“Shakuji-noh” Project

Fugetsu Shakuji-Noh
at Fugetsurou, Shizuoka
Shakuji is written in two kanji characters that mean dwell and god .
Letting the modern world realize nature s energy Shakuji Noh s artist director and flower artist Yuki Tsuji s activities focus on rediscovering the
power of nature. He would explore into remote mountainous areas to
gather wild flowers and would then express the beauty of wild plants
through the aesthetics of ikebana. He met Keinosuke Okura, a traditional
Japanese drum or Noh tsuzumi performer through Genjiro Okura, current head of Okura Ryu, school of Noh tsuzumi and together, they formed
a drum and flower unit, Koka no Kai. Koka no Kai aims to pursue the underlying common spirit of these traditional arts developed through the
full appreciation of nature. This common perception is what led them to
produce Shakuji Noh.
Toro Shakuji-Noh
at Toro Ruine, Shizuoka
Karuizawa Shakuji-Noh
at Wakita museum, Nagano
No NUKES2015 ACOUSTIC NIGHT
at TOYOSU PIT
The theme of his performance is Kotohogu which is hard word to translate in English. What he means by this word is to breathe life in the place
and to produce a spiritually richer space
And in this spiritually rich space, he believes that the Gods of nature descend upon the people and the people feel they are being watched over.
Traditionally, Japanese people believed that the deities ascended from the
heavens and dwelled temporarily in plants; (which is different form the idea
of Western countries that God is believed to be always watching over
people.)
×BANG & OLUFSEN JAPAN
90th movie
Yuki Tsuji arranges would-be-waste tea plant root, driftwood and dead
branches on the center of the stage to the music of No drums of Keinosuke
Okura and co. He breathes life into the plants as well as the stage. The audience and performers are encircled with the warm atmosphere it creats.
His work is:
①Environmentally conscientious
He practices sustainable art̶foresting unwanted bamboo allows the deteriorating bamboo forests to rejuvenate. After the No sets are disassembled,
the bamboo used is broken down into chips and returned to the forest.
②Innovative
He has designed Noh sets at locations such as Fugetsuro (former residence of
the last Tokugawa Shogun) in Shizuoka. A Noh orchestra successfully performed on a bamboo set built on top of the garden pond. He was also responsible of designing a recent TED x Shizuoka stage.
③Aimed to introduce Japanese culture abroad, promote cultural exchange
and educate the younger generation
His bamboo sets are reminiscent of Japanese shrine carpentry. His project
abroad has involved art and architecture students providing field study opportunities. The students then enjoyed the Noh staged on the set they
helped build (@Chateau de Fere 2years ago).
Last Shakuji Noh was held on in a remote area of Ashikubo surrounded by
mountains and tea plantations in Shizuoka. We witnessed another perfect
fusion of traditional arts and food. Mr, Okuda values the aesthetics of subtraction that has a high affinity with Noh and Kado . We would like you to experience Shakuji Noh.
Ashikubo Shakuji-Noh
at Ashikubo SATO , Shizuoka
Ashikubo Shakuji-Noh
at Ashikubo SATO , Shizuoka
Ashikubo Shakuji-Noh
at Ashikubo SATO , Shizuoka
Ashikubo Shakuji-Noh
at Ashikubo SATO , Shizuoka
Ashikubo Shakuji-Noh
at Ashikubo SATO , Shizuoka
Ashikubo Shakuji-Noh
at Ashikubo SATO , Shizuoka