Introduction of the play
【Story】
In the beginning of the 19th century, Mr. Yaji and Mr. Kita start their journey from Edo (ancient Tokyo) to Ise (one of the Japan’s holly places) for finding the “Reality ” of the world. They stop at an inn by a river because of the rain.
As the rain pours day after day, their room gradually fills with a sense of drifting consciousness, they wander between dreams and reality.
They start to forget whether their journey had started or not. Time and space cross over each other, and their dreams begin to develop both humorously and absurdly.
【Background of the play】
This play is based on the Japanese classic novel “Tokaido Chu Hiza Kurige”(1802) by Jyuppensya Ikku. The cartoonist, Shiriagari Kotobuki was inspired by the old story and made a comic-book version, for witch he was awarded the 5th “Best of Osamu Teduka Prize””. Based on this comic, Amano Tengai made the stage version. This is a two-actor play.
This story describes the existence of Sols that tend to be forgotten in modern society through the journey of Mr. Yaji and Mr. Kita. The themes of the story are fundamental issues such as “life”, “death”, “dreams” and “reality” but is full of humor and action. It even manages to include some severe criticism of society.
Because of the use of visual effects and video art, the play invites the audience into a bright and colorful world. They will be captivated by the lighting effects, innovative set-design and ingenious props until the end.
In 2003, we enjoyed great success in China, Taiwan and Korea. We performed in Taipei, Hong Kong (1998), Beijing (1999), Kongju (2000), Pusan (2001) and Chongquin (2003). This play was praised as “one of the high achievement of small theatre” or “the greatest treasure of the Japanese theatrical world”.
The high quality of acting and the elaborate radical direction sweep away some worn-out ideas about two-actor play. The last scene indicates the start of a new journey and leaves the audience with unforgettable memories.
※Performance Time:1 hour and 40 minutes
□■□Shiriagari Kotobuki
(Yaji and Kita/ Cartoon illustrator) Brief history
Cartoonist Shiriagari Kotobuki was born in Shizuoka city in 1958. After graduating from Tama Art University in 1981, he started working for Kirin Brewery CO., LTD. In 1985, he published his first book “Erekina-Haru.”. He continued drawing cartoons while still working for Kirin for nine years. Then in 1994, he retired from Kirin and became a full-time cartoonist.
In 2000, “Jiji-Oyaji 2000” and “Yuruyuru-Oyaji” won the 46th Bungeishunju Cartoonist’s Prize. In 2001, “Yajikita in Deep” won the 5th “Best of Osamu Teduka Prize”.
A prolific artist, he has a cartoon strip on a daily newspaper and draws for a variety of magazines. He also writes novels, scripts for TV and outlines for computer games.
Awards:
2000 46th Bungeishunju Cartoonist Prize
2001 5th The Best of Osamu Teduka Prize
□■□Amano Tengai
(Yaji and Kita/Scriptwriter, director) Brief history
Playwright and director, Tengai Amano was born in Ichinomiya city, Aichi prefecture in 1960. In 1982, he founded Sho-nen Oujya (renamed Sho-nen Oujyakan in 1985) to perform his “Gekko Enpou Tsushin”, which was performed around Nagoya. From 1984, they began to perform in three cities (Nagoya, Tokyo, and Osaka,) and then became known nationwide.
He directs not only for his own theatre group, but also other companies, concerts, fashion shows, puppet shows etc.
He also does a variety of other work such as drawing cartoons, design, directing movies etc. In 1998, he founded Sho-nen Oujyakan KUDAN project, which regularly performs overseas.
Awards:
1994 His short film “Towairaitsu” won grand prizes at the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, and the Melbourne International Film Festival
1995 9th Nagoya Seinenkaigisyo TARG Prize
1996 9th Nagoya city Art Award Premium Prize
1997 Best Individual Category, Japan Internet Drama Award
The cartoon “Yaji and Kita” (by Shiriagari Kotobuki) is in fashion now. It was put on the stage by Amano Tengai (playwright and director), and the play performed around Japan and overseas. In April, this cartoon will make into a movie with Nagase Tomoya and Nakamura Shichinosuke. Such a day, I saw the replay in Nagoya.
This is two persons play, Oguma Hideji and Jitsunashi Satoru. They are a homosexual. One day, they are going to go Ise for cure Kita’s drug poisoning and getting back a reality. But their journey doesn’t go forward.
In an inn with a long rain, they will go into strange world like a bad dream as make a round to dream and reality. The bad dream is also jokey world of vision and auditory. The same scene turns over and over, the word “Shioume” (means salted plum) and “Shita” (means tongue) are connected on a play, so “Shi o umemasita” (means bury the death), it’s very black message.
Besides, they ordered delivery service of noodles in a play really, and then ate it with covering square box on head……
But they are not only joke.
Such unprecedented and surrealistic turns shake our reality.
What is real? Is there a reality that do not over again?
Therefore a sense like a dangling and the death of side by side……
It was precious experience. That felt unconventional fun and deep sense.
In August, they will put “Hundred-Actor Play / Yaji and Kita” on stage in Nagoya. I am looking forward to seeing.
( by Oumi Jun from Mainichi newspaper 2005,3,27 )