Tamasaburo "Sagi Musume" 坂東玉三郎 「鷺娘」 - middle section

[yeoshMYC]

He is BEAUTIFUL beyond words.

[MrAlexunderscore]

Wonderful !

I love the speaker's voice. I've bought the DVD for dances of course, and also because I thought I could hear that voice on it. Who is the speaker ? I read his name somewhere, but is that you, Tiffenakou ?

[tiffenakou]

@MrAlexunderscore The narrator is Paul M. Griffith, a renowned Kabuki scholar.

[MrAlexunderscore]

@MrAlexunderscore

Oh... excuse me...

so videos with his commentaries do exist ?

[tiffenakou]

@MrAlexunderscore yes, in fact the whole dance DVD set by Tamasaburo was narrated by Mr. Griffith.

[MrAlexunderscore]

@MrAlexunderscore

Oh stupid me ! I thought you or anybody else had added commentaries. Thank you, now I have to find how hear Mr Griffith on my DVD

[acerb45666555]

has even one person from sacred Nippon even once visited a Haida person or a Cree person? they are youre cousins you know! say hi once in a while! and give the politico Ottawa white boys hell for they way theyve stepped on youre cousins for 200 years on theyre own native lands!!!!

[campcasey62]

Absolutely beautiful. Poetry and art in motion.

[Thuriyasai]

how did they change cloths at the beginning???????????? if you know pls tell or show if theirs a video of it

[MssBianca88z]

Is a men, nor??

[ScriptWorker]

Class....

[44okiru44]

beautiful ... 5exy ....

[tisalew]

this is just wonderful. ilove learning about different cultures art.

[ChireSakura]

This is so magnificent!!!!

[alixinthemiddle]

flexible! =o!

[Idnarmadur]

This is so amazing o_o How can you not love Japan?

[animelost]

I want this man's hands. How should I learn to be so graceful in every inch of my body? I'll settle for having hands like his. I think young women would be very happy if they could be half as elegant with their furisode sleeves.

Every costume change is like magic to me. Even when I'm watching for it, I blink and I miss it. Amazing! And the last backward bend? Stunning!

[hahah14]

the kimonos are so lovely!!! T.T

[sahilkumar32]

So elegant ...and full of emotions...all expressed so beautifully!

[DJQuickSB]

what style is the acompanying music in?

[DJQuickSB]

how is the acompanying music called?

[Armalizilto]

I admire Kabuki.

[seirdo]

Kabuki uses the characters "song-dance-prostitution"

Girls used to play roles, but then men would go for the wrong reason, and Kabuki as an art would be disgraced.

Thus, only men play in Kabuki.

[thephilosopherkartik]

@seirdo Just as a correction, Kabuki is written with the characters song/dance/skill. You're probably confusing the 伎 in 歌舞伎　with the character 妓. Otherwise, though, you're absolutely write, Kabuki did have connections with prostitution in the past which was why women were banned from learning or performing it. I still wander though, why women are still banned from kabuki even in today's modern scenario.

[uglyengineer]

This is the key to this kind of dance, these amazing costume changes.

[543johnson]

I've always loved Kabuki ever since I saw it in the old Marlon Brando film "Sayonara." (Unfortunately, the Kabuki actor in the film, Nakamura, was played Ricardo Montalban--that's right the "Fantasy Island" guy!!) I was impressed with everything: the music, sets, costumes, production and even the fact that actresses were banned from the stage, and that their roles are now played by men. The original drag show indeed!

[vegeboyx]

Beautiful and very talented dancing!!! I love it :)

[lostpinguin]

wow, very beautiful. and its a man?! amazing. love that there is an english translations, makes me aprecciate the story much more.

[OhhNooWayy]

i love it when the guy is explaining it to you.

[latexpiepbeestje]

wow this is amazing. Im glad they putt some information to it in English, or else we couldn't understand the story

[Respectican]

This is the first time I have seen kabuki.

I have to say that this is simply stunning. The fast kimono change and the fact that the woman is actually played by a man (I didn't realize it until I saw the comments) are unbelievable.

The play is so elegant, expressional and symbolic.. It's beautiful :)

[sorenti]

I wish there were more comments like this on youtube. Unfortunately, my only experience with kabuki is also through youtube. The embarrassing part is that I've was exchange student in Japan, but I never got around to actually go and visit kabuki theatre. The amount of regret is hard to describe

[handonrip]

kabuki....the original drag show.......

[shushuyaoi]

Spectacular ending <3

[complementa]

It seemes to me that the quick change of costume is not only for the stage effect of kabuki actor's performance but also symbolizes the transiency of phenomenal world(samsara), full of sufferrings.

Tamasaburo succeeds in present such a symbolical expression as brief transient experience of samimusume's getting love, pangs of despised love, and urgent prayer of salvation at the very moment of death.

[Makkaru111]

I am proud as well XP

[darkjapanesegirl18]

i'm very proud to have japanese blood run through my veins, this beautiful

[NASTYK1LL3R]

this is japanesse doll no china doll please

[TamLin275]

It's almost like watching a china doll come to life. This is a great dance.

