A press conference was held in Tokyo on April Getsuku to announce the production of "-Noh Kyogen- 'Hijiru Hi Izuru Tokoro no Tenshi Hi Izuru Tokoro no Tenshi '," a Noh and Kyogen adaptation of Ryoko Yamagishi 's classic manga "Hijiru Tokoro no Tenshi." Yamagishi and Mansai Nomura appeared. Yamagishi spoke about her thoughts on adapting " Hi Izuru Tokoro no Tenshi" into a Noh and Kyogen play.
"-Noh Kyogen- ' The Hi Izuru Tokoro no Tenshi'" will be directed and performed by Mansai, and supervised and performed by Living National Treasure Otsuki Bunzo. Mansai will play Umayado Prince, Fukuo Kazuyuki will play Soga no Umohito, and Otsuki Yuichi will play Tojikoro-onna. The show will be performed at the Kanze Noh Theatre GINZA SIX (Chuo-ku, Tokyo) from August 7th to 10th. Tickets will go on pre-request (lottery) sale at Lawson Ticket from 6pm on Getsuku.
Regarding the Noh and Kyogen adaptation of "The Hi Izuru Tokoro no Tenshi," Yamagishi said, "Noh and Kyogen are the oldest traditional performing arts in Japan. When I heard that they wanted to adapt my work, which is a form of subculture, into a stage play, I was naturally very surprised. What's more, I was even more surprised because it came from Nomura Mansai, who I've always thought was incredible. And to find out that Otsuki Bunzo and Otsuki Yuichi would be performing, honestly I was thrilled. I have a negative personality, so even if something is talked about, it sometimes never actually comes to fruition, so I told myself, 'What will I do if I'm happy about it now?' so I'm very happy to be standing here today."
Regarding his image of Noh and Kyogen, he recalled that when he saw Noh for the first time, "I went to see it without knowing anything, thinking that my senses would be dulled," and continued, "I was overwhelmed by the incredible beauty I felt for the first time. I learned later that Noh deals with stories of this world and the next. The performers hardly move, and although it was beautiful, I felt a sense of sadness and awe. If Noh is like a taut thread, Kyogen suddenly loosens it. It was surprising that it is entertainment, despite being a classic."
He called Noh and Kyogen "an art form that we can be proud of around the world," and said, "Most performing arts around the world are noisy. Japanese performing arts have the ability to find something in the quiet. I have always respected them, so I never dreamed that they would come so close to me."
Yamagishi revealed that he had wanted Mansai to play Prince Umayado, and also drew attention to Mansai's core strength, praising him, saying, "Mansai has a really strong core. This is true for Japanese dancers, ballet dancers, martial artists, and athletes, but what they all have in common is that they have a strong core."
Mansai said that he first encountered "The Hi Izuru Tokoro no Tenshi" when he was a student, and said of Prince Umayado, "He's a human being, but not the same as other humans. People also call me a non-human, but perhaps that means I'm outside the human category. When I was an adolescent, I had a strong desire to be the same as the people around me, but it seems that I'm different. It was clear that I was the only one with a strong core. There was a time when I was troubled by the fact that I seemed to be different from other people, so I feel, if I may be so bold, that in that respect I can sympathize with Prince Umayado."
Regarding Mansai playing Prince Umayado, Yamagishi expressed his joy, saying, "Prince Umayado is a boy, but he has psychic powers and is a complex character inside, so I had always wondered if Mansai could play the role. When I heard that he would take on the role, I was honored as the writer."
"Hi Izuru Tokoro no Tenshi" is a manga serialized in the manga magazine "LaLa" (Hakusensha) from 1980 to 1984. It tells the turbulent story of Prince Umayado (Prince Shotoku) and Soga no Emishi (Soga no Emishi). It won the 7th Kodansha Manga Award in the girls' category in 1983. It was published in 1994 as the inaugural issue of the Hakusensha Bunko series.
