[Tama usagi] “The moon rabbit”, a cute and lively kyôgen dance perfect to celebrate this year of the Rabbit. As described by Kabuki21:
In Japan, it is fabled that the forms seen on the moon are hares pounding rise cakes. In this performance a hare who jumps off of the moon onto the Earth is pounding rice cakes to a light-hearted lilting tune. Next,the hare becomes the hare from another famous Japanese fable, the "Spiny Mountain" (Note: kachikachiyama folktale) and,in accordance with this fable, has a scuffle with the raccoon. This is an innocently witty dance that is well-known through fairy tales and children's songs.
If you read Japanese, you can check this page for song lyrics.
I really like the performance I linked above, with the tenugui forming adorable bunny ears! If you wanna see a better quality video, check this one (but: no flopping ears ^^;):
Prepare yourself for the ultimate combination of elegance and kawaii with this stunning 1/4 scale Japanese doll figure of Tohru from Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid! Sculpted by Moineau and manufactured by F:NEX, Tohru measures a magnificent 16.7" tall. Her priceless kimono has been handcrafted by expert Yoshiktoku artisans! The kimono is a celebratory mix of red, gold, green and many other colors. Tohru's maintains her status as a maid by keeping her signature frilly hairband on her head, but the band is now decorated with pretty pink and blue flowers, as well as a fetching red ribbon!
Tohru carries a drum in her hand to make wonderful Japanese music, a simple task for a dragon as her. She boasts a soft, inviting smile on her face with just a touch of blush added to her cheeks. This is truly a masterful Yoshitoku figure to be the centerpiece of a premium collection, and Tohru will look simply astonishing when displayed next to the Kanna Yoshitoku figure (sold separately)!
Also Available: Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid Kanna -Japanese Doll- 1/4 Scale Figure
Asian Clothing Figurines Review
Asian Clothing: Japanese Kimono
Kimono Type: Kabuki Kimono: Nihonbuyo - Onnagata
Accuracy Rating: 5/5
Explanation: Nihon-buyo, also known as Japanese traditional dance, is derived from kabuki and features elements from Noh drama, bunraku, Western dance styles, and other modern styles. In fact, the types of dances performed in the nihon-buyo repertoire are classified into "male" and "female" using the same names as kabuki does, "tachiyaku" and "onnagata" respectively. Thankfully, both sets of roles can be played by either gender! While some nihon-buyo performances were direct translations of existing Noh, kabuki, or bunraku dramas into pure choreography, others weren't meant to portray specific characters. This allowed performers to put together costumes and choreograph the dances more freely.
This doll is a collaboration with Yoshitoku Dolls, a 300-year-old traditional Japanese doll company based in Tokyo, to create an anime figurine that embodies the elegance and style of traditional Japanese dancing dolls. Key to that traditional look is the practice of katahada (片肌脱) when a performer has one shoulder of their uppermost kimono undone. The reasons for this undoing are many. When kimono were everyday clothing, katahada and morohada (諸肌脱ぎ, the practice of undoing the top half of your kimono) were done by people of all classes to allow for greater comfort and mobility while they worked (Source 2). However, it didn't take long for nihon-buyo performers to use katahada/ morohada as a way to emphasize the splendor of their costumes (Source 3) and reinforce visual elements of storytelling (Source 4 & 5).
Japan #09 - Nihon-buyo und noch mehr Spätherbst in Sendai
Endlich - lange vorgenommen und lange aufgeschoben - haben wir es auch mal geschafft einen kleinen Ausflug zur Daikannon-Statue im Norden Sendais zu machen. Unser Sonntagnachmittagsspaziergang artete dabei zwar in eine kleine Wanderung durch die Kälte aus, aber der Blick über Sendai und die eindrucksvolle Statue haben sich gelohnt. Für das nächste Wochenende hatte die Uni kostenlose Tickets für eine Tanzveranstaltung vergeben. Die Tänze gingen insgesamt drei Stunden lang und waren in mehrere Gruppen gestaffelt. Scheinbar zu verschiedenen Themen, was sich als Laie allerdings sehr schwer sagen lässt. Allein die einzigartigen Bewegungen der Füße der Tänzer zu beobachten und sich die Geschichte hinter dem Tanz vorzustellen hat eine ungemein beruhigende Wirkung.
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Japan #09 - Nihon-buyo and even more late autumn in Sendai
Finally - since long planned and put off again - we did it to undertake a small trip to the Daikonnon statue in the north of Sendai. Our sunday afternoon walk ended up in a little hike through the cold though. But the view over Sendai as well as the impressive statue itself were worth it. For the following week-end the university had given away free tickets for a dance performance. The dances took three hours in total and were seperated in several groups. Apparently regarding different topics, which is hard to tell as a layperson though. Alone watching the unique movements of the dancer's feet and to imagine the story behind the dance has a very calimg effect on me.
Some shots from Hanazono Naomichi's performance at the Japan Expo! Really loving those leather hakama (3rd photo, for his nihonbuyo performance to Michael Jackson songs XD)
