Bando school’s charity show brings Kabuki theater to L.A.

Cultural News, July 2006

    Bando Mitsugoro X, a renown Kabuki actor and Headmaster of Bando School of Japan, successfully performed his favorite repertoire Ryusei and Kisen on June 11th at the Aratani Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo. Mitsugoro’s performances were part of the Bando School Charity Show which was organized by three Bando senior dance instructors of the Los Angeles area, Madames Bando Mitsusa, Bando Mitsuhiro, and Bando Wakatsuye.

   Mitsugoro X brought not only his Bando dancers from Tokyo, but also over ten members of his stage staff to create an authentic Kabuki style theater in Los Angeles. The two shows in the 800-seat theater were full.   During the program, Mitsugoro presented a check of the proceeds of the show to an official of Keiro Senior HealthCare in Los Angeles.

Shin Hitotsutoya: Ten geisha depict the charming scenes of the colorful seasons. The dance Hitosu or the number one, begins the first verse, celebrating the New Year and wishing all a prosperous year. The second verse is coquettish, while a later verse depicts scenes from the summer festival and the good harvest of autumn.

From left: Bando Miehiro, Bando Hiroayako, Bando Hiroyoshimi, Bando Hiromichiya, Bando Hiromizuki, Bando Hirosuzu, Bando Hiromie, (not pictured) Bando Hirokogiku, Bando Junjiro, Bando Hirokaori. (Photo by Tomoyuki Yoshino)

Kisen: An amusing, fictionalized story about the famous poet, Kisen Hoshi, who visits a tea house in Kyoto and is attracted to the hostess there.

From left: Bando Hidesomi and Bando Wakatsuye as monks, and Bando Mitsugoro X as Kisen. (Photo by Tomoyuki Yoshino)

Tsuri Onna: A comical dance drama of a lord who uses a fishing pole to catch a beautiful young maiden, and his servant who tries the same and catches, instead, an ugly woman.

From left: Bando Wakatsuye as Lord, Bando Hidesomi as Noble Woman, Bando Hiromasaya as Servant Tarokaja, and Bando Mitsuhiro as Ugly Woman. (Photo by Tomoyuki Yoshino)

Renowned Kabuki actor and Headmaster of the Bando School of Japan, Bando Mitsugoro X (Photo courtesy of Bando Kai) will lead about 25 artists from Japan to perform a charity show in Los Angeles onSunday, June 11.

In his June 11th appearance in Little Tokyo, Bando Mitsugoro X will perform the multi roles in “Ryusei” (top) and the title role in “Kisen” (bottom) (Photo courtesy of Bando Kai)      

Kabuki Dance of Bando School to be performed in Los Angeles, Jun. 11, 2006

Cultural News, May 2006

  In a rare Los Angeles appearance, Bando Mitsugoro X, a renown Kabuki actor and Headmaster of the Bando School in Japan, will be performing in two shows at the Aratani Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo on Sunday, June 11 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.  His appearance is part of a charity show to benefit the Japanese American community.

  Other celebrated guest artists will include his sister, Bando Hideko, leading dancers Master Bando Mitsujiro and Mme. Bando Katsutomo, and about 25 other performers and staff/stage assistants.

   Three Los Angeles area Bando dance instructors, Mme. Bando Mitsusa, Bando Mitsuhiro, and Bando Wakatsuye, and their protégés (natori and shihan students) will also perform in the programs.

   The afternoon program at 1 p.m. will feature the dances Shoochikubai, Shin Hitotsutoya, Niwakajishi, Yuugaodana, and Ryuusei.  Mitsugoro will perform in Ryuusei which is a dance based on a Chinese fable in which a shooting star comically tells of a domestic quarrel between Father and Mother Thunder, and of the subsequent intervention of Child Thunder and Grandmother. 

  The evening show at 5 p.m. will present Shoochikubai, Sakuraemaki, Tsuri Onna, Omatsuri, and Kisen.  The Headmaster will perform in the role of Kisen, a priest who is traveling through Gion place in Kyoto during the Edo period and who is attracted to the hostess of a tea house.  Hideko will perform in the supporting role of Okaji, and ten natori (dancers with professional stage names) of the three local Bando dance schools will assume the role of the monks.  Mitsugoro performed this number for his shumei or name-taking recital in Tokyo when he was conferred his current title in 2001.

   With both the afternoon and evening programs featuring Mitsugoro and dancers from Japan, audiences are encouraged to attend both shows. Tickets for the Los Angeles Bando Ryu Charity Show are $50 and $40 per show and are available at the box office, 244 S. San Pedro St., Downtown Los Angeles, (213) 680-3700.  Proceeds will benefit Keiro Senior HealthCare.

Kabuki actor Bando Mitsugoro X will perform his fortes: Ryusei and Kisen, Jun.11, 2006

Cultural News, April 2006

     Classical Japanese dance enthusiasts will be treated to a rare Los Angeles appearance of Kabuki actor Master Bando Mitsugoro X in a Bando Dance School charity benefit show which will be presented at the Aratani/Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo on Sunday, June 11.

