Noh performance "TOMOE" by Mikata Shizuka with English Subtitles

[@starsnstrife]

they mean business when that flute starts playing

[@starsnstrife]

Great performance. Dedicated people.

[@editho7863]

OH IT'S ON NOW!

[@justman4891]

They sure do. When that flute starts playing that power level goes up..lots of stomping ensues. Heck it makes get up and start stomping around my own house! I absolutely love it! I wish we had things like this in America instead of trash rap. Rock, and country music shows

[@shoegal623]

😂😂😂

[@failingsystemdeeplore9636]

​@@justman4891 too bad the US is so young it has no real traditional culture

[@mikiohirata9627]

As one who studied and performed Noh and Kyogen theatre in a troop called Theatre of Yugen based in San Francisco CA for almost 2 decades. Though retired in 2004 and at 75 Yrs now I could hardly do any of these movements. I did more of Kyogen which is one act comedy relief between Noh dramas which are as you can see here very intense and complicated stories with spiritual/philosophical and esoteric fantasies for the most part. These performances usually went all day with multiple stories so there has to be relief from utterly stern Noh dramas. Music accompaniment alone as well as singing is so very specialized not to mention movements that takes years to gain control since everything must adhere to set traditional compositions. There are 5 Noh gaku (theatre) schools or styles even though the difference maybe hard for audience member to differentiate. Every movement is dictated by certain pattern of foot and hand coordination and as you can see foot movements are almost always sliding. They are the most uncomfortable body use of moving until your body start to own it It's pretty much the same as opera repertoires more you study the program more you understand and appreciate. Oh one important aspect of Noh drama is that there are 2 parts broken by intermediary actor explaining who the main character is and what/why he or she has appeared in the first place, Then she/he comes back as the true form of ghost /spiritual character till conclusion of story. And only main character wears a mask as default. Those masks can be hundreds years old as private props in head master's treasures. Many repertoire is based on historical person or occurrence that's why it helps to study the stories before you view performances

[@mortalclown3812]

Your comment is fascinating. Thank you for sharing it here. The history of Japanese theatre is so complex and nuanced: I see it taking a lifetime to master. Kudos for your dedication and accomplishments from an admiring American. ✨

[@sumitkumawat8996]

Thank you

[@mariaelenavecchione2213]

The finesse of Japanese theatre is from an entirely different world.

[@Dresdentrumpet]

It seems the ensemble starts to play when we are in the spirit world so to speak. I am just amazed at all the sounds the drummers are making and thinking they developed a notation for each of those sounds. Some of the sounds are similar to ones that we did as kids. lol so interesting. There has to be some rhyme or reason, is it the wind reminding us we are not in the present but in a different realm? Do you know if that is what the noises are trying to convey?

[@mediolanumhibernicus3353]

I travel regularly to Tokyo and have frequently enjoyed Kabuki and Bunraki performances, but I have never managed to see Noh live. It’s very difficult to get information, even locals seem relatively clueless. I travel again in February 2024 and would love to see a performance. Does anybody have specific information? Thank you.

[@Philtomato]

When the dude went "YOW!" i felt that.

[@datgarciagarcia]

Hi 😊

[@Pahlawankesiangan0]

What did you feel?

[@Zee-zj2uh]

I once worked for a very wealthy man, as his executive and personal assistant. He was so enamored with Japan and its culture that he named his yacht Tomoe. I suppose on one of his trips to Japan, he saw a performance of Tomoe and that inspired him.

[@redwoods7370]

This is why I love KZbin.

[@Memorax]

*inhales* YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@ardillasoy]

That´s the sound I make when I run out of Coke by midnight. Clearly a dramatic situation.

[@Cyfl0w]

@@ardillasoythis is a masterpiece of a comment!

[@ps-tl4ls]

Y-oooo ot!

[@MonsJazier]

This is a kakegoe. I think one of it's purposes for the play is to sync the actors...

[@FictionCautious]

The translation didn't make much sense.

