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OKEIKO 42

One of the basic moves of "go-shūgi-mono", called "hajimari" ("beginning"), looks like the opening of a "gate". It may seem strange that a "gate" suddenly appears in the flow of the dance. This moment, however, does not depict the 'gate' itself, but one could say that the action of opening the gate conveys the image of 'something beginning'.

Another fundamental movement in 'go-sūghi-mono' is the 'kazashi-mawari', where the dancer walks around the stage holding a fan in hand, with sliding steps (suri-ashi). This is said to have the meaning of purifying the stage, and also of resetting the scene during the piece.

At the end of the dance, there is a movement called "tappai”. Depending on the piece, the dancer, the lighting and the viewer's mood at the moment, it may seem as if a pleasant breeze or sparkling grains of light are emanating from the fan. It is a movement that makes one feel happy.

(Mitsuko T. Sakurai)