[sungchur]

wow.. vvvvvvvery good~! beautiful japan dance

[goosejoy20]

This is cool stuff. Thanks for sharing:)

[4zion4life]

i dont get the fetish

[aptuusin]

yep.

only the asian comprehends delicacy and art.

[halfrek]

and the french

[hizaki9292]

please upload on megaupload !

kabuki is fantatic!

[SandUtil]

oh, ok. I went straight to the last part. :D

[Kilaulani]

I REALLY LOVE THIS KABUKI AND THIS ACTOR. he's really good. i so envy him...lol

[sleepyindecember]

this is rather ineresting : )  i loved the hand-dance , so much in control : )

[TopazBiscuit]

Such an inspiring performance!!!

[TopazBiscuit]

Is there a video that where there is no nararration. The nararrator gets annoying eventually. Quiet!, Let the art speak for it's self.

[sugarpuddin88]

Really cool

But what happened to good ole' fashioned dating?

[song32290]

I like the narration :D

It helps me a lot while watching this.

I love kabuki! Please upload more if you can ^^

Thank YOU!

[JOKAKEN]

nice~~~

[NicksMoomy]

beautiful

[yakuzaikasan]

I want to get the dvds, the narrator is interesting but can be really irritating at times when I just want to watch Tamasaburo-sama. The dvds are sooo expensive though damn.

[coralarch]

I wonder if Shakespeare's troupe was as good at portraying women as this fine actor?

[HYDEmila]

I love Sagi Musume! i've watch once it in indonesia...! very beautiful!

[imogenheap12345]

You know thats a kabuki actor, a guy not a girl.

[GedatsuSama]

And not just any guy, Bando Tamasaburo, one of the best kabuki actors avaiable.

[sasa110]

This is great...first time I'm seeing kabuki! Reminds me in some ways of classical Indian dance, such as the classification of the heroine and the metaphors and themes...very lovely. And costume changes are cool! I hope to catch a performance live one day!

[kawaiikazuko]

I love Sagi Musume! Tamasaburo is an amazing Onnagata actor, the way he moves is so elegant and femminine

[thelittleoneruns]

this might sound strange but.. the hand dancing is totally sexy. 0_0

[mistatomsom]

@thelittleoneruns so true. It is indeed very sensual. That's also a reason why these roles were since the Edo period performed by men, not women.

[thelittleoneruns]

sagi musume is one of my faves!

[SuperhumanChichi]

whoa how'd her outfit change so fast? I mean it was underneath the outfit, but like...

I didn't catch that o_o

[AnimeIdiot19]

they edited out the time it took her to change. if you look closely, you can see it skip to indicate that.

[Joneses65]

you mean him...

[hitotsu924]

your username depicts you quite accurately.

if you look closely, you can see that there is no skip.

in kabuki theater it is not unusual to see quick and swift costume changes as such. i am most certain that the costume change was done in real time, no editing what so ever, as you can see in the other performances.

if you're referring to the change of color of the background, it's simply the change of color of the light.

[halfrek]

i work in cameras....there was certainly a cut of time and its NOT that big of a deal. We know that they do quick costume changes, I've seen much kabuki theater. That doesn't mean they couldn't have edited this back stage change out. if you notice it "jumps' which is what happens when you cut a few frames out.

[Joneses65]

there was a skip.

Tamasaburo had to put on a whole new layer of costumes...it doesnt take long to do...but for a good 8 to 10 mins he wasnt out there...in conclusion, there was a skip.

[starfishyinthesky]

Yes, quite often kabuki, between scenes there is a few minutes break to change scenes/ big costume changes

[Dainy512]

But... The video doesn't jump... ??

[BiologicalClock]

Yes, it does. At 2:28, you can clearly see the camera position jump, plus the music is completely different than what was playing before. Kabuki has quick costume changes, but even the quickest will take about half a minute. Tamasaburo had a completely different costume on when he emerged from the stage, so it would take several minutes for him to get out of his kimono and into a new one.

[Genavivian]

What the hell?? Look at the bottom of his kimono. there are flashes of red!! The costume is underneath it!! you guys are totally annoying

[sgarpia]

the underobe is usually red

[JPandCo]

In that section the nagauta players interpret a solo, but Tamasaburo does not appear there

[SuperhumanChichi]

whoa how'd her outfit change so fast? I mean it was underneath the outfit, but like...

I didn't catch that o_o

[vocalpianist]

the kimono is soooo beautiful, Japanese art is so amazing... it is otherwordly

[lpmar176]

This is amazing!! I din't know Tamasaburo was prossional dancer. I love the change of one custom to another it is just phenomenal to do that in mid performance...

[taliwar]

Very nice. Amazing how some men can mimic female charms.

[scoatolo]

c'est magnifique! dire que c'est un homme qui joue, c'est beau.

[azrulhakim]

the costume change was awesome..

