Nengajo and 2011

Happy New Year! We have decided to send a New Years greetings rather than Christmas or holiday greetings for a few reasons: (1) People get tons of messages and greetings before Christmas, but this is one they can enjoy after the holidays when they have to dig themselves out of their relaxed mode and get back into a regular pace, and (2) There is usually such a panic to get stuff done before Christmas that it is nicer to relax and write/send greetings between Christmas and New Years.

We sent some nengajō (年賀状) or New Years postcards, and an email message to our whole mailing list. This year we featured photos from our production Odori: The World of Kabuki Dance. Clockwise from the upper left corner is IZUMI Tokuho in Yashikimusume, FUJIMA Shôgo in Tomoyakko, FUJIMA Sayû in Shiki no Yamamba, and FUJIMA Monyo in Matsu.

2011 is the Year of the Rabbit - which is supposed to be calmer than last year (Year of the Tiger) with an "unhurried pace...without too many annoyances" http://www.theholidayspot.com/chinese_new_year/more_zodiacs/rabbit.htm We will be pretty busy this year as well - though not as crazy as 2010 - and we are certainly hoping for the "lack of annoyances" for everyone!

Koken

A koken is a special kind of stage attendant. They are actually dancer-actors who assist rather than stage-technicians, and they need to know every movement of a dance so that they can bring props at exactly the right time or adjust a costume just the right way. They are totally visible - and in fact dressed in formal kimono, but are "invisible" as they are not really part of the scene. The invisible-visibles!
In 'Odori: The World of Kabuki Dance', Fujima Monyo will act as kôken. He will dance the first piece in the program as a su-odori - meaning he will wear formal monsuki (a kimono with a family crest) and hakama (pleated trousers) - and then work as an assistant for the other three dances. The kôken is totally critical and can make or break a performance.