Symposium: “Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties’ Recording Project for Performing Arts (Kodan): In Memory of Master ICHIRYUSAI Teisui”
On October 3, 2024, a symposium entitled “Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties’ Recording Project for Performing Arts (Kodan): In Memory of Master ICHIRYUSAI Teisui” was held in the seminar room of the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN).
The Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage has been conducting projects to record performances of intangible cultural properties, mainly classical performing arts, selecting genres and repertoires that are rarely performed to the public. From 2002 to 2020, we have filmed and recorded 145 performances of kodan(storytelling) by ICHIRYUSAI Teisui (1939-2020), a holder of the Nationally Designated Important Intangible Cultural Property “Kodan” [individually certified].
The symposium began with an opening remark by Mr. ISHIMURA Tomo, director of the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage, and then featured a lecture by Prof. IMAOKA Kentaro from the Musashino Art University, entitled “On the Establishment of the Kabuki Play ‘Kanjincho’ and its Relationship with Kodan.” There was also a screening a film of ‘Kimura Nagatonokami no Kannin Bukuro,’ an episode from “Nanba Senki,” performed by ICHIRYUSAI Teisui and recorded at the performing arts studio in the institute on May 26, 2015. Afterwards, Mr. ICHIRYUSAI Teikitsu, a disciple of ICHIRYUSAI Teisui, performed the play “Kanjincho,” followed by a talk show entitled “About Master ICHIRYUSAI Teisui,” featuring Mr. ICHIRYUSAI Teikitsu and Mr. IJIMA Mitsuru, a visiting researcher of TOBUNKEN.
These recordings of ICHIRYUSAI Teisui’s performances will soon be available to view (with a few exceptions) at the TOBUNKEN library. An announcement will be made on our website when these become available.
The Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage will continue to record classical performing arts that are rarely performed, and make them available to the public in an appropriate manner, in an effort to contribute to the preservation of intangible cultural properties.