殺陣師・アクション監督として活躍する香純恭さんがNY道場を開設して10年。
ジャパンソサイエティーで開催された記念祭に、200名以上が集結した。
マーシャルアーツではなく、日本の伝統的なパフォーミングアーツである殺陣。
映画のチャンバラシーンしか知らない人にとっては、未知の世界。
刀、鎌、棒、扇子から掃除用具まで、あらゆるツールを分身のように扱う演舞。
ドラマ将軍シリーズで活躍される宮川絵里子プロデューサーとのトークショーや、
短編映画「風吹かば」を映像とステージのハイブリッドで提供するという試み。
「鬼滅の刃」流行の影響もあるのだろうか。
アメリカ人のゲストが多く、舞台にかじりつくように集中している。
プロの俳優陣からビギナーまでとあったけれど、その構成が素晴らしく、
テンポの良い演出とキレのある演舞に、あっという間のショーケース。
恭さんの見えない努力と道場の10年間の歩み、5年祭からの飛躍ぶりを体感し、
彼女が高瀬師匠の写真をかざしたフィナーレでは、感動の涙が止まらなかった。
レセプションで提供されたビバレッジやフードのクオリティーの高さ、
集まった客層の幅広さとセンスの良さ、昨今では珍しいほどの盛況ぶり。
コロナ禍でもオンラインで稽古を続け、「殺陣」を伝えることを諦めなかった10年。
その歴史の積み重ねを、きちんと形にしていることがいかに大変なことか。
あの舞台を見れば、誰もが彼女に畏敬の念を抱くだろう。
もっと世界に伝えてほしい、殺陣の世界。
日本の伝統芸能の本髄は、どこまでも奥深い。
It has been ten years since Kyo Kasumi, a professional "TATE" sword fight performing artist and action director, opened her New York dojo.
More than 200 people gathered for the 10th-anniversary festival held at Japan Society.
"TATE, sword fight performing arts" is not a martial art but a traditional Japanese performing art.
It is an unknown world for those who only know "Chanbara" movie scenes.
This performing arts handle all kinds of tools, from swords, sickles, sticks, and fans to cleaning tools, as if they were alter egos.
They provided a talk show with producer Eriko Miyagawa, who is active in the Drama Shogun series, and,
an attempt to offer the short film "Kaze Fukaba" as a video and stage performance hybrid.
The "Demon Slayer" craze may have influenced the event.
Many of the American guests were concentrating on biting into the stage.
There were professional actors to beginners, but the structure of the show was excellent,
The showcase went by quickly with its fast-paced direction and sharp performances.
We experienced the invisible efforts of Kyo and the progress of the dojo over the past ten years, and the leaps and bounds that have been made since the 5-year festival,
I could not stop the tears of emotion during the finale when she held up a picture of her master, Mr.Takase.
The quality of the beverages and food served at the reception was high,
The wide range and good taste of the clientele who gathered, and the fact that the event was so well attended, is rare these days.
Ten years have passed since she never gave up on conveying the "TATE" by continuing to practice online, even with the COVID-19 pandemic.
How difficult it must be to have that accumulation of history adequately shaped.
If you see that stage, everyone will be in awe of her.
I wish she would tell the world more about "TATE, sword fight performing arts."
The essence of Japan's traditional performing arts is profound in every way.