Kabuki: Tamasaburo is the actor featured here (in 1978) as he rose to fame performing Fuji Musume (translated as “Wisteria Maiden”), a dance that can be traced via woodblock prints back to 1826. In case you don’t know, this gorgeous actor is actually a female impersonator, aka a stunningly beautiful man dressed up as woman. His movements are so hypnotizing, you almost forget to breathe. I could write pages about him and this performance, which was my introduction to Kabuki theatre. I became a huge fan of it and managed to attend his dressing room make-up session and get his signature on a poster a few years later at Japan Society. I owe much to my dear friend Sachiko who guided me to understand the theater medium. More than once I sat glued for 5 hours—straight thru a play without moving—sobbing in my seat because of the utterly elegant and subtle “nuances.” The image is a color xerox onto cotton from a postcard sold at the theatre. I added some text and hair ornaments. The baubles are three silk balls found at Tokyo Quilt Festival one year. I mean someone made these and sold them for a ¥100 a piece. I might not be able to part with this one; could push me to 101.
Amulet Day 87/100
