Japanese culture – Culture japonaise – 日本文化

24 May 201828 May 2018

Rakugo @ Euro Live: Tachibanaya Bunzo III + Yanagiya Wasabi… ユーロライブで落語：三代目橘家文蔵と柳家わさび…

Rakugo storytelling? First time for me tonight with friends in Tokyo metropolis at Euro Live theatre, performed in Japanese language, with simple English translations displayed above the storytellers! “Rakugo – Ultimate One Man Comedy – Master Bunzo solo show with English surtitles” was fun and interesting: two stories by Tachibanaya Bunzo III, one story by Yanagiya Wasabi, explanations at the beginning (What is rakugo? How to play many characters? How to use the paper fan and small cloth?), and questions/answers at the end with Rakugo Without Borders’ interpreter Clara Kreft. I recommend such Japanese entertainment to foreign visitors/residents in Japan 🙂

Les contes de rakugo ? Première expérience pour moi ce soir avec des amis au théâtre Euro Live de Tokyo en langue japonaise, avec des traductions simples affichées au-dessus des conteurs ! “Rakugo – Ultimate One Man Comedy – Master Bunzo solo show with English surtitles” était amusant et intéressant : 2 histoires par Tachibanaya Bunzo III, 1 histoire par Yanagiya Wasabi, des explications au début (Qu’est-ce que le rakugo ? Comment jouer de nombreux personnages ? Comment utiliser l’essuie-mains et l’éventail de papier ?), et questions/réponses à la fin avec l’interprète de Rakugo Sans Frontières Clara Kreft. Je recommande de tels spectacles japonais aux visiteurs/résidents étrangers au Japon 🙂

落語！今晩友達と東京都のユーロライブへ、私は（落語は）初体験。日本語でしたが噺家の頭上には英語の翻訳表示付。「Rakugo – Ultimate One Man Comedy – Master Bunzo solo show with English surtitles」は楽しくて面白かった。三代目橘家文蔵は二席、柳家わさびは一席。最初に落語について解説が有り：概念、様々な役の演じ方、扇子と手拭いの使い方…最後に、国境なき落語団の通訳者クララ・クレフトさんを交えて質疑応答。日本文化好きな在日・訪日の旅行者へ、この日本の伝統芸能をオススメします 🙂

Euro Live – ユーロライブ: http://eurolive.jp

Tachibanaya Bunzo III – 三代目橘家文蔵: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/橘家文蔵_(3代目)

Yanagiya Wasabi – 柳家わさび: https://ameblo.jp/yanawasa

Rakugo Without Borders – Rakugo Sans Frontières – 国境なき落語団: https://www.facebook.com/rakugowithoutborders/

Office Nekonya – オフィスねこにゃ: https://ameblo.jp/sumiannyose/

28 May 201709 July 2017

Cultural tour in Tokyo for 2 Israelis… Visite guidée culturelle à Tokyo pour 2 israéliens… イスラエル夫婦と東京の文化ツアー…

Among hundreds of ancient wooden sculptures of Arhats, before a statue of Buddha covered with gold, at a wedding centre, across Shibuya Crossing, in little streets, through the Thunder Gate, at Senso-ji Buddhist temple and Asakusa Shinto shrine, beside splendid azaleas and dancing carps, near Tokyo Sky Tree tower… guiding a couple of nice Israeli travellers wishing to discover the Japanese culture in Tokyo today! During this tour, I avoided long walks and stairs (lady with a weak knee), and ordered lunch at a Japanese restaurant based on Jewish religious dietary laws (think vegetable sushi). We had a great time, and the Israelis carefully listened to my explanations about Japan as well as Hinokuma brothers’ legend 🙂 Thanks to my former customer Avraham G. for recommending me to this couple 😀

Entouré de centaines d’anciennes sculptures en bois d’Arhats, devant une statue de Bouddha couverte d’or, à un centre de mariages, dans de petites rues, à travers le carrefour Hachiko et la Porte du Tonnerre, au temple bouddhique Senso-ji et sanctuaire Shintoïste d’Asakusa, à côté de splendides azalées et de carpes dansantes, près de la tour Tokyo Sky Tree… à guider un sympathique couple de voyageurs israéliens souhaitant découvrir la culture japonaise à Tokyo aujourd’hui ! Lors de cette visite guidée, j’ai évité les escaliers et longues marches (dame ayant un genou faible), et ai commandé nos déjeuners à un restaurant japonais en me basant sur le code alimentaire juif (grand succès des sushis aux légumes). Ce fut une excellent journée et les israéliens apprécièrent beaucoup mes explications sur le Japon et mon récit de la légende des frères Hinokuma 🙂 Merci à mon ancien client Avraham G. de m’avoir recommandé à ce couple 😀