[@NikkaKup]

Сегодня у меня самый ужасный день, и я рада что есть эта запись Я нахожу сдесь спокойствие

[@waellotfy6726]

اتمنى انت تكون المحنة زالت و انت بخير

[@Cinetyk]

I was born in Portugal, 1984, always lived in Portugal. As a kid, my parents listened to some classical music, so I grew fond of it. In my teens I discovered about Opera, and how the "majority" of pieces (as I found back then) where spoken in the Italian language. Slowly I developed some form of understanding, mostly due to translations I could find online. In parallel, I also enjoyed a lot of japanese anime as a teen (Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, Rurouni Kenshin, Neon Genesis Evangelion, etc etc etc) - and eventually I even learned a bit of Japanese - even going to studying the first like 100 Kanji. All the while, I kept listening to classical music and developed a love for especially Symphonies - Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, etc etc. Eventually I found out about traditional Japanese music. Such a shock it was and also so mesmerizing. It still is to this day. Just the few minutes at the start of this performance, all the sounds and rhythms sound very different from "classical", but regardless are just so interesting and SOOO captivating! The sounds and musical structure feel so different from like the typical italian Opera, yet at the same time, the performance is so entrancing and captivating. I don't mean any disrespect by the comparison, it's just the way I'm able to try and interpret the music. I feel like this Japanese style is an open window to a depth of immeasurable wealth of knowledge of the human soul, regardless of where and when you are born. It's truly remarkable. I find myself locked in this performance. Well done and thanks for the share.

[@MTCDiana]

thank you for writing your full biography LOL

[@aidasoto2936]

You say it right Los viajes culturales y fomentar el arte y la musica de cualquier lugar del mundo nos hace crecer y ser mas "comprensivos" respetuosos y nos expandimos a seguir aprendiendo siempre. "comprensivos-por aquellos que en la ignorancia se burlan y dusfrutan de hacernos sentir mal". Gracias por tus palabras Mis respetos

[@aidasoto2936]

Now I know why I deside eradicate sex in an art. SUPERLIKED-JAPAN-HONOR

[@mortalclown3812]

​@@MTCDiana FYI some folks are fascinated by the accomplishments and enthusiasm of others - especially when it comes to classical performing arts. Guessing your snark surpasses your CV in this arena.

[@bettyledesma937]

MUSIC MAY BE OPERA, GLEN GOULD OR YO YO MA.....THE FADO TOO REACHES OUR HEART .💗 Sorry Caps. Old hands..

[@dr.phil.pepper3325]

Thanks for making these great performances available for us people in the west.

[@mortalclown3812]

💯 Wish I'd toured the far East vs multiple trips to Europe during my traveling decades. Kicking myself - figuratively speaking - for missing out on Japan and India even though I think it might've been difficult to see several aspects of Indian life. (Specifically - caste prejudice, neglected animals.) Grateful for these oft hidden gems on KZbin.

[@jameskirk2579]

"in the West" ... ? Where ? Australia ? Italy ? Canada ? Sweden ? Fance ? Chili ?

[@asktastic12]

@@jameskirk2579 no one cares bro, if its west it’s all these places. If its east, its only CHINa or INDIA. As if india is just a giant block of landmass doing the exact same shit the name india pounds to describe😂😂

[@amed989]

no problem bro

[@androidexpert-ar-6074]

How tf is this great?? It's kinda grotesque... That's the only reason why it's interesting for people, including me

[@iheartm4ri]

I’m half Chinese and have Japanese heritage and I honestly think it’s just gorgeous

[@grey.7828]

why does your race matter? chinese are also taught to hate japan from young age

[@_-zn5rw]

@@grey.7828일본은 싫어할려고 노력해봐도 좋아지는 국가니깐.☺️

[@SquareOstrich]

I'm Commander Shepard and this is my favorite store on the Citadel

[@christinae30]

I started to watch just to see how Noh was performed, and thought I'd just watch some minutes; now I've watch it all and am very thankful that (at least for me) thete were no advertational breaks. Thank you to all performers!