     In addition to his performances with the Kabuki in Japan, Bando Mitsugoro is the headmaster of the Bando School of Japanese classical dance.  It is unusual for a Kabuki actor to be both a Kabuki performer and a classical dance school headmaster, and Bando Mitsugoro is one of the few such artists in Japan. 

    The three Bando dance teachers in the Greater Los Angeles area, Bando Mitsusa, Bando Mitsuhiro, and Bando Wakatsuye, will host his June 11th appearance in Little Tokyo.

    Bando Mitsugoro will perform in both the afternoon program beginning at 1 p.m., and in the evening show beginning at 5 p.m.  For the earlier show, he has selected the lively and colorful dance, “Ryusei,” based on a Chinese fable which was translated into Japanese and choreographed to the Kiyomoto style of classical music. 

    The dance depicts Ryusei, a shooting star, who comically tells of a domestic quarrel between Father and Mother Thunder, and the intervention of Child Thunder and Grandmother. 

    To aid Ryusei in his narrative, which must be told only through dance movements and facial expressions, he wears different headpieces representing the several characters of his tale.  Audiences will enjoy following the delightful story through Master Mitsugoro’s superb dance movements.

     Those attending the evening program will enjoy a dance called “Kisen.”

In a collection of Japanese imperial anthologies called “Kokin Shu,” 1,100 poems compiled around 905, a number of reputed poems were written by “Six Poetic Geniuses” (Rokkasen) including a monk named Kisen Hoshi.

     The dance “Kisen” is a part of “Rokkasen Sugata no Irodori” kabuki story which adapts the name of “Rokkasen” from “Kokin Shu.”  

     The dance is recognized as a very challenging one that today only the most experienced Kabuki dancers will perform.  Bando Mitsugoro X performed this piece for his “shumei” or name-taking recital in Tokyo when he was conferred his current title in 2001. 

     His sister, Bando Hideko also from Japan, will perform the supporting role of Okaji, and ten natori (dancers with professional stage names) of the three local Bando dance schools will assume the role of the monks.  

    The dance depicts the priest Kisen who is traveling through Gion during the Edo period.  Kisen is attracted to a hostess of a teahouse and when he expresses interest in her, she responds through dance.  The tone of the dance is comical, stylish, and aesthetically appealing, and will enthrall theatergoers as well.

    Tickets are $50 and $40 per show and are available through the theatre box office at 244 S. San Pedro Street, Downtown Los Angeles, (213) 680-3700, or by calling (310) 539-8636.  Proceeds will benefit the Keiro Senior HealthCare program.

Kabuki actor Bando Mitsugoro X will come to Los Angeles, Jun. 11, 2006

Cultural News, March 2006

     In what will be a colorful display of costuming, makeup, props, and aesthetic grace, the Bando School of Japanese Classical Dance will present a charity show on Sunday, June 11, at the Aratani/Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo. 

    The three local Bando dance teachers of Los Angeles will be hosting the renowned Kabuki actor and Headmaster of the Bando School of Japan, Bando Mitsugoro X, in his very rare appearance on foreign travel without his Kabuki Troupe.

    He will be accompanied by about 25 Japanese guest artists who will include dancers, stage assistants, and staff members in a show that will benefit the Keiro Senior Healthcare programs.  In addition to the Japanese guests, local performers will include approximately 30 members of the three studios of Bando Mitsusa Kai, Bando Mitsuhiro Kai, and Bando Wakatsuye Kai.

    The idea for a charity show benefiting an organization serving the needs of the Japanese American community was a vision that began in Japan with the late Headmaster Bando Mitsugoro VIII.  This vision was being pursued by his successor, the late Headmaster Bando Mitsugoro IX, until his premature death prevented the fulfillment of that dream.  Now, his son carries that vision to the Los Angeles stage.

    The featured guest artist, Headmaster Bando Mitsugoro X, was born into the world of Kabuki and dance.  His father was the late Headmaster Bando Mitsugoro IX, and his grandfather was the late Headmaster Bando Mitsugoro VIII who was designated a Living National Treasure by the Japanese government.

    Mitsugoro X’s earliest recollections are of fond memories associated with the Japanese theatre.  Whenever he played, he entertained himself by using dance props such as a fan or sword to imitate dance poses, so much so that he surprised even his parents.  He feels that perhaps the most significant moment was when his grandfather Mitsugoro VIII carried him onto the Kabuki stage when he was 16 months old.  For it seems that since then, his soul became a part of the Kabuki world of acting and dancing.  

   The upcoming charity show will provide a glimpse into the beautiful world of Japanese classical dance through a program headlining one of the top Kabuki actors in Japan today.

   There will be two programs, 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.  Tickets are $50 for each program and will be available in March.  For further information, call (310) 539-8636.