January 12, 2021

Arts Council Tokyo,Tokyo Metropolitan Foundationfor History and Culture

Dynamic Noh play will be streamed with English subtitles
for limited period, free of charge!
Noh Online: Funa Benkei
Legendary Hero, Riding the Wave from Tokyo to the WorldTaira no Tomomori (From “Noh Online: Funa Benkei, Legendary Hero, Riding the Wave from Tokyo to the World” ) ©Satoshi Ohtsuki

Based on the theme “Approaching Tokyo Tradition”, Arts Council Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan
Foundation for History and Culture, offers diverse projects and programs for people who are notfamiliar with traditional arts and culture, as well as for people overseas and children to enjoy
Japan’s authentic traditional arts and culture.
We have created new video work of one of the most popular Noh plays, “Funa Benkei (Benkei ina boat)” with English subtitles, as a new attempt to reach mainly people overseas who are
currently unable to visit Japan, due to the spread of the novel coronavirus(COVID-19) infection.
It will be streamed free of charge for a limited period from January 29 to the end of March. It
will be available on the official website of Tokyo Tradition and the official YouTube channel ofArts Council Tokyo.
Video work of traditional performing arts often focuses on reproducing the actual viewing in thetheater from audience seats. In our new challenge, however, we dared to create a visualartwork which offers visual experience that is not possible in the actual viewing in the theater sothat people who are not accustomed to the Noh plays can also enjoy it. In addition to filming
from the audience seats, we have placed a camera on the Noh stage and filmed the performers
in close proximity, as well as filming the performers coming towards the front of the camera,
creating dynamic, movie-like scenes that will give you an unprecedented experience of Noh.
Special Webpage of “Funa Benkei” has opened from today, January 12, on the official website ofTokyo Tradition in Japanese and English, introducing the characters, highlights, and making-of
footages for first-time viewers.

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Contact for this release and interviews

Arts Council Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture
Tokyo Tradition Public Relations Office［Togashi / Ohara］
TEL 03-3237-3124 / FAX 03-3237-3122 / email info@annex-inc.jp

(From “Noh Online: Funa Benkei, Legendary Hero, Riding the Wave from Tokyo to the World”) ©Satoshi Ohtsuki

Shizuka Gozen

Yoshitsune and Benkei fight against Tomomori

Musashibo Benkei

Taira no Tomomori

Outline of Experience and Appreciation Program

Noh Online: Funa Benkei, Legendary Hero, Riding the Wave from Tokyo to the World■Online distribution Friday, January 29 – Wednesday, March 31, 2021 (scheduled)■Fee Free of charge■Title Noh “Funa Benkei” Shinnoden■Performers Takehito Tomoeda, Kinya Hosyo, Mansai Nomura, and others■Special Webpage, on the official website of Tokyo tradition
http://www.tokyo-tradition.eng/2020/program/010/■Arts Council Tokyo Official YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/c/Artscouncil-tokyoJp/videos■StoryIt was the end of the Heian period. The long-running war between Genji and Heike clans was won
by the renowned general of Genji, Minamoto no Yoshitsune. He, however, fell out with his elder
brother Yoritomo and was forced to leave the capital, fleeing to the west only with his retainer
Musashibo Benkei, his lover Shizuka Gozen, and a few companions. It is a lonely wandering
journey that is a far cry from the splendor of winning a historic battle.
The highlight of the first half is Shizuka Gozen's dance. Shizuka, who has finally accepted Benkei'sadvice that she should return to the capital, chants and dances, hoping for Yoshitsune's safety
and the day when he will come back to the front stage again. In the latter half of the scene, thegroup goes out to sea, but the wind and rain are getting fiercer, and the atmosphere around themis unsettling. Then, the ghosts of the Heike clan appears in the sea. The commander-in-chief isTaira no Tomomori, who committed suicide bearing a grudge in the last battle with Yoshitune.
The spirits attacked Yoshitsune's boat at once to sink it into the sea. In order to save his master,
Benkei confronts the ghosts with the mythical power of Buddhism.
■Organized by Arts Council Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture
Supported by and in Cooperation with Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Produced by RoppeitaXIV Commemorative Foundation
Filmed by Teku-Teku Eizo Design Inc.
English subtitles, translated by Sam Bett ＊Contents are subject to change without notice. 2／2