霞月報 : Noh Stories from Japan’s Timeless Stage

南風舎 Literature Club
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A journey into Japan’s legendary Noh stage — where centuries-old plays breathe through voice and story. With each episode, my love for this art grows, gradually and steadily, and I invite you to see it through my eyes. Noh Stories from Japan’s Legendary Stage Hosted by Kaseumin (カスミ) Welcome to Noh Stories from Japan’s Legendary Stage — a program devoted to sharing the beauty of Noh theatre with audiences around the world. Guided by passionate Noh enthusiast Kaseumin, this program bridges the elegance of Japanese tradition with the global listener through accessible English introductions and immersive Japanese audiobooks. In each episode, you’ll find: • English Introductions — Discover the historical and cultural background of each Noh play, explore its key themes and characters, and learn about the enduring artistry of Noh in a clear and engaging style—perfect for both newcomers and long-time admirers. • Japanese Audiobook Readings — Immerse yourself in Yōkyoku Monogatari by Mankichi Wada, a masterful storyteller who condensed Noh plays into beautiful, accessible narratives of about 10 pages each. Enjoy the refined cadence and elegance of traditional Japanese prose. Whether you are a lover of literature, theatre, or Japanese culture, Noh Stories invites you to experience the lyricism, mystery, and quiet power of Japan’s legendary stage. Join us, and step into a world where every moment breathes centuries of poetry and presence. 霞月報へようこそ! この番組では、お能を愛する素人愛好家・カスミが、英語と日本語を通して能楽の魅力を世界に発信します。 番組内容： • 英語でのあらすじ紹介：能の歴史や文化的背景、テーマ、登場人物、そして能楽の魅力を、初心者の方にも分かりやすくご紹介します。 • 日本語朗読：能に造詣の深かった和田万吉による『謡曲物語』を朗読します。約10ページずつにまとめられた美しい日本語の物語で、能の世界を味わう事ができます。 物語と声で巡る能の世界。 どうぞご一緒に、その静かな響きと詩情に耳を傾けてみませんか。

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  1. Tōru — A Garden Remembered in Moonlight in Noh Theater 融

    3 DAYS AGO

    Tōru — A Garden Remembered in Moonlight in Noh Theater 融

    In this episode, we explore the Noh play Tōru through a poetic, meditative lens. From salt fires to moonlit dances, from ritual to transcendence— this is a story of how art endures even after life ends. Listen if you’re drawn to: ・Japanese classical theater ・Themes of memory, beauty, and longing ・Poetic storytelling with quiet emotional resonance ・The aesthetics of Zeami’s shūshin (spiritual attachment) 📍 Upcoming Performance ・Date: Sat, Oct 18, 2025 (morning show) ・Venue: Hōshō Noh Theater, Tokyo ・Time: Doors open 10:15 | Curtain 11:00 ・🎟 Tickets: ¥5,500 general / ¥2,700 student (same-day purchase available) My Noh master will appear as Kōken (stage assistant). I have no affiliation with the theater.

    5 min
  2. Noh as Feudal Mirror — Ceremony, Power, and the Samurai Spirit

    14 SEPT

    Noh as Feudal Mirror — Ceremony, Power, and the Samurai Spirit

    What happens when art becomes ritual—when beauty becomes power? In this quiet episode, we trace the transformation of Noh from sacred performance to state-sponsored ceremonial art, shaped by the hands of warriors. Beginning with a moment in the 14th century—when Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu first witnessed a Noh performance—we explore how Noh was gradually woven into the fabric of Japan’s feudal system. No longer mere entertainment, it evolved into a mirror of samurai virtues: discipline, spiritual introspection, and loyalty. Through historical glimpses and gentle narration, this episode invites you to walk the path of Noh not only as art, but as a political language—silent yet resonant, shaped by ceremony and stillness.

    6 min
  3. Ikuta Atsumori — A Prayer That Crosses Death in Noh Theater 生田敦盛

    11 SEPT • 南風舎 PODCAST ONLY

    Ikuta Atsumori — A Prayer That Crosses Death in Noh Theater 生田敦盛

    In this Noh play, a child—now a novice monk—prays to meet the father he has never known. The play Ikuta Atsumori is not based on historical records from The Tale of the Heike or Genpei Seisuiki, but on a later fictional tradition that imagines Atsumori having a son raised by the Buddhist teacher Hōnen. Thus, when I voiced the child’s prayer as “let me see my father again,” I took poetic license—not to imply a past meeting, but to reflect the aching desire for connection, even with someone unmet. This unspoken longing forms the spiritual core of the piece: A child prays. A ghost appears. And for one fleeting night, they are not strangers—but father and son. To deepen this reflection, I place Ikuta Atsumori in dialogue with Dante’s Purgatorio, exploring how both works envision the border between life and death as a place where memory, love, and prayer carry meaning. I hope it carries something quiet and resonant into your week.