[Furzkopf888]

He's so gracefull^^

[VersusDie]

i'm in love

[tiffenakou]

with whom?

[Wodanaz]

@tiffenakou Tamasaburo, I presume.

[ifedeoli]

@tiffenakou a dude!

[ryuhinomaru]

you know many japanese plays are done purely by men dressed as women ¬¬

[alexlo300]

@VersusDie yes, with whom ? pahaha

[zombiesforyou]

tama is fascinating in his role. but goodness... he's 45!!! doesn't look like he's it at all. i thought he would be something like 30 mebbe. ^-^

[siemr3]

omg!!!! very beutiful!!!!

japanese tradicional dance!!!!

[siemr3]

omg!!  very beautiful!!!!

japanese tradicional dance!!!!

[siemr3]

vert beutiful!!!!!! japan tradicional dance!!!!!

[JPandCo]

one of the best kabuki plays, it is not so ancient but is one of the most colorful i've seen and well tamasaburo is for one of the best onnagata as he can really interpret the ideal of woman in japanese culture, even the face!!!! ( i've seen here at least 3 actors but tamasaburo is unique)

[Furzkopf888]

why do all onagata look so sad?

[poisongrin]

Simply amazing! Once again, thank you for sharing!

[Furzkopf888]

what is a "Sagi Musume"? and what is a "Tamasaburo"? ^-^

[tiffenakou]

"Sagi Musume" (=Heron Maiden in English) is the name of the play. "Tamasaburo" is the name of the actor.

[Furzkopf888]

what are the long sleeves told? i could not understand... and why are the colours so... intensive?^^ is that the kabuki-style? other kimonos have brighter colours

[1sadseuxally2]

The long kimonos ore or less represent an unmarried maiden. Once the girl gets married, shorter sleeves are favored and it's not approved to wear the long sleeves. I think the color is also reserved for the unmarried girls but I'm not sure.

[1sadseuxally2]

The long kimonos ore or less represent an unmarried maiden. Once the girl gets married, shorter sleeves are favored and it's not approved to wear the long sleeves. I think the color is also reserved for the unmarried girls but I'm not sure.

[JPandCo]

If the maiden is young, she wears a furisode, which are rich coloured and long sleeved kimono. Elder maidens use less make up, the hair is arranged only with one bekkoh/kanzashi, and kimonos have shorter sleeves. The marriage kimono is white and is the first one of the dance

[dpinvogue]

From what I know of kimono, and the unspoken language of the colours, kabuki kimonos are little different from other kimono, except that they are much more colourful (stage costume, and of course, they sometimes have to be changed in a split second, whereas other kinomons are tied at one's leisure)

Colours in this case are representative of emotional states. The red here = young, in the full bloom of youth and in love. The purple, a ripening or maturing of emotions that comes with age.

[JPandCo]

The hikinuki, what you refer to the change of kimonos is used in kabuki to give a different stage to the eyes of the audience. A false kimono is put on the other so the obi can tie both of them

[Furzkopf888]

so hypnotizing, I look at it and i forget everything around me. My friends don't like geisha and kabuki dancing, but I don't care. It' so exotic^^. like dancers from a different world..... wow.... the onagata is really 57 years old???? (mein Gott! hät ich niemals gedacht!^-^) oha! I thought he is maybe 25 or 30.... RESPECT^^

One question: do onagata sing? or just dance? I thing it would be funny^^ with a male voice...

[tiffenakou]

He was around 45 when this was filmed. Kabuki actors usually don't sing. The singing part is talking care of by dedicated musicians.

[Furzkopf888]

All right^-^ thank you very much!!!

[mistatomsom]

@Furzkopf888

they don't sing in a Western type of way, but do speak in a way that in the West it might even be considered singing...

[skulduggerous]

@Furzkopf888 A Geisha is something totally different, though.

[robicha]

I can't believe that that is a 57 year old man

[hyenafightingfor]

きれ　な　ゆき　ですね！！！

[TheNarcisus]

After the red kinomo...Her love is a short one and the next section of the dance is no more about happiness but sadness and jealousy. The dance is getting darker

[luanaman]

very good

[ridox000supra]

did you know that they are all male.. even the women part are played by male

[ernei82]

Excellent!! More kabuki in the youtube!

[Cuccorullo]

How do they change so fast without changing the obi? D:

[anak1]

Classical Japanese theatre shows on Japanese TV from time to time. I loved watchin it, even though I had no idea what the mechanics behind it was, or couldnt understand archaic Japanese. I also remember that in Kyoto, by Shijo station there is a Classical theatre that alot of people visit when a play is on. I sorta regret not taking the time out while I was there to see a play.. *sigh* maybe next time :S

[silkyblonde]

Superbly subtle! The scenography reminds me to my hometown sea in winter... My eyes scintillate with affection when I'm watching this...

[asukivietnam]

why you dont show the Embeb!?any way, thank so much!I like Kabuki^_^

[peonyrikki]

This is so pretty, so nice...I've been looking for something like this for a long time.

Thank you very much, I really appreciate this video.