Dec. 6th, 2011 08:29 pm
Chouchou-san SP: Part 2 Drama Notes
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earth_colorsHere are some drama notes to give you a better cultural insight for Part 2 of Chouchou-san SP from me and danburi...
"Hotaru Tea House at Ichinose Bridge..." (above pic). Where Kinu and her husband went off after escaping together. It serves as entry point to Nagasaki Kaido, a long stretch of road across Kyushu. So if one is leaving Nagasaki City to go to other parts of Kyushu, he has to take this route. The Hotaru (Firefly) Tea House located at the bridge is where his friends and family will likely see him off. (For more info and pix: oldphoto.lb)
"The western-style restaurant, Fukuya." Used to be located in what is known as Glover Garden. Western style restaurants were said to first opened here since the end of the Edo period. (More info: kaoru72hime; japanlifestyle; wiki)
"Kiyotsune." A Noh play by Zeami Motokiyo (1363-1434). The song, 'Koi no netori" that Chou plays on her flute is from this play. (For more info: the-noh)
"Fuin Giri." Obiya compared Kinu and her fugitive husband's story to this 18th century Kabuki play. It is about a true story of a messenger who was executed for using official money for his love of a courtesan. (for more info: kabuki21)
"Takasagoya." Traditional wedding song sung during Shinto weddings as a way to ask for blessings for a long and happy married life to the newly-weds. (To hear the whole song: themarblechan)
"Dogeza." A deep act of apology. (More info: wiki).
When Chou covered her face... According to danburi, "In this scene, Chou hides her face behind the mask to show she did not see his shame. To show the shameful act (dogeza) will affect a man’s pride. So Chou 'pretended' that she did not see it."
"Tanabata." A summer star festival. (More info: wiki)
"Tsukimi." Moon viewing festival held in autumn. (More info: wiki)
Miura Tamaki (1884-1946). The Japanese opera singer well-known for her performances as Chouchou-san in Puccini's "Madame Butterfly." As told in the drama, she did perform the role at Kabukiza Theater, Tokyo in 1936. (info: wiki)
'Aihachi' or Matsuo Sada (1874-1933). A well-known geisha from the Maruyama district of Nagasaki. She had been portrayed by Yoshinaga Sayuri in the 2000 movie, 'Nagasaki Burabura Bushi.' (personal info: 19big) (movie info: bookmice, japantimes)
Chou's farewell note. In a form of a poem, it reads as "Chou wa iku... Kiri tatsu umi ni... Hana ari to." It may mean that Chou equates herself as a butterfly that meets its inevitable tragic fate as it flies off into the foggy sea (dreamland), where it thinks there are flowers (maybe America). Danburi also points out that the word 'iku' could both mean 'go' and 'die.'
"Hotaru Tea House at Ichinose Bridge..." (above pic). Where Kinu and her husband went off after escaping together. It serves as entry point to Nagasaki Kaido, a long stretch of road across Kyushu. So if one is leaving Nagasaki City to go to other parts of Kyushu, he has to take this route. The Hotaru (Firefly) Tea House located at the bridge is where his friends and family will likely see him off. (For more info and pix: oldphoto.lb)
"The western-style restaurant, Fukuya." Used to be located in what is known as Glover Garden. Western style restaurants were said to first opened here since the end of the Edo period. (More info: kaoru72hime; japanlifestyle; wiki)
"Kiyotsune." A Noh play by Zeami Motokiyo (1363-1434). The song, 'Koi no netori" that Chou plays on her flute is from this play. (For more info: the-noh)
"Fuin Giri." Obiya compared Kinu and her fugitive husband's story to this 18th century Kabuki play. It is about a true story of a messenger who was executed for using official money for his love of a courtesan. (for more info: kabuki21)
"Takasagoya." Traditional wedding song sung during Shinto weddings as a way to ask for blessings for a long and happy married life to the newly-weds. (To hear the whole song: themarblechan)
"Dogeza." A deep act of apology. (More info: wiki).
When Chou covered her face... According to danburi, "In this scene, Chou hides her face behind the mask to show she did not see his shame. To show the shameful act (dogeza) will affect a man’s pride. So Chou 'pretended' that she did not see it."
"Tanabata." A summer star festival. (More info: wiki)
"Tsukimi." Moon viewing festival held in autumn. (More info: wiki)
Miura Tamaki (1884-1946). The Japanese opera singer well-known for her performances as Chouchou-san in Puccini's "Madame Butterfly." As told in the drama, she did perform the role at Kabukiza Theater, Tokyo in 1936. (info: wiki)
'Aihachi' or Matsuo Sada (1874-1933). A well-known geisha from the Maruyama district of Nagasaki. She had been portrayed by Yoshinaga Sayuri in the 2000 movie, 'Nagasaki Burabura Bushi.' (personal info: 19big) (movie info: bookmice, japantimes)
Chou's farewell note. In a form of a poem, it reads as "Chou wa iku... Kiri tatsu umi ni... Hana ari to." It may mean that Chou equates herself as a butterfly that meets its inevitable tragic fate as it flies off into the foggy sea (dreamland), where it thinks there are flowers (maybe America). Danburi also points out that the word 'iku' could both mean 'go' and 'die.'
