And now I remember how I saw the first entertainment show in Japan. Several young men tested each other’s resistance to pain by whipping them. Of course, there was also a language barrier, at that time I did not understand a single drop of Japanese. But even now I am haunted by images of the audience rolling on the floor laughing and the young men howling in pain.

Then I wondered how a country like Japan could laugh at such a thing and why such humor farce. In Romania, the fight was torn from the sky, but never as a joke. If the neighbor beat his wife, then it was real. Do not check how long it “holds”!

What is different about Japanese humor? Why is this not fully understood? I say, let’s start from the beginning.

Tomoko Aoyama, an adjunct professor of Japanese at the University of Queensland, tells us that one of the oldest figures in the history of Japanese humor is not a man, but a goddess.

Ame-no-Uzume, the goddess of the dawn in Japanese mythology, is also known for her humor and cheerfulness. Tomoko Aoyama calls her the virgin of humor.

“She was Japan’s first comic erotic performer and shamanic shaman.” says Aoyama.

But what is the story?

Amaterasu (goddess of the sun) got angry – like every woman – did not want to talk to anyone anymore and hid in a cave. With her disappearance, and thus the sun, the world plunged into darkness. All the gods tried in vain to persuade her to come out of there; it was our stubborn Amaterasu (female!).

Ame-no-Uzume, a girl at the time, came up with a plan and began to dance in a comical way that today we would even call erotic, partially undressed, pulling her nipples and exposing more private parts as her skirt slipped below her thighs. all kami-sama – they laughed, watching the prima donna dance. Amaterasu, hidden in the cave, heard all the fun and stuck her head out to see what was going on. So the sun returned to earth and this Japanese proto-Lolita saved the world by laughing.

Aoyama also tells us that the goddess of humor was strong and bold and had no taboos about her gender or her body, being very different from the stereotypical image of Japanese women.

The desire for erotic humor persists to this day. The Japanese are not Christians, so they do not shy away from such jokes; of course, there is a sense of shame, and he does not show his true face in public, keeping his appearance silent tatamiz The Japanese viewer wants to see unrealistic things. Things people can’t or shouldn’t do in real life.

Japanese comedy is divided into several types, among which I remember only three.

Rakugo, literally “fallen words”, this is a type of traditional Japanese theater where the actor is the lone narrator. Use only a paper fan and a piece of cloth as props. Without getting up during the entire performance, the artist cancer will tell a long, complicated, but comical story. The story always involves a dialogue between several characters, and here you can see the actor’s talent and ability to play each role, choosing the right tone and precise body gestures.

filly it is by far the most common style of comedy in Japan. View stand uponly made according to a different recipe. filly two performers participate: bokeh and tsukkomi Bokeh will make a long and revealing speech, while tsukkomi will make dry asides, sometimes accompanied by slaps on the other’s head, implying how screwed up he is bokeh.

Kabuki is internationally recognized as one of Japan’s greatest performing arts. Done in a very stylized manner, kabuki it is a combination of music, dance and pantomime. It is believed that in order (her full name Izumo no Okuni) invented this theatrical art form in the early 17th century when she danced and sang with other women on the Kamo River in Kyoto. The performance gained popularity thanks to sensual and erotic scenes, but caused envy among the audience, because, frankly speaking, the actresses escaped through men’s beds. Tokugawa banned women from acting and they were replaced by young actors and later by mature actors.

When I saw on Facebook that Radu Stanca Theater from Sibiu would be performing in Tokyo, I called my friends and decided to go. I have not participated in Romanian theater performances for about ten years.

Crimson Princess (The Story of the Blind Princess) directed by Silviu Purcarete based on Tsurui Nanboku IV’s Sakura Hime Azuma Bunsho brought the hall to its feet. Purkerete knew how to use all the elements kabuki putting on a great hybrid show.

The story begins when Seigen, the abbot of the temple, falls in love with his student Shiragiku. Love is impossible, so they both decide to commit suicide. The young man throws himself off the cliff, but Seigen loses his courage and remains alive. Seventeen years later, Princess Sakura comes to the temple to become a monk, and the abbot recognizes her as the female reincarnation of Shiragiku. And he falls in love again. Read the whole article and comment on Contributors.ro