The new coronavirus pandemic has terrified people around the world. Japanese people have suffered from infectious diseases many times in recorded history, and our ancestors tried to overcome the fear of epidemics with the power of the performing arts.
In kabuki, for example, the Ichikawa Danjuro family has a technique called "nirami" (glare). The cross-eyed glare technique is related to Fudo Myoo, the main deity worshiped at Naritasan Shinshoji temple and which the family has honored from generation to generation.
Ichikawa Ebizo, the current head of the Danjuro family, performs the nirami saying, "Well, I'll glare at you" on occasions including the kojo stage announcements for the festive New Year's performance. Stories have been told such as "my illness was cured after Danjuro glared at me," and people who are given this look by Danjuro family actors have been said to be protected from illness for a year.
The Danjuro family's specialty, Kabuki-Juhachiban (18 best Kabuki plays), also contains a play called "Oshimodoshi," which features a person who has superhuman abilities so great they can vanquish a demon.
"Okina" is a noh play that prays for the peace and safety of the country, a special piece that is classified as a noh play but is not exactly genuine noh.
Noh players who perform the main Okina part refrain from eating meat beforehand, and just before the play, all the performers purify themselves with sacred sake and pieces of flint.
Kiyokazu Kanze, the grand master of the Kanze school of shitekata, which specializes in playing main roles, said: "Noh actors have a duty to pray for jufuku zocho [longevity and happiness] as advocated by my predecessor [and noh master] Zeami. Looking to the future, I want to give performances that help people who see my shows have a healthier, happier and longer life."
In March, the Japanese government recommended to UNESCO that 37 traditional performing arts, collectively known as "furyu odori," be listed as an intangible cultural asset. Furyu odori are performing arts that pray for the elimination of epidemics.
Before modern times when there was little medical knowledge, epidemics were believed to be curses by "goryo," the spirits of people who died bearing resentment toward the world. To comfort, calm and send back such spirits, Japanese people danced to cheerful musical accompaniment such as singing and the Japanese flute, drums and bells. These folk performing arts are collectively called furyu odori.
They include "odori nenbutsu (dancing with Buddhist invocation)" and "Bon odori," both of which have long been passed down in various parts of the country. "Okuni kabuki," which is said to be the origin of kabuki and was performed by a woman in the Izumo region named Okuni, seems to be a kind of furyu odori that attracted people's attention with odori nenbutsu.
Furyu odori performing arts were created in various parts of the country as people left Kyoto. Gradually, these performing arts were merged with local cultures and diversified as they incorporated regional qualities.
It is uncertain whether unscientific "prayers" will help get us out of the imminent danger. But why don't we think about the history in which our ancestors evolved their "fear" into performing arts? When you browse the internet now, you'll find people from various genres, including traditional performing arts and pop culture, generously performing for free. They must be putting their "prayers" into their actions.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