何百もの阿羅漢の江戸時代木像の間に、金で覆われた仏像の前に、結婚式場で、小さな通りで、渋谷駅前のスクランブル交差点そして雷門を通して、浅草寺と浅草神社で、綺麗なツツジと賑やかな鯉の隣に、東京スカイツリーの近く…　日本文化を知りたい優しいイスラエル夫婦の旅行者をガイドした。この一日ツアー中、長い散歩と階段を避けて（奥様の弱い膝のため）、和食レストランでユダヤ教戒律の上にランチを注文した（野菜寿司大成功）。イスラエル人のお客さんが、日本について説明と檜前兄弟の伝説をよく聴きました :)　この夫婦に私を紹介した昔のお客さん（アブラハム様）に感謝します 🙂

09 May 201509 July 2017

New experience & 400-year festival: I carried an omikoshi during Kanda-matsuri in Tokyo (Japan)

As part of the biennial festival Kanda-matsuri entertaining Shinto gods and celebrating this year the move of Kanda Shrine to its current location in Chiyoda ward (Tokyo, Japan) 400 years ago, Eri and I watched a parade with horses and participants in traditional costumes around 09:00 near Jimbocho station.

Invited by community leaders, I then carried a divine palanquin “omikoshi” for the first time, wearing the festival attire of Jimbocho-itchome district, in company of Japanese locals and of an American married to a local lady. We processed from and to Jinbocho Mitsui Building (16:00-19:00), singing to keep the rhythm on Yasukuni avenue and in small streets of Kanda Suzuran Shopping District, lighting lanterns up on our beautiful omikoshi at night 🙂

I hurt my shoulders due to my inexperience and above-average height (Update: still a bit painful after 7 days in spite of immediate medical treatment)… but I had fun and was glad to experience this piece of Japanese life, share food and drinks with so many happy friendly faces, and meet local friends!

Big thanks to the influential owners of Hanaya restaurant, Hasebe restaurant (local omikoshi manager) and Ohya-shobo ukiyo-e shop (XYZ role) for getting me authorized to carry the omikoshi of Jimbocho-itchome.

18 April 201509 July 2017

I tested SGRS Tourism Agency‘s Sumida river cruise and Walk with Geisha in Asakusa area (Tokyo, Japan)!

Invited by SGRS Tourism Agency to test its tours for foreign tourists in Tokyo, I enjoyed this afternoon a fun Sweet & Sound Cruise on the Sumida river and a Walk with Geisha in Asakusa area then attended its business presentation and a funny show (see next post). As a tourism professional and former preschool teacher, I believe these tours will be great once refined, providing fond memories of Japan to Western adults and children alike! I now look forward to a walk with a Japanese warrior, ninja or samurai 😉

I had a great time all along: Ken (from Hawaii) and Miki (from Japan) sang in English and Japanese during the cruise while Oui played the piano and Nanako the violin, Harusa (from ???) guided us in the streets of Asakusa accompanied by the “geisha” Otoki-san… Bilingual and wearing a kimono, Harusa motivated us to look for statues on rooftops (e.g. the thief Nezumi-kozo) and portraits of Japanese movie stars (e.g. Takeshi Kitano), touch a giant straw sandal at Senso-ji Buddhist temple, pray under cherry blossoms… Under a big blue sky, we took splendid photos of Odaiba island from the platform of our boat as well as cool photos with the staff here and there 🙂

The cruise is fine for Westerners but would be even more exciting with albums containing old maps, photos or ukiyo-e woodblock prints placed on the tables, with sale of traditional Japanese sweets/snacks like wagashi and karinto (plus a list of ingredients for allergic travellers), and with more Japanese songs (adding a lullaby would be great to transmit the Japanese culture).

The walk requires a method to avoid losing participants in the crowds and to prevent interruptions by bystanders jumping in for a photo with the geisha! To enhance the tour, the guide may bring a piece of kimono fabric to freely touch and may introduce holy seals at the last spot (Asakusa Shrine): watching a Shinto/Buddhist calligrapher write a goshuin is amazing but few Westerners know that! Finally, the guide may give maps introducing local restaurants and shops (see the Get Japan maps for examples).

I hope this feedback will help SGRS Tourism Agency make a better world, happier people 🙂 I just e-mailed the team!