History of Butoh in Hokkaido
Hokkaido Butoh Festival Artistic Director Hal Tanaka’s Memories
The 4th episode
唯一1人になれる時間といえば、当時山田家で飼っていた白犬を散歩に連れて行く時くらい。
空き地で途方に暮れて犬と共に秋空を見上げていたのは今でも覚えている。
東京にしては青く澄んだ高い空。
The only time I could be alone was when I took the white dog that the Yamada family had at the time for a walk.
I still remember being at a loss in a vacant lot and looking up at the autumn sky with the dog.
The sky was high and clear blue, which was unusual for Tokyo.
そのまま全国ツアーを周り、途中で我々の乗ったトラックが横転して大事故に遭ったり、これがまたよく覚えていないほど激しい日々の連続で、青春の数年間はとにかく舞踏漬け、いつも飢餓状態、ついに舞踏病を患ってしまった。
When we were touring around Japan, every day was turbulent.
The truck we were in was once involved in a serious accident when the driver fell asleep at the wheel and overturned.
I was soaked in Butoh for several years of my youth, always starving, and finally I got Butoh disease.
コップを取ろうと思っても手が寄り道をする。
トイレに行こうと思っても風呂場に行ってしまう。
箸があるのに手を使い食べ物を口に運ばず手がウロウロするなど、”目的のある生活行為自体”に疑問を持ち始める。
これが舞踏病の始まり。
I wanted to pick up a cup, my own hand would take a detour.
I thought of going to the bathroom, somehow I would end up in the bathroom.
I try to eat food with my hands even though I have chopsticks.
But instead of bringing the food to my mouth, my hands wander around.
I begin to question the “purposeful act of living itself.
This is the beginning of Butoh disease.
元から身体能力的なものは部活のおかげで多少の自信はあったが、肉体労働と日々の過酷な稽古により、輪をかけて身体の屈強さが強化されて行き、身体が華奢なもやし少年から大人の筋骨に出来上がっていく過程は嬉しかった。
I was more confident in my physical abilities than before, thanks to my club activities, but my body was getting stronger day by day through physical labor and grueling Butoh practice.
I was happy to see my body change from a slender, skinny boy to a muscular adult.
The Hoppou Butoh ha
photo Masamichi Shisa / 志佐 公道