2012 NOH: Moon Viewing and Sake - Japanese American Cultural & Community CenterNEW

The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) presents "NOH: Moon Viewing and Sake." This rare and exciting event will introduce audiences to the performing arts of the royal court. Veiled in a fog of intrigue and mystery, Noh features rhythmic musicians, choral chanters and masked actors as they tell the stories handed down over generations. In Noh, tradition demands that each performer practice the fundamental movements, songs and dances independently, making each performance fresh to the audience and performers. A hybrid of improvised tradition, the Noh Moon Viewing performance will examine and demonstrate the many unique cultural traditions that have been handed down for generations.

This year, Master Motonori Umewaka will be demonstrating and performing two works from the moon viewing plays, "Kanenodan" and "Izutsu." In addition to the plays, the evening will include Kagami biraki, which is a ceremony that includes the opening of a cask of sake at a ceremony and performances by Sakai Kenji on the flute and Takenaka Tomoyasu on the drums.