HYOEN Basara - Kabuki meets figure skating!

synesthesia · May 22, 2017

Some of you might have heard of this already: these past three days there have been six performances of a very special, innovative show at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo!

"Hyoen - Basara" is a fusion of figure skating and traditional Kabuki performing art with both famous Kabuki actors and figure skaters performing on the ice. It was an extraordinarily lavish production incorporating gorgeous sceneries and costumes, projection mapping, wire fu, sword fights and live performances by Japanese drum and dance ensemble "Drum Tao". It was produced by Somegorō Ichikawa, who is a household name and pioneer of Japan's Kabuki scene. The show is part of the "Beyond 2020" campaign, which was set up to promote Japanese culture abroad due to the upcoming Olympic Summer Games taking place in Tokyo.

The production as well as the cast were a sight to behold! Spectators and the Japanese press have been giving raving reviews. A GS member, who saw the show live even likened the spectacle to Cirque du Soleil!

The cast included:

Somegorō Ichikawa as Danjo Nikki

Daisuke Takahashi as Minamoto no Yoshitsune

Shizuka Arakawa as goddess Ino

Akiko Suzuki as Shizuka Gozen (Yoshitsune's mistress)

Nobunari Oda as Ninigi-no-Mikoto

Mai Asada as princess Konohanasakuya

Kanako Murakami as goddess Ame no Uzume

Official website: http://hyoen.jp/

UPDATE:

The show will be aired on August 27th on NHK BS Premium from 10:50 pm to 1:05 am! Source

There's also talk of an English version to be in the making. At this point there's no further information which format this version will be released in. Source

Articles with photos from the show:

http://www.sankei.com/photo/story/news/170520/sty1705200014-n1.html
http://natalie.mu/stage/news/233229
http://www.tvguide.or.jp/feature/kissandcry/20170522/01.html

A closer look at the cast in costume:

http://dai.ly/x5hk8cq

The following news clips contain several spectacular scenes from the show (including Daisuke dancing Kabuki style on the floor):

http://dai.ly/x5n46y7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSBqr-LrqNc&feature=youtu.be

or
https://dai.ly/x5ndroa

Live-reports in English:

https://www.facebook.com/DaisukeTakahashiRoadtoSochi/posts/1032092826928282:0
https://twitter.com/noroton3/status/865817138640150529
https://twitter.com/noroton3/status/865818122716147712
https://twitter.com/itsakurinut/status/866219504598044672
https://twitter.com/itsakurinut/status/866245861021368320

This two-part interview with Daisuke during the earlier production stages features some interesting background info on how the show came together:

https://minotsu.tumblr.com/post/158...-daisuke-takahashi-re-hyoen?is_related_post=1
https://minotsu.tumblr.com/post/159045551278/spice-exclusive-interview-daisuke-takahashi

An article containing a bit more info on the story and main characters:

https://flapper-dai.tumblr.com/post/160357618441/ice-skating-stars-kabuki-actors-take-to-rink

The following documentary focusing on Daisuke features footage from the practice sessions. It was aired several weeks before the show:

http://dai.ly/x5kb5vq
http://dai.ly/x5kb3lr

And finally a short feature focusing on Somegorō Ichikawa:

http://dai.ly/x5jvs30

MaiKatze · May 22, 2017

Thank you, synesthesia, for gathering the information and opening this thread. :agree: :yahoo:

I do hope they will think of doing more shows. Seems such a waste to let this be a one time event. Yoyogi is not the smallest venue, so it seems there is some interest there.

Akiko, Shizuka, Kanako, Mai

Wow, these Ladies. :love:

They look fab!

Arriba627 · May 22, 2017

The costumes are really amazing. I probably wouldn't know that was Kanako unless you had told me! Hope some more GSers will give us live reports.

Pattina · May 22, 2017

Thanks @synesthesia

for this thread!!

only 2 short tv news available, but I'm already in Heaven! I keep watching on and on.

Innovative show, performing various forms of art. All skaters reach high level of art: not only skating, facial expressions and body postures are so important.

A GS member posted in Dai's thread (Fan Fest) that this event is part of the Beyond 2020 Project (honestly I know nothing about this project, it seems related to "export" Japan to the world in connection with 2020 Oly in Tokyo) and there are tweets saying that maybe (mind, maybe!) the show could be aired or recorded on dvd for foreing audience, to spread Japan culture in the world. Fingers crossed!!!!

daphenaxa · May 22, 2017

Thank you for this thread Synesthesia.

I really hope that we get to see that show. I was reading that it is unlikely it will tour since the Kabuki master is in very high demand.

Meanwhile, i have to say i am so happy all those amazing retired skaters stay and skate in so many shows but also participate in such groundbreaking projects, especially Daisuke who has in between this and his "love on the floor" shown what a versatile artist he is.

synesthesia · May 22, 2017

Pattina said:
A GS member posted in Dai's thread (Fan Fest) that this event is part of the Beyond 2020 Project (honestly I know nothing about this project, it seems related to "export" Japan to the world in connection with 2020 Oly in Tokyo) and there are tweets saying that maybe (mind, maybe!) the show could be aired or recorded on dvd for foreing audience, to spread Japan culture in the world. Fingers crossed!!!!

