Kyogen Living National Treasure's three generations perform; Mansai's Bolero dedicated to Great East Japan Earthquake souls
Three generations of Japan's renowned Nomura Kyogen family are performing 'Kyogen Theater' in Weiwuying, Taiwan. Mansai Nomura presents 'MANSAI Bolero,' a work dedicated to the souls of the Great East Japan Earthquake, expressing gratitude for Taiwan's assistance during the disaster. The performances showcase the inheritance and innovation of traditional Japanese performing arts.
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- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 17:56
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Zhao Jing-yu, Kaohsiung, April 24) Three generations of Japan's renowned Kyogen master Nomura family will hold four performances of "Kyogen Theater" at Weiwuying starting today. Mansai Nomura specially brought "MANSAI Bolero," a work dedicated to the souls of the Great East Japan Earthquake, and expressed gratitude for Taiwan's assistance to Japan at that time.
Three generations of the Nomura family appeared at Weiwuying today for a press conference and accepted media interviews beforehand. The 95-year-old Living National Treasure, Mansaku Nomura, is well-preserved and demonstrated a refined and elegant posture when sharing the "Tsukimizatou" (Moon-Viewing Blind Monk) performance he would be staging. Yuki Nomura, 26, sat next to his grandfather, Mansaku Nomura, constantly turning his head to look after his grandfather with his eyes, showing a deep bond between the three generations.
Mansai Nomura specifically used "sake" as a metaphor, stating that his father and teacher, Mansaku Nomura, performs like "aged sake," showcasing the ultimate realm refined by time; while his son, Yuki Nomura, is like "new sake," full of infinite possibilities. "As for myself, I am more like an intermediary manager."
"Kyogen" is a traditional Japanese performing art that depicts the daily lives of common people and folk tales with humorous and exaggerated movements. It is rich in dance elements and features many abstract and symbolic expressions. This time, Weiwuying highlights "three generations performing together," allowing the audience to appreciate the artistic realm of Kyogen presented by different age groups: 20s, 60s, and 90s.
As a central figure in "Kyogen," Mansai Nomura takes on the role of connecting the past and the future between his father and son. Yuki Nomura said that his voice is similar to his father's, and while inheriting this talent, learning the "aesthetic depth" accumulated by his grandfather over 90 years is his current focus of training.
Mansai Nomura stated that "Tsukimizatou" is performed by 95-year-old Mansaku Nomura. The work describes how a blind person and a sighted person "view the moon." Although the blind person cannot see, they can feel the autumn through appreciating the "singing of insects." "Futari Bakama" (Two Hakama) is performed by the third generation, 26-year-old Yuki Nomura, describing a young son-in-law's visit to his father-in-law, showcasing the vitality of a newcomer.
Mansai Nomura's creation and performance of "MANSAI Bolero" took over ten years to develop. It combines the classical music masterpiece "Bolero" with the traditional Kyogen dance "Sanbaso." The text narrates the process of a seed from sowing, sprouting, flowering, bearing fruit, and returning to a seed, symbolizing a person's life and the cycle of the four seasons, and demonstrating the energy of continuous life. The 17-minute dance integrates stage lighting.
Mansai Nomura said that this work was originally created for the repose of souls and recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, demonstrating the inheritance and rebirth of the spirit of traditional Japanese performing arts through cross-disciplinary collaboration. Mansai Nomura also did not forget to mention Taiwan's assistance to Japan at that time. This is Mansai Nomura's third performance at Weiwuying, and he stated that audiences often react before the subtitles even appear, "This brings me great satisfaction." (Editor: Hsieh Ya-chu) 1150424
(Central News Agency reporter Zhao Jing-yu, Kaohsiung, April 24) Three generations of Japan's renowned Kyogen master Nomura family will hold four performances of "Kyogen Theater" at Weiwuying starting today. Mansai Nomura specially brought "MANSAI Bolero," a work dedicated to the souls of the Great East Japan Earthquake, and expressed gratitude for Taiwan's assistance to Japan at that time.
Three generations of the Nomura family appeared at Weiwuying today for a press conference and accepted media interviews beforehand. The 95-year-old Living National Treasure, Mansaku Nomura, is well-preserved and demonstrated a refined and elegant posture when sharing the "Tsukimizatou" (Moon-Viewing Blind Monk) performance he would be staging. Yuki Nomura, 26, sat next to his grandfather, Mansaku Nomura, constantly turning his head to look after his grandfather with his eyes, showing a deep bond between the three generations.
Mansai Nomura specifically used "sake" as a metaphor, stating that his father and teacher, Mansaku Nomura, performs like "aged sake," showcasing the ultimate realm refined by time; while his son, Yuki Nomura, is like "new sake," full of infinite possibilities. "As for myself, I am more like an intermediary manager."
"Kyogen" is a traditional Japanese performing art that depicts the daily lives of common people and folk tales with humorous and exaggerated movements. It is rich in dance elements and features many abstract and symbolic expressions. This time, Weiwuying highlights "three generations performing together," allowing the audience to appreciate the artistic realm of Kyogen presented by different age groups: 20s, 60s, and 90s.
As a central figure in "Kyogen," Mansai Nomura takes on the role of connecting the past and the future between his father and son. Yuki Nomura said that his voice is similar to his father's, and while inheriting this talent, learning the "aesthetic depth" accumulated by his grandfather over 90 years is his current focus of training.
Mansai Nomura stated that "Tsukimizatou" is performed by 95-year-old Mansaku Nomura. The work describes how a blind person and a sighted person "view the moon." Although the blind person cannot see, they can feel the autumn through appreciating the "singing of insects." "Futari Bakama" (Two Hakama) is performed by the third generation, 26-year-old Yuki Nomura, describing a young son-in-law's visit to his father-in-law, showcasing the vitality of a newcomer.
Mansai Nomura's creation and performance of "MANSAI Bolero" took over ten years to develop. It combines the classical music masterpiece "Bolero" with the traditional Kyogen dance "Sanbaso." The text narrates the process of a seed from sowing, sprouting, flowering, bearing fruit, and returning to a seed, symbolizing a person's life and the cycle of the four seasons, and demonstrating the energy of continuous life. The 17-minute dance integrates stage lighting.
Mansai Nomura said that this work was originally created for the repose of souls and recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, demonstrating the inheritance and rebirth of the spirit of traditional Japanese performing arts through cross-disciplinary collaboration. Mansai Nomura also did not forget to mention Taiwan's assistance to Japan at that time. This is Mansai Nomura's third performance at Weiwuying, and he stated that audiences often react before the subtitles even appear, "This brings me great satisfaction." (Editor: Hsieh Ya-chu) 1150424