[@Yovspp]

Yea

[@seniorskateboarder5958]

I know the story of Gozen Tomoe and her husband. They were of the Taira clan and fought one of the most famous battles of that era. I used to tell that story to children at the Asian Art museum, San Francisco.

[@mishikomishiko9088]

Tomoe served to Minamoto. Not to Taira. You lied to the children.

[@dorianhorton6805]

I think it's fierce the way they execute their movements, the walking, the drums.

[@うめゾーン]

最初は新鮮だから楽しいけど、 30分後に寝る自信がある

[@getme2morenow565]

This kind of theatre is so bizarre, yet somehow very beautiful.

[@LucidDream]

This and Chinese Opera. Very interesting.

[@kalevala29]

It is an ancient art form where every action is performed with slow, deliberate movements. I believe it requires considerable concentration to follow an entire performance.

[@gamanmcreynolds3658]

It is as a dream. This is as it should be.

[@debussy3222]

​@@kalevala29 yo leyendo los textos pude concentrarme mucho, sin saber japonés es muy monótono.

[@ericdeichmuller3731]

Wunderschön Toll Danke sehr.

[@danamarcotteseiler7423]

I am an American, and have been interested in Japanese stage plays since I was young, very impressed with the “young drummer on the left he shows serious dedication and he along with the other musicians demand “ Much”respect ; Domo Arigato, for showing this Art of Japan .

[@hansanichannel4828]

Mirip pentas di pulau jawa dari lagu sampai dialeknya ya

[@ericbana191]

God Japan is a different world altogether. So unique despite being so close to the Chinese and Koreans.

[@Cyfl0w]

China would have been different too, if Mao did not kill their whole culture in his „revolution“.

[@荒井まめ-m6e]

These three countries are not similar. It's just that it's close.

[@wareforcoin5780]

Being on an island makes for crazy culture. I know you're probably used to British culture, but if you actually think about all the British things, they're also extremely unique. Think of Hawaiian culture, also extremely unique. We take for granted how easy it is to trade culture over land. You can just start walking to the next group over and share some neat stuff when you're all on a continent. You have to have a boat to share culture when your neighbor is on an island.

[@Despotic_Waffle]

@@荒井まめ-m6e japan and korea, by their own admittance, have thousands of years of cultural influence from china

[@荒井まめ-m6e]

@@Despotic_Waffle Just because someone is influenced by someone doesn't mean their culture is similar.

[@wareforcoin5780]

It was pretty slow in the first part, but the ending when they were explaining Tomoe's deeds at the end of the battle, and how she gave up being a warrior in order to carry on a legacy was great stuff.

[@twoblackwidows]

Interesting story. I love how simple noh is. It reminds me of the theory of Sublime in art. Awe in nature, the emotions it brings, and personal connections.

[@mortalclown3812]

Decades ago, I found a book called 'Japanese Death Poems': fwiw, the subject matter isn't as morbid as it may seem. It's a remarkable history of a phenomenon unique to their country - and wildly entertaining to boot. Their connection with nature - even in moments of battle - is direct and profound. Kurosawa's film 'Dreams' was my introduction to this dimension of what I'll call the Japanese mindset. Consciousness of nature permeates Japanese culture in ways that I'm not sure a lot of Westerners can relate to. (Wish I'd focused on this much earlier in my own life.)

[@PurtyPurple]

​@mortalclown3812 One of the few "Western" countries that I've found to have a deep respect for and connection to nature is New Zealand. It makes sense as it also has a very long and rich history and culture in the indigenous Maori peoples. They were almost destroyed by colonization, luckily they've survived (albeit undoubtedly scarred) and the government and descendants of settlers have recognized how valuable and beautiful that culture is. If only we could follow their example in America.

