The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-30
The Cherry Blossom Dance.
Interesting Description of the
Japanese Spring Festival.

Item.
Kobe, Japan, May l-Once o
year during the month of April, Japa.
nese residents and visitors have the
opportunity of witnessing the pret
tiest OF Japanese dances. viz the
Cherry Blossom dance. 1t is 80 called
by foreigners because it is always
given just at the cherry blossom
season, aud also because these towers
are introduced in one of the dances.
The Japanese name for it, however,
is MiyskoodOri or Capital dance,
indicating thereby that they too
think it is the finest dance. Unlike
other dances this one is held IN q
theatre aud controlled and managed
by priests of the temple for the
benefit of the temple. The instruc-
tors iu the dance are retired geisha,
old women no longer fit for service
who can earn their living by training
children to dance and sing.
Like in the old English theatres
the choice eeats are in the balcony
tor which the price of admission is
40 sen, whilst down in the pit
amongst the masses it is only 20 sen
In order to see both from near aud
afar tried both places sitting on the
floor amongst the Japs in a position
corresponding to our orchestra first
row font. There are no seats on the
main floor and no place wasted for
aisles. Simply one large floor inclin.
ing slightly covered with red blankets
spread thereon. In the balcony
benches are provided for foreigners
On approaching the theatre site
one is reminded of going to a circus
on account of the numerous stands
with sweets, 60, thereon in place of
peanuts, the side shows adioining
and the many coiored lanterns and
torches
There the similarity ceases for
upon alighting from your rickisha
you are invited to remove your shoes
and have them checked same az
you would check your Goa. or
umbrella at home. This you
must do unless you can secure q pair
OF cloth clippers to tie over your
shoes and so avoid soiling or scratch
ing the polished floor.
The dancing commences at six
O'Clock aud takes about 40 minutes.
being repeated every hour till mid
night. For footlights large tallow
candles are used, which man comes
around and trims between each
dance.
One thing peculiar about Japanese
dances and theatres is that you are
supposed to see only the dancers or
actors and are not supposed to sec
the attendants, supers or assistants 9
who walk about on the stage q,
liberty during the performance. and
shift the sceuery, trim candles. &c
The orchestra, we may call it, con.
sists Of ten samisen aud the same
number of miko (similar to q drum)
The samisen girls are on one side of
the theatre on q raised platform
whilst the miko girls are opposite,
similarly placed
The dancing girls. 32 in number
usually, though improperly called,
geishs. make their entrance from the
rear OF the ball. pass along the plat
form n front of the samisen PLAYERS.
on 20 the stsge All movements are
inunisou. whilat from beginning to
end the faces are devoid of expres
sion
1t lie to the scenery that the atten
iion of a foreigner is mostly attract
ed for in comparison this is far ahead
of the other things connected with
the theatre and considering the crude
methods employed. it is worthy of the
most favorable comment
The opening dance after the en-
trance is given in front of the screens
which. arranged in line across the
stage. serve az drop curtain. The
girls then exit to the side Of the
stage proper aud not where they
made their entrance.
Upon signal all the screens ars
drawn up, disclosing the interior Of a
tea house with sixteen oi the girls
therein These come down upon the
stage floor by pair of stairs and
give dance that is different from the
first though to our uneducoted eve IT
is but . continuation oi it.
AZ soon as the geisha come down
the stairs the attendants whom as !
said before, wo are not supposed to
see. come on and slide the flooring
and walls OF the house into the wings
to prepare for the next scene
The manipulation Of the succeed.
lug scenes 10 very difficult to describe
end yet arc the prettiest features of
tho entertainment The best wsy to