Kyogen Program organized by the Japanese Consulate at Victoria Memorial, Kolkata 

Saikat Kumar Basu

The Consulate General of Japan in Kolkata organized a Kyogen performance, Japan’s classical form of comedy on February 18, 2024 at the Victoria Memorial Hall. The Kyogen was performed by the Shigeyama Sengoro family, a distinguished Kyogen group that was once patronized by the Kyoto Imperial Palace and was also retained by the feudal lord of Hikone. In the past, three of its former heads have been designated as ‘Living National Treasure’ by the government of Japan.

During the time of the 10th century generation Sengoro, in an effort to remove formalities from Kyogen and thereby make it more enjoyable for the general public, the family started to go outside the theater and performed causally in various places. This time, four members of the Shigeyama Sengoro family namely, Shigeyama Sengoro, Shigeyama Tatsumasa, Shigeyama Toramasa and Iguchi Tatsuya performed the Kyogen in front of around 300 audience. In his speech Consul General of Japan in Kolkata, Mr. NAKAGAWA Koichi, expressed hope that the audience would be more interested with Japan’s culture and help us to foster people to people exchanges between Japan and Kolkata.

(This story has not been edited by News Mania staff and is published from a Media Release)