ところで、今回上演された「新皿屋舗月雨暈―魚屋宗五郎―」のような歌舞伎の世話物では、江戸時代の風俗や生活の様子がリアルに描かれています。 
中村梅枝さん演じる宗五郎の女房おはまの衣裳にも、当時の町人の女房の装いが感じられ、興味深く観劇しました。 歌舞伎では、お姫様や武家の女房、御殿女中などが色鮮やかな絹物を着ているのに対し、 おはまのきものは木綿。汚れの目立たない地味な色の縞や格子を着ています。 そして、特に汚れやすい衿の部分は、黒い布をかけています。 現代の私たちもきものを着る際には半衿をつけ、汚れたら襟だけを外して手入れをしたり、色や刺繍が美しい半衿、伊達衿を楽しむこともありますが、江戸の庶民の生活の知恵から生まれた実用的な衿元スタイルにも、ぜひご注目ください。 今月の「外国人のための歌舞伎鑑賞教室」は1日限りの開催でしたが、 6月の「歌舞伎鑑賞教室」は2016年6月24日（金）まで、 7月3日（日）～24日（日）には「歌舞伎鑑賞教室」7月公演として中村魁春さん、坂東彌十郎さん他出演の「卅三間堂棟由来(さんじゅうさんげんどうむなぎのゆらい)」が行われます。 ●「国立劇場」公式サイトURL：http://www.ntj.jac.go.jp/schedule/kokuritsu_l/2016/286100.html
Bettyokoジュエリージャーナリストとして活躍する傍ら、歌舞伎、文楽、バレエをはじめ観劇ライフを満喫中のBettyと、米国・ヒューストンでの生活経験を生かし、日本文化を海外に伝える活動をしているYokoによるユニット。
https://www.instagram.com/bettyoko.kbk/ Go to the Theater in Kimonos vol.8
"Discover KABUKI' at the National TheatreI joined the "Discover KABUKI" held at the Large Theatre of the National Theatre on June 17th. The theatre was filled with the audience of various generations and countries, making the atmosphere passionate and quite different from the usual Kabuki. When the curtain opened Ayako Kisa, the free announcer, and Nakamura Mantaro, the Kabuki actor, came on the stage, and they held a guide, "how to appreciate Kabuki" to the audience in both English and Japanese on this day. In the guidance, the audience seemed very interested in the unique Kabuki specialties like a Tsuke(making sound with wooden clapper), Mie(Kabuki movement like a stop motion) and costumes and demonstrations of sword fighting. Two Spanish guests were picked up and sent to the stage as the representatives of the audience, and experienced some of them in front of the audience. Hearing them say "amazing!" made me feel proud of being a Japanese person. Part II followed the guidance, and "Shin Sarayashiki Tsuki no Amagasa-Sakana-ya Sogoro-" was played. The audience was provided with the audio guide narration in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean for a free rental fee and showed the English commentary above the stage, too. Sogoro, the main character of the play, swore not to drink because he had a lot of trouble with alcohol. But he broke his pledge as he learned that the feudal lord killed his younger sister on a false accusation, and he gradually got drunk... Sogoro, played by Nakamura Hashinosuke, stole the eyes of the people around him and rushed to drink the sake many times. The scene of Sogoro getting drunk seems to be funny to people all around the world. The whole audience of various generations from many countries laughed at the scene. The number of foreigners visiting Japan for business or sightseeing, being interested in Japanese culture will get larger and larger. I hope such a special guidance and performance of Kabuki for foreigners will be held regularly, and spread more in this country. In the Sewamono (a kind of the Kabuki play), such as "Shin Sarayashiki Tsuki no Amagasa-Sakana-ya Sogoro-" played this time, we can learn the reality of the people in the Edo period. Ohama, the wife of Sogoro (played by Nakamura Baishi), wore the kimono of the town people in the times and it was very interesting. In Kabuki, the princesses, wives of samurais, and maidservants in the palace wore the colorful silk kimonos. On the other hand, Ohama's kimono was made by cotton and sober color in order to camouflage the stains. The collar especially is covered with a black cloth because it gets dirty very easily. Today we put the Han-eri (cover of the kimono collar) so we can remove and wash it when it gets dirt. We can also enjoy changing it to a beautifully colored one or an elegantly embroidered one. Please pay attention to the practical kimono collar styles, which were devised in the town life by the people in the Edo period. "Discover KABUKI" was only held once this month, but Kabuki performance for beginners is now playing until June 24th. July Kabuki for the beginners "Sanju Sangendo Munagi no Yurai" will be playing from July 3rd to July 24th. Nakmura Kaishun, Bando Yajuro and other Kabuki actors will perform as well. For more information visit
The unit of Betty and YokoBetty; jewelry journalist, enjoys watching stages of Kabuki, Bunraku, Balllet, and so on. Yoko; lived in the U.S.A for 10 years. Loves to introduce Japanese culture to abroad.
https://www.instagram.com/bettyoko.kbk/ 