    8 min
  4. 能『大会（だいえ）』— 「信じてはいけないもの」に心を奪われたとき | 能のあらすじと紹介

    28 AUG • 南風舎 PODCAST ONLY

    能『大会（だいえ）』— 「信じてはいけないもの」に心を奪われたとき | 能のあらすじと紹介

    能『大会（だいえ）』は、比叡山の奥深くで修行を続ける僧のもとに、かつてその命を救われた山伏が訪れる場面から始まります。 この山伏の正体は、かつて鳶（とび）の姿で京の童にいじめられ、死にかけていたところを助けられた大天狗でした。 恩返しとして、望みを叶えると言う大天狗。 僧の願いは、「釈迦が霊鷲山(りょうじゅせん)で説法する姿を見たい」というものでした。 大天狗はそれを承知しますが、一つだけ条件を出します。 「たとえ何を見ても、信心を起こしてはならぬ。」 やがて僧の前に、荘厳な霊鷲山の幻が広がります。 七宝の樹々、紺瑠璃の大地、天から降り注ぐ花。 その中心で釈迦が説法をする姿に、僧は思わず涙を流し、深く頭を垂れます。 その瞬間、約束は破られ、幻は崩れ去り——釈迦は天狗の姿へと変わります。 この物語は、滑稽さと優しさをあわせ持つ天狗の人間味、そして「真実と幻」のはざまを描き、最後に答えを観客へ委ねます。 🌿 2025年9月20日（土）午後公演、宝生能楽堂にて今回のエピソードで取り上げたお能『大会（だいえ）』が上演されます。 私の先生が地謡として出演されます。 秋の日の午後、お能の舞台をご一緒できたら嬉しいです。 📍 公演情報（※私は宝生能楽堂とはアフィリエイト等の関係はありません） 📅 日程：2025年9月20日（土） 🏯 会場：宝生能楽堂（東京） ⏰ 開場 14:45 | 開演 15:30（午後の部） 🎟 チケット情報 一般 ¥5,500 | 学生 ¥2,700 当日、会場で購入可能（売り切れ次第終了）

    5 min
  5. When You Fall for What You Were Told Not to Believe — Between Tengu, Buddha, and Illusion

    21 AUG

    When You Fall for What You Were Told Not to Believe — Between Tengu, Buddha, and Illusion

    In the Noh play Dai-e (大会), a monk living deep in the mountains of Mount Hiei is visited by a mysterious yamabushi — a mountain ascetic — who reveals himself to be a tengu the monk once saved. Out of gratitude, the tengu offers to grant any wish. The monk asks to witness the moment when the Buddha preached the Lotus Sutra on Vulture Peak. The tengu agrees, but with one warning: “No matter what you see — you must not believe.” What follows is a vision of breathtaking beauty — a scene that blurs the line between truth and illusion. Was the monk wrong to believe? Or was his heart right to be moved? In this episode, I share the story of Dai-e, blending its gentle humor with its quiet philosophical depth — and leaving the final question for you to consider. 🌿 Performance Invitation On Saturday, September 20, 2025, the Noh play Dai-e — the very work featured in this episode — will be performed at Hōshō Noh Theater in Tokyo. My Noh master will appear as a member of the chorus (jiutai). I would be delighted to share this autumn afternoon of Noh with you. 📍 Performance Details (Note: I have no affiliation with Hōshō Noh Theater) • Date: September 20, 2025 (Saturday) • Venue: Hōshō Noh Theater, Tokyo • Time: Doors open 14:45 | Performance starts 15:30 (Afternoon program) 🎟 Ticket Information • General: ¥5,500 | Student: ¥2,700 • Available at the venue on the day (while supplies last)

    6 min

  6. 15 AUG • 南風舎 PODCAST ONLY

    The Poetics of Reversal — Noh’s Semimaru and Shakespeare’s Macbeth | East–West Theater Reflection

    When the world turns upside down—what do we see? In this short philosophical reflection, we explore two masterpieces from across time and culture: Shakespeare’s Macbeth and the Japanese Noh play Semimaru. One begins with a witch’s chant. The other, a blind prince’s exile. Both confront disorder, madness, and the meaning of reversal. While Macbeth spirals into ambition and blood, Semimaru gazes into sorrow with quiet compassion. Through voice, silence, and shadow, this episode invites you to reflect on how we understand breakdown—and whether every reversal must end in ruin. Ruin, or acceptance— Which story would you choose to listen to? ✨ I’ll be attending the afternoon performance at Hōshō Noh Theater on September 20th, where my Noh master will appear as jiutai (chorus) in another play on the program, Dai-e (大会). If you’re in Tokyo, it would be a wonderful chance to witness this afternoon of depth and elegance in Noh. Performance Details: (Note: I have no affiliation with Hōshō Noh Theater.) Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025 Location: 宝生能楽堂, Tokyo Doors open 2:45 PM | Performance 3:30 PM 午後の部 Tickets are available at the venue while supplies last. Price: ¥5,500 (General Admission) | ¥2,700 (Students)

