Tokyo so often described as α concrete jungle
I think would come to surprise people
by the variety of green spaces it has
and those are propped up by the number of museums you can discover
so the topic of this video is going to explore
The Tokyo National Museum
You can explore around that museum as well
if you ever have a chance to get out to this region
And it's beautiful, calm and peaceful
And there are 101different historical buildings
displays, and interesting things to take note of
Should you be so lucky,
Asakusa actually even has a Onsen
a legit hot spring you can go and visit
And if you're craving for an energy beforehand
there are absolutely beautiful hotels which include
some wonderful traditional Japanese dining
I'm not the one usually for fish in the morning,
but if it's prepared very well,
as often you can find it,
if you find these special places, in Asakusa
Then you're treating yourself well before you go out for the day
Lean, mean and prepared to take in all the arts
I highly recommend checking out something like this
because this is the sort of even burning fuel,
that is not just going to keep you awake,
but actually a part of cultural experience
when you come to Japan when you can find it
Here today at the Tokyo National Museum
And they're putting on the Japan Cultural Expo
Here you can see 5 of Japan's important Traditional Performing Arts
Now for a lot of you it's going to be difficult to come and see this in person
and that's why we're creating this digital production
The museum was an incredible experience to be hold
The image you see are all taken from all installations at the exhibit
Not in order of style,
This was my exposure of performing arts of Japan
and I can say with confidence, I'm impressed by not one particular style
although each of them is impressive in it's own right,
but more by the fact that they've each so influence each other over the years to they've grown
What I've learned that if you follow they line of their inception,
there was a root style
Gagaku
It takes it's influence from China and Korea
I was struck once understandings that,
how you could see the influences of the respective countries
both the colors and styles of the contributing countries
Shapes and palettes I would usually associate with China,
correspondingly Korea,
were present in the so many garments and tools of the art
A first sight of just how these are inter mingled are with the rest of the world,
if you look just far enough in their history
On that detail,
it's notable that each of these performing arts within Japan
one specific location where they originate
instead,
many different areas of Japan has contributed to their own style
Within the museum there are 5 performing arts on display
Kabuki, perhaps the one most well known,
Bunraku, a kind of advanced puppetry similar to that you see in North America,
but a Japanese iteration performed by black cloaked figures,
Noh and Kyoden famously telling their stories from beautifull minimalistic stage
Gagaku, as mentioned previously,
The oldest tradition, most sporing from other cultures,
and finally Kumiodori, a style which owes it origin to Okinawa Japan
Each has influenced the other,
and each provides from fascinating different forms of Japanese fine art
Kabuki, the most well known has taken their tradition from Edo Period of Japan
and was performed by men and women taking on roles opposite that their gender
Dance is an enthusiastic focus of the art,
and the beautiful costumes associated with the dances
stand out as the center piece of what makes it so special to observe as the audience
Historical location such as Nanzenji Temple in Kyoto
feature in this story that are conveyed through this style of performance
Bunraku is a skillful manipulation of puppets
it too takes its origin from Osaka as well,
from the Edo Period of 1603 to 1868
but also grew in popularity,
through the Meiji Period of 1868 to 1912
The performance in this case is done to a musical recitative performance of
Gidayu Bushi
The extremely famous instrument of Shamisen,
is used to create the melodic backdrop to what it's sung
By mid 18th century it became common practice,
for 3 puppeteers to operate the show
Innovative and ingenious mechanisms were incorporated to the heads of the puppet by this time
which unlocked the potential for far more elaborate expressions,
to further engage with the audience
of the skills of those who would put on the displays of this unique art
Noh and Kyoden are together referred as Nogaku
They were initially referred to as a pair
called Surugaku
While at first this art form was exclusively an act done at religious rights,
temples and shrines,
and limited entertainment only at those events
It would embark from the sacred only
to be included as well
an artistically dramatic performances
all accross Japan
at a variety of events and locations
The two forms play at each other as well
While Noh is considered quite solemn,
Kyogen has the more laughter and playful associated with
The guidebook provided by the museum,
perhaps best describes them when it reads,
Noh and Kyogen are like siblings
branched out from Sarugaku,
to compliment each other for tension and relief
It's quite easy to get lost in the historicity of these art forms
In the brief time I have dedicated to understand them a little better
I fully admit to becoming entangled at times
in the many historical dates and symbolism each seek to convey
What I'm reminded though is that history is important,
what carries them into the present day and future
is that intangible element
not written down or spoken of
That enabling experience that comes with the enjoyment
and participating in and absorbing a skilled art
While clothes, tools and stages make comprise what we literally see,
they are in the end something more
A portal in which we are all invited to experience something new
I hope exposure to them will inspire others to beyond the costumes and sounds
to the world which exists
not outside, but inside all of us
when we experience intangible cultural expression
but we do in fact have another way to experience this
This is the Virtual Japan Cultural Expo
And this is the main area you have access to when you go into it
Now from the main map,
you can select a number of locations you can visit
VR Expo App is available both on Android and Apple
All you need to do is download, install, brief sign in, registration and
then you have access to this particular Metaverse
From its main part you can access many different parts you would see at the exhibition
Here we're at the Wood Art Theater
It is here that we can see some of the performing arts
that Japan has at the exhibition
Inside the theater clickable links allow you to see them
And there are a variety because they have 5 different arts on display
There is more as well than the 5 traditional performing arts for you to learn about in this metaverse
and you can explore through a variety of different locations
each of which with ease set of location
and experience you can have
For me the most fascinating point of interest in the wood theater,
where they had macro pictures
where you can zoom into on a incredible level of detail
I don't remember the last time that I've seen images of this kind of resolution
that would allow you to do that
This was a lot of fun,
and there is a ton of cool information to explore