maïa i am

Funa Benkei Namima-no-den is a part of the famous Funa Benkei particular to Kongo-school. The climax is a danse scene performed by very talented Michishige UDAKA. To be seen absolutely !

Saturday 25th October 2008
Doors open: 1：15p.m. Starting time: 2:00p.m. Finishing around 5:00p.m.

Tickets: Shomen (Stage front):8000yen / Waki-shomen (Facing the chorus):7000yen / Unreserved: Nakashomen Jiyu-seki (Mid-center, facing the sighting pillar):5000yen / Student: Nakashomen Jiyu-seki (Mid-center, facign the sighting pillar) :3000yen

Detailed preformance guides in English, French, German, and Italian will be available free of charge at the theatre.

Reservations= Ticket PIA P code =387-704 / tel TEL : 0570-02-9999 or http://t.pia.jp/
Udakakai TEL/FAX : 075-761-5639

Funa Benkei ‘Benkei in the Boat’: The pathos of a beautiful woman bidding farewell to her lover, dancing to give him courage as he prepares to begin a perilous sea voyage; the resentment of the ghost of a vengeful warrior leading a host of spirits that rise from storm-tossed waves—what two roles could be more dramatically different?
In Funa Benkei, or ‘Benkei in the Boat’, Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune, charismatic leader in the 12th century struggle for ascendancy between the rival Genji (Minamoto) and Heike (Taira) clans and feared by his half-brother, the Shogun Yoritomo, is fleeing for his life. His retainer, the warrior-monk Benkei, persuades Yoshitsune to leave his lover, Shizuka, behind. She accepts the decision reluctantly, but serves wine and dances to send them off. Later, the spirit of Taira no Tomomori, defeated at sea by Yoshitsune, appears and challenges the party, only to be subdued by the spiritual powers of Benkei. The roles of Shizuka and of Tomomori are played by the main actor, while the perfect foils for the dramatic contrast between them are provided by Yoshitsune and Benkei. The Shiranami-no-den variation further heightens this contrast between Shizuka and Tomomori.