[@Flymoki13]

simple cuz you understand nothing watching it lol

[@ragoon7798]

watching this high asf is an experience for sure

[@mattberinger2114]

Thank you very much for sharing with us this ancient epic story, for teaching us gentleness and nobility, the value of silence, the very very subtle Beauty. These type of cultural gems are priceless. I bow in respect. Domo Arigato

[@SFNightOwl]

Brilliant. Mysterious. Beautiful. Thank you! I am mystified how this combination of seemingly odd techniques, performed in a language I don’t speak, reflecting a culture of which I have no experience can rivet me to my screen for an hour and make me crave more. Great art is truly transcendent. Bravo.

[@hectordelorenzi785]

nice to see young people in NOH perfomance....

[@rebelblade7159]

Thank you Fate/Grand Order for making me interested in reading about the Genpei War and literary works related to it, allowing me to find this gem. Love from Bangladesh.

[@nickb220]

raw, pure, incorruptible art

[@DrWhoHarvey]

I wonder if the monk prayed for Tomoe. It ended as a cliffhanger.

[@lordgargamel4124]

The pace of these plays make an hour seem like an entire day.

[@himapyneni550]

Amazing performance. Watching these performances has increased my patience a lot. The English subtitles help a lot. Thank you.

[@adelabrouchy]

Thanks for this beatutiful video, and for the subtitles .💗

[@danamarcotteseiler7423]

Same here

[@reynalindstrom2496]

Elegant,symmetric thrilling and poetical.I'm happy that I'm glad I saw it.😍 Love from Sweden💛💙

[@georgewilson7432]

Beauty that trascends every barrier.

[@SengokuStudies]

Very interesting performance. I was one of the viewers of the zoom call about this play, and that too was interesting and educational. When I was an undergraduate in university, I took part in a short workshop where we got to do a tiny bit of Kanze Ryu, and that was a great experience. I would love to be able to learn more about it. When I lived in Tokyo several years ago, I went to the Yari Noh Theater, the inside looks pretty much the same as it did then.

[@kushluk777]

Beautiful! Thank you for making public this production.

[@simeonbanner6204]

Very interesting, thank you. It's hard for non Japanese. I sense there are ghosts, the Buddhist themes, deeply Japanese themes perhaps kami of places, objects etc. But equally Shakespeare is very difficult for modern western audiences: the classical world, magic, English history, places, old names. I appreciate the costumes very much.

[@nicholasprakash3411]

You should watch Kurasoki's Ran which is a Japanese version of King Lear. He also did a Japanese version of Macbeth.

[@十三ヨシヒサ]

『文化的時間、その時代の(心の)時の流れ、それは”芸”でしか繋ぎ止め、保管できないのかもしれない』と、 能、狂言、古の”芸”を見るたび思う。その中にあって、長く生き残るリズムの尊さよ。 一方、失われた「時」のリズムと、急かされる「時」のリズムの違和感が、人々を引きさく感覚に及ぶと、 人と世界の幸福のリズムに思いを馳せない、・・・わけには、いかないものだ。

[@nikolay9746]

If I am here and watched the whole performance and thanks to FromSoftware. In their title "Sekiro", it mentions Tomoe, however it is cut content. Then they reworked her and put her back in Elden Ring as Malenia. Magnificent performance. At times I shivered from the intensity

[@MidnightatMidian]

Wtf are you talking about. Tomoe is not cut content in Sekiro, she is a huge part of the lore. She don't appear because she has died long time ago. she's the one who teached Genichiro. Please just don't write stupid things for seeking attention.

[@Saint_Sekyuritai2849]

I've never seen anything like this before. This type of performance is so haunting, and I was drawn into every movement!

[@ocktaphius2940]

Kebudayaan seperti ini sangat bagus, sangat suka bagaimana orang hepang mengapresiasi kebudayaannya dan dunia mengakuinya. Mereka sangat hebat☺️

[@everobert4767]

J'avais monté le son au max dans mon casque au début parce que j'entendais rien et la flûte a commencé à crier. Je n'ai plus d'ouïe.

[@buschovski1]

I turned it way up in my car to hear the singing and the guy on the lefts drum nearly blew my eardrum out

[@gayaananyan675]

Thank you very much! Great thetre form. Greetings from Armenia.

