Program：”Koibikyaku Yamato Orai - Fūinkiri"
Participants：30 Students

On Thursday, June 20, 2024, YNU international students attended "Discover KABUKI – An experience for international audiences and beginners – " held at Sunpearl Arakawa (Arakawa City Hall) as part of the "Cross-Cultural Experience Program" supported by the YNU Alumni Association “Koyukai”.

This time, the performance was " Koibikyaku Yamato Orai," a story depicting the double suicide of the young master of a courier merchant, Chūbei, and a courtesan, Umegawa. Chūbei, provoked by a friend, ends up using the public funds entrusted to the courier house. Immediately after breaking the seal, Chūbei is overwhelmed with deep regret. This emotion is effectively expressed through the fast-paced shamisen performance.

"Discover KABUKI" is a program designed to convey the charm of Kabuki to overseas audiences. With explanations in English and other languages, it is devised so that even foreigners experiencing Kabuki for the first time can enjoy it. Before the performance, detailed explanations were given about the content of the play, such as what kind of job a courier merchant does, how much 300-Ryo would be in today’s currency, and what the seal is.

The international students who participated shared many impressions and words of gratitude, such as, "There was an explanation about Kabuki and the script of the performance before the official Kabuki performance began, and with English subtitles, it was easy to understand," and "It was my first-time watching Kabuki, but it was very interesting. My understanding of Japanese life and culture deepened as well. Thank you for organizing such a wonderful event." It was a valuable experience that allowed us to feel the greatness of Kabuki.