Japanese page is here.
Japanese page is here.
For some reason my head aches during the cherry-blossom season. Spring hasn't
agreed with me ever since I can remember. On the contrary, be cause I was born in
April, I become restless in the springtime. The cherry blossomslure me out.
For a few years around the time when I was ten, my mother and I used to visi t an
old cemetery, somewhere between Okamoto and Ashiya, on my birthday, Apr il thirteenth,
to look at the cherry blossoms. I don't remember why, but my father and sister did
not come with us. On that day one year, when it was s till cold, I went for the walk
without a coat because I was so happy to be w earing a new sweater.
--- Absolutely everything was in full bloom. Flower petals blown by the w ind were
fluttering about. The whole surface of the earth was blanketed wit h flower petals.
--- (From "Under the Full Bloom of Cherry Blossoms" wri tten by Ango Sakaguchi).
The flower petals covered even the base stones of the graves, and I ran arou nd crying
out, "how beautiful!", scooping up the petals and strewing them ab out,
and then running to look for a thicker pile. I lost track of time, but when I did
notice, no one was around. It was very quiet. I suddenly felt a chill and looked
around for my mother's figure. Then I saw her standing all alone, far away in the
vast cemetery. I instinctively ran towards her, but then I was embarrassed of being
frightened, and abruptly asked what came int o my mind, "Mom, how will I be
when I grow up?". I have no idea why I asked her such a question.
Then, in an oddly quiet tone, she replied without even turning around, "Nobody
has the answer to that." I had never heard such a t one in her voice. There
stood an unfamiliar woman showing her profile, with a distant look. It was not the
familiar face of my mother. That night, I came down with a fever. Come to think of
it, my mother was only in her mid t hirties, and that was the first time I saw a
woman in her. Still, I was onl y a child, so I soon forgot this incident.
When I was in high school I read "Under the Full Bloom of Cherry Blossoms".
I could digest the story as if I had known it for a long time. I finished i t in
one sitting, and then suddenly remembered the indescribable distant fee ling I had
that day at the cemetery. Ever since, Ango has been someone very important to me.
When I had a hard time, or felt helpless, he was always at my side. When I had to
write my graduation thesis, I was sulky because I had quit the student movement.
However, I had Ango to rely on. Once, when I quit acting, I regained some strength
by reading Ango's work, and decided to give it another try. These incidents occurred
in the springtime. And I sti ll had my headaches.
In Japan, various incidents take place in spring under the blossoms. Meeting new
people and parting with friends are associated with the cherry blossoms. So, I have
long wanted to dramatize "Under the Full Bloom of Cherry Blos soms". It
finally materialized when Rio Kishida wrote the script for me. During the fifteen
years I have repeatedly presented this piece, there have been many changes in my
life. Accordingly, my performances have changed. I had opportunities to perform this
piece throughout Japan, starting in Tokyo, and including Niigata, Matsunoyama and
Kiryu, where I had longed to act. This led me to Niitsu, which had also been on my
mind. It was there that I encountered the Atrium of NIITSU ART FORUM.
The museum requested me to do "Under the Full Bloom of Cherry Blossoms".
The white marble atrium will be the stage. I was inspired to produce another "cherry
blossoms" in this space.
The version of "Under the Full Bloom of Cherry Blossoms" I have shown in
the past is no doubt a very precious piece to me. However, when I presented this
three years ago, I thought I would leave it for a while, until I was a little older.
So, for this occasion, I decided to challenge myself with a whole new idea. My wish
is to create a world which has the same underlying meaning as the original, but which
uses different expressions.
The workshop has already begun. We would like to extend our deep gratitude to all
who have supported us in making this performance piece possible. The warm assistance
you have given us is like a wind that encourages interaction between the audience
and us, even though the world we live in is full of uncertainty.
We hope that "Under the Blossoms" will allow you to perceive Ango's transpar
ent wind.
- Niitu Museum of Art Opening Performance (April 10-11, 1998)