[@GrevDrake]

Beautiful performance. At the same time it sounds haunting when that flute is playing, very dramatic. I love it!

[@anthonybillings4077]

Beautiful and moving performance. Thank you for the subtitles in this haunting and profound story.

[@Dimmo87ie]

I’ve always found Japanese culture to be fascinating, but I’d never heard of Noh before. After reading that US president Ulysses S Grant was shown one upon his visit to Japan, I ended up here. That was an amazing performance by all involved! I’m so glad this art form hasn’t been lost to time.

[@AdamStJamesStJames]

Such a spirited performance. Thank you for upload!

[@IndeedBeni]

I thought I would watch the first 10 minutes or so of this to get an idea of what Noh is like but I ended up watching the whole thing. Very interesting.

[@seniorskateboarder5958]

I've seen this play live here in San Francisco. In fact, this coming Sunday, May 28, I'm going to see a different Noh play.

[@Batatkacom]

Who knew tmnt fandom could bring me to such a beautifull performance (I was researching things abt ninjas n got really sidetracked, haha) Tysm for sharing!

[@PersistenciaMemoria]

Good ol' rabbit holes!

[@BooBooKing]

No words to describe this magnificent performance and to express my gratitude.

[@kattiepenn]

​@JessTarnyes it is

[@felixdom9693]

THIS SO BEAUTIFUL AND CALMING IM IN LOVE WITH THIS TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENT OF JAPAN AND THE KABUKI

[@vayasaberlo8]

Riveting! So alien yet so moving.

[@carlosmelgar]

saludos desde jutiapa , Guatemala ; me gusto mucho la obra ...muy bella como estar en un sueño y un trance a la vez..

[@spacemanapeinc7202]

Saludos desde Alta Verapaz y Canada

[@buzzardflight1]

Splendid. Thank you for the magnificent play

[@atomixfang]

Thank you for including subtitles. I would love to watch one live in the future!

[@knife-wieldingspidergod5059]

Same here, if I am lucky enough to be a part of audience in a live Noh performance in Japan, I did be knee deep in culture.

[@russellparratt9859]

The Japanese invented avant-garde theatre and music about 600 years before the West did. 🙂

[@eltiogottlieb.4911]

Is exactly the same thing I thought when I saw and listened to this. Amazing.

[@Jeff-lf4hy]

ROME

[@QUEEN-df1mc]

They probably stole it from them

[@cedthebear3664]

It’s not avant-garde if it’s traditional…

[@russellparratt9859]

@@cedthebear3664 You missed the point I was making, entirely.

[@NieroshaiTheSable]

It would be nice to see the translated words instead of "Character talks to the monk for five minutes."

[@mortalclown3812]

It takes dedicated browsing, but the 'book' /librettos for these are probably online and even in English.

[@tsuyukurage3772]

First time to watch real Noh performance from Thailand. Thank you.

[@omittapir5986]

Wow this is different level of opera! Very interesting... I just wanted to have a peek as I love Chinese operas. But got me hooked.... Wow!

[@inusiba5969]

最初のスロー加減で「マジかよ…」と思っていましたが、最後はどういうわけか号泣してました ティッシュの山ができてます ジョン・レノンも能を見て号泣したらしいが、わかる気がする 本物を見てみたいです 能が今まで残っている理由が分かりました

[@Tekknorg]

Pure Beauty. Wonderful

[@shoshishoshi127]

This is so beautiful.

[@StephenGrew]

What is surprising is even though it appears relatively sparse, there's a whole lot going on.

[@giuseppinaciani3986]

Ciao complimenti eureka io di Roma adoro il Giappone bis 👍💪👏🎉🌻🤩💕😊

[@DionysianLovecraftian]

This is a fascinating watch and a sad story. I find it to be very profound.

