Kanami

For the webcomic see Kanami (webcomic).

Kan'ami (観阿弥, 觀阿彌) was a Japanese noh actor, author, and musician during the Muromachi period. full name:Kan'ami Kiyotsugu (観阿弥清次), original name:Yūzaki Kiyotsugu (結崎清次), pseudonames: Miyomaru, Kanze Kiyotsugu (観世清次)

born: 1333 in Iga Province
died: 8 June 1384 in Suruga Province

Kan'ami's career began in Obata when he founded a Sarugaku theater group. (Sarugaku: a then popular type of drama that involved tricks, acrobatics, and slapstick) The troup moved to Yamato and formed the Yuzaki theater company, which would eventually become the school of noh theater. He grew in popularity and began making trips to Kyoto to give performances. At one such instance in 1374 the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was in the audience and was so impressed that he became his patron.

Kan'ami was the first playwright to incorporate the Kusemai song and dance style and Dengaku dances (from rustic harvest celebrations). He trained his son, Zeami Motokiyo in his style and he eventually succeeded him as the director of the Kanze school of noh.

Outstanding works

Komachi
Ji'nen koji
Shiino shōshō
Matzukaze
Eguchi

References

Encyclopædia Britannica 2005 Ultimate Reference Suite DVD, article- "Kan'ami"

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