    6 min
  7. 順逆の物語　能『蝉丸』とシェイクスピア『マクベス』-東西の劇文学をめぐって

    8 AUG • 南風舎 PODCAST ONLY

    順逆の物語　能『蝉丸』とシェイクスピア『マクベス』-東西の劇文学をめぐって

    世界が逆さまになるとき、 私たちは何を見つめるのでしょうか。 このエピソードでは、時代も文化も異なるふたつの作品―― シェイクスピアの悲劇『マクベス』と、日本の能『蝉丸』を比較しながら、 「逆転」「狂気」「別れ」といったテーマについて考えてみます。 王を殺し、破滅へと向かう『マクベス』。 盲目の皇子と狂える姉が、峠の藁屋で語らう『蝉丸』。 崩れる秩序の中で、人は何を選び、何に耳を傾けるのか――。 5分間の短い音声の中に、 東西の美学と思想が交差する、 ひとつの対話を探しました。 🌿 2025年9月20日（土）午後公演、宝生能楽堂にて今回のエピソードで取り上げた能『蝉丸』が上演されます。 同じ日の別演目『大会（だいえ）』には、私の能の師匠が地謡として出演されます。 秋の午後、静謐で深みのある能の舞台をご一緒できたら嬉しいです。 📍 公演情報（※私は宝生能楽堂とはアフィリエイト等の関係はありません） 📅 日程：2025年9月20日（土） 🏯 会場：宝生能楽堂（東京） ⏰ 開場 14:45 | 開演 15:30（午後の部） 🎟 チケット情報 一般 ¥5,500 | 学生 ¥2,700 当日、会場で購入可能（売り切れ次第終了） 🔗 宝生能楽堂 公式サイト – 公演スケジュール https://www.hosho.or.jp/schedule

    6 min
  8. The Body Speaks – A Reflection on “Yukio Mishima and the Noh Performer”「三島由紀夫と能楽師の身体」トークイベント私記

    1 AUG

    The Body Speaks – A Reflection on “Yukio Mishima and the Noh Performer”「三島由紀夫と能楽師の身体」トークイベント私記

    What remains when the voice disappears? In this episode, I offer a quiet reflection on “Anatomy of the Noh Performer,” held at Hōshō Noh Theater on a hot August afternoon. The event, centered on Mishima Yukio’s fascination with Noh, brought together Grand Master Kazufusa Hōshō and playwright Ikue Osada. What I received that day wasn’t knowledge—but something that moved through the body, and remained in the space where words end. Nan’pusha is a literary podcast exploring the ma—the stillness and rhythm—within Japan’s poetic and performative traditions.

    6 min
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About

A journey into Japan’s legendary Noh stage — where centuries-old plays breathe through voice and story. With each episode, my love for this art grows, gradually and steadily, and I invite you to see it through my eyes. Noh Stories from Japan’s Legendary Stage Hosted by Kaseumin (カスミ) Welcome to Noh Stories from Japan’s Legendary Stage — a program devoted to sharing the beauty of Noh theatre with audiences around the world. Guided by passionate Noh enthusiast Kaseumin, this program bridges the elegance of Japanese tradition with the global listener through accessible English introductions and immersive Japanese audiobooks. In each episode, you’ll find: • English Introductions — Discover the historical and cultural background of each Noh play, explore its key themes and characters, and learn about the enduring artistry of Noh in a clear and engaging style—perfect for both newcomers and long-time admirers. • Japanese Audiobook Readings — Immerse yourself in Yōkyoku Monogatari by Mankichi Wada, a masterful storyteller who condensed Noh plays into beautiful, accessible narratives of about 10 pages each. Enjoy the refined cadence and elegance of traditional Japanese prose. Whether you are a lover of literature, theatre, or Japanese culture, Noh Stories invites you to experience the lyricism, mystery, and quiet power of Japan’s legendary stage. Join us, and step into a world where every moment breathes centuries of poetry and presence. 霞月報へようこそ! この番組では、お能を愛する素人愛好家・カスミが、英語と日本語を通して能楽の魅力を世界に発信します。 番組内容： • 英語でのあらすじ紹介：能の歴史や文化的背景、テーマ、登場人物、そして能楽の魅力を、初心者の方にも分かりやすくご紹介します。 • 日本語朗読：能に造詣の深かった和田万吉による『謡曲物語』を朗読します。約10ページずつにまとめられた美しい日本語の物語で、能の世界を味わう事ができます。 物語と声で巡る能の世界。 どうぞご一緒に、その静かな響きと詩情に耳を傾けてみませんか。

Information

  • Channel
    南風舎 Literature Club
  • Creator
    Kaseumin
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    59
  • Copyright
    © Kasumi Kobayashi
  • Provider
    Kasumi Kobayashi

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