[@みよこM]

能は以前、現代語解説付きのものをTV番組で見ましたが、演者が三人整列して座っただけでそこが川を船で渡っている景色になったり、今回で言うと目の前に広がる湖の景色が見えたりと 脳内でバーチャルな体験ができるのが新鮮でした。実際そこにあるのは木の床なのに。劇なのですが本を読んでいるような感覚。

[@Plarndude]

Thank you for this video of a Noh play done so well. I would like an explanation for why those two drum players say yoh over and over. I don't have any idea what that means for traditional Japanese story telling. Are they approximating wind blowing? Spirits floating about? I am so curious.

[@wareforcoin5780]

It's not part of the story at all. Well, it is, but only so much as it is accompanying the story. It's to mark the beginning of a beat in the music. It's written into the music for the performance.

[@HashimAmin-p6g]

Inspired to look this up because of the Shogun series. I’m curious if the opera performance is exactly the same or do they have similar sound.

[@plurplursen7172]

I feel like this is kind of entertainment is a few years older than Netflix.

[@changowowowoezzy9617]

This is terrifying

[@miwatanaka-cb9mm]

アップありがとうございます。私のFBで紹介させていただきますね。

[@mariellouise1]

I’m so struck that the woman warrior resents “ the bitterness of being a woman. “ and abandoned.

[@claranimmer7349]

Strange but fascinating this sad story of Tomoe.

[@pastorofmuppets4552]

This stuff was Doom Metal long before Black Sabbath. Respect.

[@mortalclown3812]

😂💯

[@AshleighTurtlezz]

This was fascinating!! So interesting to watch.

[@RoyMayhew-b3h]

Very interesting tales of ghost and monk .

[@sergiodubgaku]

Amazing play and excellent production, thanks for the subtitles. Tomoe is a women warrior, It’s shura-mono o katsura-mono?

[@truelulw8697]

Thank you for this beautiful performance from Czech Republick

[@federicoprice2687]

I think you'll find this comes from Japan, not the Czech Republic. Greetings! 🇬🇧 🇨🇿

[@auradzrts691]

Protect lord Katsumoto!!!

[@sashafalcon6407]

My tinnitus when I turn off everything and try to sleep: 00:19

[@haydonjp]

I know you posted this 6 months ago, but you had me in tears laughing

[@aure5171]

this is so fkin funny xdddd

[@seisukeota273]

良かったです

[@belamoure]

Definitely an acquired taste not for everybody. You need to pay attention and like a new liquor taste it by lill' licks at a time. Cats wise as ever, do not do otherwise.

[@Pikoy22]

This has an eerie vibe

[@canciones913]

thanks for sharing ;D

[@suelyparentesouza]

Arte imprescindível ❤

[@swilladonconfigs6046]

this is old traditional asmr threatre

[@JudyFurmston]

Captivating!

[@bullpaxton2001]

this is so cool. I'd love to see in real life. the compostions are awesome.

[@davoxime]

yooooooooooooooooooooooooooh

[@youngc570]

What noh theater understood is dance is a language.

[@aragornii507]

This is why I believe the arts are very important aside to STEM

[@sirtalkalotdoolittle]

Are the actors speaking in language that a Japanese person would hear today? Or is the language the equivalent of how an English person would hear Shakespeare or Chaucer (or Beowulf)?

[@buschovski1]

very good question. i would like to know as well. I assume it would be updated to modern style language if it needed to be.

[@vichua1052]

Stage art in low motion. Takes a lot of patience to watch

[@KanWoo76]

Greatest performance I've seen all year!!!

[@BavonWW]

It's taken me years to realise that i can fit a busy mental rythmic drum pattern between the sparse hand drum strikes which helps to supplement the pace.

[@crying2emoji5]

I learned about Noh from Björk’s “Holographic Entrypoint”

[@oaaooaooaao]

8:04 YIOOOOOUHHHH

[@sushifishy5158]

Imagine entering the shrine without even knowing what kind of deity is enshrined in there. Homie's such a goofy ass blasphemous fella ngl

[@renedugarte3898]

Exceptional culture great performance 👍👍👍👍👍

[@daisuke6072]

素晴らしいぞ

[@_to_-cn8wd]

IT HAS SUBTITLES!

[@Yovspp]

Yay