Snopsis
With brand new scenes added, there are lots to look forward to in our upgraded 2022 production!
Theme
The theme of Grandscape Hamanako @ Kanzanji is the relationship between nature and people. The people of a quiet village in Tōtōmi face various threats from nature like drought, floods, and fires. How did people without science or technology overcome such hardships in the past? And now, in the face of this new pandemic, what strengths do we need to move forward? This work addresses these questions using the rituals and folklore of the Lake Hamana region. Enjoy a performance that makes the most of the beauty of the outdoor setting, with flames and light effects that play off the water's surface, and a stage floating on the lake.
Photo: Hamamatsu Hamanako Tourism Bureau
Story
The setting is a village in Tōtōmi. The story begins with a scene in the tranquil countryside in spring.
Scene One:
People in the village are enjoying the breath of spring. They are hard at work on their farms. But, as the season progresses, a drought causes the ears of rice to wither, and the villagers are at their wits' end.
Village in Tōtōmi
(Spring in the Okusa Mountains)
Scene Two:
Prayers for Rain
Hearing the villagers' pessimistic voices, Ichikishimahime-no-mikoto (a goddess of water in Japanese mythology) emerges from the Inohashiko Shrine and dances to pray for rain. Then, drops of rain begin to fall.
Scene Three: Joy
With the blessed rain, the villagers eagerly throw themselves once again into their farm work.
Scene Four: The Flood
Suddenly, evil water nymphs play tricks on the villagers, causing a flood. Rain that was supposed to be a blessing turns into something violent that overwhelms the village.
Scene Five:
The Harvest Festival
The floodwaters subside and a quiet morning arrives. While the village lost much to the currents, the floods also brought fertile land. Villagers enjoy the rich autumn harvest.
Scene Six: Winter in Tōtōmi
Harsh cold weather arrives in the village in Tōtōmi. Food stocks run low, and the villagers are freezing. The warmth from fires brings them momentary peace of mind.
Scene Seven: The Fire
While the people are napping, flames from a bonfire spread to a dry hut and quickly start a fire. Villagers flee from the flames.
Scene Eight:
Putting Out the Fire
Mountain priests from Kanzanji on Mt. Akiha come to the aid of the village being consumed by flames.
Their prayers stop the fire.
Scene Nine: Separation
Time passes, and the setting changes to a modern-day office.
With corporate culture that prioritizes profits and efficiency, people have lost their individuality and have become fragmented and alienated. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic strikes.
People are suddenly forced to suspend their everyday lives.
Scene Ten:
Working Together
The world has frozen completely and come to a halt.
Will we be able to move forward again?
