New-York tribune., 1900-01-14
RAT1oEs AND HER CAREER

Nine Yacco. whom the MIkado has termed the
Empress OF the japanese Drama" is IN this coun-
ny. en- route 10 The Paris Exposition In company
with Otto Kzwakami. well known japanese actor
and playwright, she has been touring the world
and Is at present making q careful study OF the
American stage, with view 10 IFS possible sug-
sestions-
T.A career OF Nine Yacco is interesting. From
being loxly dancing girl she has achieved oy
ssint OF hard study the distinction not only OF being
her couurrvss greatest actress but OF being the
representative and part creator OF new era in
japanese art
Many consider Nine. Eacco the most beautiful
.vouan in Jsoau. She has & long. oval face, with
-n-ornfnent clear cut features Her obIque eyes
rest IN deep sunken sockets and are shielded by
long dropping eyelids- Her eyebrows are arched
and elevated and her forehead is high and narrow
She has delicate mouth, a pointed chin and ex-
-remelv small hands and feet. She is a woman OF
culture and refinement. and in giving the following
brief outline Of her career 10 a Tribune reporter
she used fluent and expressive English:
I believe the most striking feature OF American
life 10 me she said, is the Difference and respect
you pay TO your actresses and women In my coun-
try until very few years ago no woman had
ever appeared az first class theatre in the same
performance With men. and II any one had done so
she would have been characterized as immoral and
worthy Of contempt and scoru- We are progress
sng however and the old feeling is generally dying
out, bur there is still occasional recurrence Of
g. I believe that I have myself done something
our native drama 7 was the first woman
appear the stage OF the Toxic Theatre IN
performance in which the opposite sex participated
When the announcement OF my intention was first
made there was storm OF protest from the old
conservative element, and threats were made that
the performance would result dsastrously and that
even personal violence possible stuck to my
resolution All chance Of q disturbance was pre-
vented by the friendship Of the Ankado, who not
only honored the performance with his presence
but did al he could TO encourage and assist US.
He is q progressive and patriotic ruler, and I be-
Heve that our country VIII make great strides
within the next generation under his guidance
''Of course, having this patronage success
was assured We made triumph, and the impetus
given 70 the cause Of the japanese actress by this
-9nitiaI venture cannot be overestimated
The Introduction Of women into the casts Of
plays IS not the only reform for which KawakauI
myself and other pioneers have been working The
japanese drama has undoubtedly been making rapid
strides during the last decade but there are still
many faults 10 be got rid Of Our plays too
long tne subjects TOO horrible and immoral, and
worst OF all stage is still a certain extent
1mpregnated with Chinese ideas and tendencies.
l have talked with cultured and critical people
Of al nationalities regarding our acting and asked
Inem Tor honest opinions concerning II. The
sTers invariably took about the same form and
were Ike this: You are absolute masters Of MINI
tcry, psntOuime and facial expression. three Of
the essential attributes OF the actor; you have
feeling and power. but your work is ularred by
no1otCnOus. singsong tone. or else you shrek
While these criticisms Of The acting Of my coun-
5rynen have often wounded me. yet I know they
are Just and understand the cause. The sing
song snd shrekiug are typical OF the Chinese
drama I think that everything inartistic and IN
pleasant We have in Japan comes from China
Speaking Of the native japanese drama, our
creek crar1a- and classical in form This
stlit appeals 10 The mobiles and few HtterateuTs,
- si4e "a -I1-lla OF the common people Is IN
---5-A Nt-A LuoueIh ioeGs ana now treats not or
gods and myths but Of the lives the ioys and the
Noes OF ordinary men and women From the be-
s9---ll-s pays were divided into TWO classes-the
historical tragedies and the comedies Of manners
Cur most noted dEennatists have written in both
-ts-tS. anc or actors are supposed 10 be sufh-
Gently versatile 10 pass with perfect assurance
from one form 10 the other
In our reformed theatre which was planned
aAd 9ul4c Dy kswakami al Toxic are amply
PsokloeQ with modern scenery and stage properties
q every description Indeed. have a revolving
s-Fe country one Of the few surviVas Of our old
-slolls Is our curtain which Is Ornameuted with
.7Fsr 7Sl-s aLlu olner NEUROLOGICAL monsters.
- japanese women most Womanly, kind !
- EslLle nut the treatment and life OF those
- @ -ate ne misfortune 20 be bern poor might |
8 For- = - generous heaTt a pang. When I
DeIu n Japan Il is signal FOR great rejoicing
-,e,-T 81 t neg even among the poorest, and the
oe-s emo receives every attention that love and
prlce can DestOw upon II But when a 6augl7rer !
conles TIE lesling IS different She is fespsed and
f a54o laugnt that in all things she is mans
YLelL ooellence 70 his imperial will Obedience Is
90 - - - Lssacr-ngs OF our religion. and
- ~ parents were poor and in order that nv
= So,-- -lsli' Ds educated q weak delicate child
Iae street and win money from s5v,,irfoe- 49, ~
E1ken a. that age I Appreciated the i1T6Iera he /
,C-s- 49, lF Posl5l9n, and resolved that come
WA 1n5sl would keep myself from deeradstfor
! .-a- eLHAys lac imaginative mind and . /
- De-e ana often dreamed Of the bes ufiflIl
0'o Japanese orarna, or No, as we term II and /