Yoshino Gongen Noh at Kinpusenji Zaodo
Special Noh Evening Performance Program: Noh "Taniko"

Join the special opening ceremony, typically reserved those close to the temple, and meet the principal Buddha on the night before the special exhibition of the largest hidden Buddha statues in Japan at Kinpusenji Zaodo. These are official National Treasures.
In front of the principal Buddha, we invite living national treasures Bunzo Ohtsuki and Genjiro Okura to perform the Noh play “Taniko,” which expresses the profundity of Shugendo.

Living National Treasure
Bunzo Ohtsuki

(Noh performer; Kanze school Shite-kata performer; President of Ohtsuki Noh Theatre, public-interest incorporated foundation)

Born in 1942 as the eldest son of Hideo Ohtsuki, he lives in Osaka Prefecture.Studied under the late Toshio Kanze, the late Tetsunojo Kanze VIII, his father, and his grandfather, Juzo.Important Intangible Cultural and Artistic Property holder (individually recognized as Living National Treasure). He has been involved in many revivals and new Noh plays such as "Karukaya", "Unoha", "Koremori", and "Shikiji monogurui". He received the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award for Fine Arts in 2000, and many other awards.

Living National Treasure
Genjiro Okura

(Noh performer; the 16th grand master of Okura School of kotsuzumi-kata; Vice president of Nohgaku Performers’ Association, public-interest incorporated association)

Born in 1957 as the second son of the late Chojuro Okura, the 15th grand master of the school, he lives in Tokyo. Studied under his father.Important Intangible Cultural and Artistic Property holder (individually recognized as Living National Treasure). He has produced numerous Noh performances in Japan and abroad so that everyone can see Noh. He also teaches “the Kids’ Higaimoto-za” in Oyodo Town.

Performance Highlights

Taniko is a Shugendo practice to dump into the bottom of a valley, a person having come down with disease during his Mineiri (mountain ascetic practices) to bury him alive. Matsuwaka, the young beloved pupil of an ajari (high priest), is allowed to accompany the ajari to the peak of Katsuragi Mountain to recite healing prayers for his mother’s illness, but he becomes ill from the fatigue of the unfamiliar journey and is taken to the bottom of a valley to be buried alive there. The ajari is deeply saddened and begs that he should be also inflicted Taniko. The other monks feel sorry for him and pray for Matsuwaka to be revived. Then, En no Gyoja, a legendary ascetic, appears and announces that Matsuwaka will be revived due to his filial piety. He commands his messenger, Gigaku Kishin, to rescue Matsuwaka from the depths of the valley and bring him back to life.
Many monks appear in this dramatic and powerful depiction of redemption from deep tragedy. Set in the Katsuragi Mountains of Nara, the play is filled with many interesting aspects, such as a monk's love for his young pupil and the agony of having to obey a code he must follow, and the appearance of En no Gyoja, the legendary founder of Shugendo, and the kishin, a demon-god.

The principal Buddha of the temple, Kongo Zao Daigongen, is said to be Gongen Buddha, who was manifested by En no Gyoja, the founder of the temple. It is a rare opportunity to witness the related performance during the exhibition of the principal Buddha. Reflect on the 1300 years of rich history and create a special connection with us.