your heels and move very slowly. I received a firm “No, no,” after tripping over my own feet trying to turn around. I tried blaming the stumble on my very limited visibility, but the actress simply replied, “You must root yourself firmly; become one with the stage.” “In such a fast-paced world, sometimes it’s good to slow down,” expressed another of the actresses. While I agree with the sentiment, I’d like to suggest an additional theory for why Noh actors walk so slow— they can hardly see out of those masks! Sado island still offers Noh performances for free (or a very nominal fee) from April to November. The Sado Tourism Association website has a full list of dates and locations if you ever want to see this strange and beautiful form of theater for yourself.
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Kimberly Fitzgerald is in her third-year in Japan and has loved every minute of it. She enjoys hiking and exploring everything Japan and Niigata have to offer. When not planning her next trip or trying to recreate that one thing she ate at that one restaurant, she enjoys annoying her friends and neighbors with her endless questions. She hopes that her articles answer some questions you might have had yourself, or inspire you to get out and explore Niigata. Sources: (1) https://bit.ly/2Y1JUxP (2) https://bit.ly/2XPLmn7
Photos: Sado Tourism Association | 47
