjoy the Tea Ceremony before the performance at 1pm30. My first impression about Gion East Quarter that it is a quite old building. However, it is out of my expectation that the performance inside that antique building is surrounded by modern digital light and sound effect (さすが日本).
The performance includes 06 scenes lasting exactly 60 minutes but in fact it made you feel less than one hour because the performance was over anticipatedly amazing. As aforementioned this year the event with the theme of traditional toys. Many toys, from very familiar toys such as goma, origami… to some strange toys that I have not seen before, are used as main motifs of the performance.
The 1st scene could refresh your eyes by so brilliant costume and your mind by wonderful music. The dance was said to be usually performed to celebrate a New Year. I could even feel the cherry flowers embroidered in dancers ‘costume’s sleeves flying around your eyes by each movement of performers.
Against to the glorious background with Fuji mountain and cherry bloom forest of the 1st scene, the 2nd scene had a goma shop as background and with an interesting topic (a funny quarrel between couples in which the final winner was decided by playing goma). It made me realized that dancer of a Geiko can come from a very normal daily topic like this.
The most impression of the 3rd scene is that it was supported by so awesome digital light effect. The movement of digital origami crane was so lively consisted with each movement of dancers. I believe that if anyone who brougt your kids along to this event will be very satisfied with this scene. You can also have a chance to get a small surprising origami from Maiko.
The 4th scene with the name Sugoroku （双六）is a dance performance in ordinary clothes but the music of this scene was the most impressive in my opinion. I unnoticedly crossed my eyes sights to the left corners of the stage many times to observe face movements of singers when they performed. With only three singers, three Shamisen players who played three-stringed music instruments (why are all number three like this???) but the sound they brought to all audience could be more than enough, even equally to a band of concert. So efficient.
The 5th scene was performed by charming Maiko. Compared to the mature of Geiko, the performance of Maiko was so lovely. They also appeared in the final scene. The scene was called signature performance and the background was changed to Autumn Leave which seemed to explain the reason why the event was called Maple dance.
I strongly recommend you to come to this event especially foreigner individual and even Japanese tourist group, because it is not easy for you to have chance to invite nearly 20 Keiko and Maiko to dance like this, not mention to the live sound and light effect of stage which is incomparable.
If you can spend thousands of Yen to travel to Japan and even spend more than that on shopping, why don’t you just spend a little money to buy this experience for your life. I believe that it is totally worthy.
No video and pictures is allowed during performance, I just could take one picture before the 1st scene started.
合掌(-||-)
雨乞神事
の祭にたいまつ行列が行われたことに由来して万灯呂山と呼ばれるそうです。
