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Matsukaze (Breeze through the pines)
A famous noh theatre play

Synopsis:  The monk asks them for accommodation for one night. After they enter the hut, the monk recites the poems of Ariwara no Yukihira, who had some tie with the place, and explains that he has just consoled the souls of Matsukaze and Murasame at the old pine tree. The women suddenly begin to sob. Asked the reason, the two women reveal their identity: they are the ghosts of Matsukaze and Murasame, who were loved by Yukihira. They tell their memories of Yukihira and their love with Yukihira which was ended by his death. The older sister, Matsukaze, wears Yukihira’s kariginustyle kimono and eboshi headdress because she misses him so much. Indulging herself in the memory of her love, she eventually becomes partly mad, takes the pine to be Yukihira, and tries to embrace the tree.

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Traditional literature with a supernatural theme

Ancient language ( our script is translated into english)

Songs and dances

Emotions portrayed with dramatised gestures.

Professional actors and musicians

Chorus

No improvisation, all scripted

Emotions of the actors depend on the music

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- Protagonist : Shite , Matsukaze
- Supporting role :  Tsure , Murasame
- Antagonist role : Waki, Monk
- Supporting antagonist role : Wakitsure - Interluding cast , Ai : Villagers
- Narrator- Aikyogen

- Dramatised actions
- Includes dance

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Masks : Used to portray the Shite (protagonist) and the Shitetsure (supporting role of protagonist) only if it's for a female character
Fans : Used to depict a certain weather
Costumes: Shows the age, social status, and occupation of the role.
Consist of multiple layers & textures that creates an effect of elegance but also a bulky, massive figure.

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- Traditional Japanese instrumental  consists of four musicians. "hayashi-kata"
- Including three drummers, which play the shime-daiko, ōtsuzumi (hip drum), and kotsuzumi (shoulder drum) respectively, and a nohkan flutist.

We also used songs in the background of our video.

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Narrator: When the suspicious monk asks their names, they reveal that they are the ghosts of the sister divers, who were once loved by Ariwara no Yukihira. They ask the monk to pray for them. Then, they begin the story of when Yukihira came down to Suma. Yukihira eventually left for Kyoto and passed away. The diver sisters say that their love for Yukihira has been increasing and is difficult to give up even after their death. Matsukaze, who takes out the clothing Yukihira left behind, weeps bitterly and puts it on.

(add the instrument as background while the actors are speaking)

Monk: “Tears of attachment and obsession with this world” are the words used by those who do not belong to this world. Also, you said Yukihira’s poem reminds you of long ago. Many things about you sound mysterious. May I have your names?

Matsukaze and Murasame: When we try to reveal our names, shame comes to our mind first. As we are the ghosts who have never been consoled but are still shamefully obsessed with our life with toils soaked in seawater in Suma Bay. We cannot avoid cursing our hearts.

However, you have prayed for our souls. So, we have nothing to hide from you. We are the ghosts of Matsukaze and Murasame, the two women you commemorated at dusk, buried under the moss-covered marker underneath the pine tree.
We appear as we do now. Well, during the three years when Lord Yukihira lived here, he spent time on a boat to pass away the time or watching the moon to amuse his mind.
To bring brine to his place at night, we sisters were selected and were given names appropriate for the season, Matsukaze and Murasame. Since then, we, the divers of Suma, who are familiar with the moon, became familiar with Lord Yukihira.

Matsukaze: We changed our diver’s costumes for salt-baking,

Matsukaze and Murasame: We covered ourselves in the exquisite silk, scented garment.

Matsukaze: Three years passed like this, and Lord Yukihira left for Kyoto.

Murasame: Soon after he left Suma Beach

Matsukaze and Murasame:

(Murasame) we heard that he passed away. Since then...

Matsukaze: Alas, I cannot stop longing for him. How many times on earth shall I be reincarnated in order to receive a letter from my love, Lord Yukihira? (The day might never come?)

Reciters: We, Matsukaze and Murasame, only keep wetting our sleeves with tears. We fell deep into sin because not only were we born women, for whom becoming a Buddha is difficult, but we also fell in love with a noble man regardless of our menial status. Please pray for us.

Did you like this teaser? If you want to watch the actual play, come down to Big Toes People Theatre Company next month on the 13th of September to experience it for yourself!!
Do follow our IG for more information!@BigToesPeopleCompany
Don’t forget to follow our Spotify podcast that would be updated weekly to educate yourself more on Asian theatre, specifically Noh theatre for the next few weeks!
See you at the play!

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- This art form interacts the audience with unspoken communication when a performance is alive.
-The audience can use their imagination on the bare stage with no background scenery and unchanged lighting.
- Barely any interaction between the audience and the actors, allows them to think about what the actor was doing

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- Bare background
- Noh usually staged outdoors but indoor venues are common now

- Unchanging lighting
-  Shirasu
- The actors performed on the square-shaped stage with a roof that is supported by pillars at the four corners of it.
- All sides are open except for the back side which is the wall of a japanese style painting. (Mainly image of the pine tree)
- There is also a bridge that runs at an oblique angle off the stage for the actors to enter the stage.