Pattina, I think you were on the right track! :agree:

This sounds very promising:
https://www.facebook.com/DaisukeTakahashiRoadtoSochi/posts/1033148010156097

Thank you DTRTS for the translation!!

OMG, I'm in heaven! :yahoo:

:hap93:

Crossover · May 23, 2017

Thanks for all the info and compilation! The costume and make-up are splendid.

I have wondered what Hyoen and Basara respectively mean and stand for. Barasa seems to be a name for a certain character in the work.

mikeko666 · May 23, 2017

Another news clip:
https://youtu.be/zSBqr-LrqNc
The kabuki actors actually performed in skates. Dai performed a dance on the floor.

Crossover said:
I have wondered what Hyoen and Basara respectively mean and stand for. Barasa seems to be a name for a certain character in the work.

　
Hyo 氷 means ice. En 艶 means glamorous.

It is difficult to translate basara to another language. It is similar to kabuku (verb), which kabuki (noun) came from.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabuki
Since the word kabuki is believed to derive from the verb kabuku, meaning "to lean" or "to be out of the ordinary", kabuki can be interpreted as "avant-garde" or "bizarre" theatre. The expression kabukimono (歌舞伎者) referred originally to those who were bizarrely dressed and swaggered on a street.

I would say basara means something eccentric, unconventional, somewhat decadent and very beautiful.

Although this is an unconfirmed info, it may be aired on TV in August.

synesthesia · May 23, 2017

mikeko666 said:
　
Hyo 氷 means ice. En 艶 means glamorous.

It is difficult to translate basara to another language. It is similar to kabuku (verb), which kabuki (noun) came from.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabuki
Since the word kabuki is believed to derive from the verb kabuku, meaning "to lean" or "to be out of the ordinary", kabuki can be interpreted as "avant-garde" or "bizarre" theatre. The expression kabukimono (歌舞伎者) referred originally to those who were bizarrely dressed and swaggered on a street.

I would say basara means something eccentric, unconventional, somewhat decadent and very beautiful.

Thank you for these detailed and interesting explanations! I kinda figured that "Basara" means something along the lines of "extravagant", but wasn't sure about "Hyoen" at all!

It's also intriguing to hear about the origins of the term "kabuki".

mikeko666 said:
Although this is an unconfirmed info, it may be aired on TV in August.

Oh wow, so now we will (maybe) get a TV broadcast AND an English version (supposedly to be released on DVD)? What a turnaround from there won't be any footage released at all! :rock:

Tallorder · May 24, 2017

This looks incredibly cool. Love when there's convergence potential across art forms.

daphenaxa · May 25, 2017

Here is Daisuke dancing on the floor :https://twitter.com/willow630/status/867063917679222784

mikeko666 · May 28, 2017

Onoe Kikunojo III, the classical Japanese dance master who did the choreography of the kabuki part said in his Facebook that it's likely there will be a DVD release and possibly TV broadcast.

A fan-made montage:
https://youtu.be/FjrESKUsh84

You can see Onoe Kikunojo from 1:17.

The man who is teaching Dai how to handle a sword from 2:20 is Ichikawa Somegoro VII, who is the producer of Hyoen and played the villain Nikki Danjo.

mikeko666 · Jun 14, 2017

Vogue Japan just posted some breathtakingly beautiful photos.

https://www.vogue.co.jp/lifestyle/news/2017-06/14/hyoen2017

plushyfan · Jun 14, 2017

Very interesting! Thanks for the infos..

mikeko666 · Jun 19, 2017

From Figure Skating Life Vol.10
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DB44ZXbVoAA6Niv.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCqYruvVwAAg-55.jpg

synesthesia · Jun 21, 2017

We have an official broadcast date!!! :yahoo:

The show will be aired on August 27th on NHK BS Premium from 10:50pm to 1:05am!

Source

demarinis5 · Jun 21, 2017

synesthesia said:
We have an official broadcast date!!!

The show will be aired on August 27th on NHK BS Premium from 10:50pm to 1:05am!

Source

Great news! Thanks for sharing.

By the say I love your Avatar!

synesthesia · Jun 21, 2017

^^^ Yes, this is so exciting! :yay: Now let's hope for a future DVD release of the announced English version. I'd be willing to pay a handsome amount of money for it!

demarinis5 said:
By the say I love your Avatar!

Thank you, demarinis! It's such a gorgeous shot, I just had to make it my new avatar.

Celine · Jun 21, 2017

This.

Hoping for videos. So wow.

synesthesia · Aug 12, 2017

A brandnew Hyoen article/report in English was published today:

http://absoluteskating.com/index.php?cat=reports&id=2017hyoen

This is such an exciting preview of what to expect from the broadcast on the 27th!!! :rock:

I'm still advocating a DVD release. I can imagine it would sell very well nationally and that there's quite a bit of interest internationally as well. And if they're really considering to take "Hyoen" on an international tour at some point (yes, please!!!

) it would make a splendid appetizer/argument to lure even more people, who don't know what to make of this weird figure skating/kabuki crossover yet, into the show. They could sell it at the merch stand at the venues as well. Ooops, getting ahead of myself again! :eek:

: But really I just want as many people as possible to see "Hyoen" since there evidently went so much lifeblood and effort into its creation and it has been showered with so much love and raving reviews by all of those lucky folks, who had the opportunity to experience it live!

HYOEN Basara - Kabuki meets figure skating!

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