The opera "Shotoku Taishi" (3)

 

The first act began with a battle scene, followed by a story of the politics of power centered around aristocratic politician Soga no Umako performed by Ryoichi Shimizu. Prince Shotoku found the situation wrong and revealed his resolution to create an ideal nation based on respect for Buddha and order, to his wife Tojiko no Iratsume, performed by soprano Hiroko Onuki, and Hata no Kawakatsu, performed by baritone Koya Muramatsu.

 

The second act illustrated how the prince put in place various policies based on the principles of equality, peace and global perspective under the rule of Empress Suiko.

The prince declares to Tojiko, “I have a dream. I want to make this country warless and peaceful.”

It also shows how Soga no Umako began to see the prince as a political rival and a threat, and how Tojiko, a daughter of Soga no Umako, was torn between her father and her husband.

 

The third act portrayed how the prince is grieving the loss of his wife and suffering from a loss of confidence when he receives salvation from Guze Kannon, a deity of mercy, and encouragement from his supporters. The Kannon performed a noh dance together with Prince Shotoku. Finally, in the climax, the prince renews his commitment to making an ideal nation with greater confidence and strength…

 

The performance ended with warm applause from the audience, and the applause never seemed to stop.

 

Dr.Handa left a comment in the program saying that this opera is asking the people of today’s Japan how they should respond to the message left by Prince Shotoku 1400 years ago at a time when a globalized Japan is facing numerous challenges.    

                 The climax scene of the opera 

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The opera "Shotoku Taishi" (2)

 

The opera incorporated not only ballet but also noh performances to make entire work deeper and more elegant. The performances were directed and choreographed by Tokyo City Ballet Director Nobuyoshi Nakajima and Manjiro Tatsumi, a noh performer of Hosho school. The music was composed by three people including Tomiko Kojiba, and it was beautifully played by the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra.  

 

Dr.Handa said, “We wanted to take a fresh look at Prince Shotoku without deifying him and as a realistic human being who held onto his ideals despite various sufferings and setbacks.” This perspective was even more remarkable for this year’s performance. Major revisions was made to the original script to make it more historically accurate yet dynamic, with more focus on the prince’s Buddhist side. For this reason, Hata no Kawakatsu, who is believed to have been a close secretary to the prince, was inserted into the new script. The music was renewed well with the addition of arias and duets.

　　Tojiko no Iratsume, played by Hiroko Onuki (right), and Prince Shotoku, played by Toshu Fukami

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The opera "Shotoku Taishi" (1)

 

 The TAF (the Tokyo Art Foundation) held an opera “Shotoku Taishi”(“Prince Shotoku”) at the National Theatre in Tokyo on September 16 and 18. The performance was hosted by TAF in cooperation with the IFAC(The International Foundation for Art and Culture).

 The “Shotoku Taishi” was first performed in 2002, and it was the second performance for the first time in two decades to commemorate the 1400^th year since the death of Prince Shotoku.

 Shotoku, also known as Prince Umayado, was a legendary regent of the Asuka Period (552-645). He is well known to have contributed to establishing the nation’s social system and spreading Buddhism in Japan. The opera dramatized an important part of his life when he decided to dedicate himself to the creation of an ideal nation.

 The role of Shotoku Taishi was plaed by Toshu Fukami, also known as Dr.Haruhisa Handa who is an operatic baritone, philanthropist, business leader, calligrapher, painter and noh performer. He was also the chief producer of the entire event.

Hata no Kawakatsu, played by Koya Muramatsu (left), and Prince Shotoku, played by Toshu Fukami

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The 6th Global Opinion Leaders Summit (6)

  The second panel's main issue was the nationalism. Former Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key provided a comment on the issue, joined by panelists including Badr, professor Kazuto Suzuki of the University of Tokyo, Ito and House of Representatives member Keichiro Asao. 

  The focus of the final panel of the day was on Japan's role in global peace and security efforts, featuring the opinions of Rae and Morrison, and including the expertise of Chiaki Akimoto, associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Securityy Studies, House of Councilors member Rui Matsukawa, Kiuchi and Dr.Handa.

  Finally, Dr.Handa closed the sessions, thanking all the speakers for their insight. He pointed out the importence of plotting a clear path for Japan's future, and the need to balance influence from countries such as the United States, and bolster democracy throughout the world. 

  Former Taoiseach of Ireland Enda Kenny (left), former Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper (second from left), former Ukraine Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron pose at the summit. 

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The 6th Global Opinion Leaders Summit (5)

   The next day, the WSD and JRIF held a special symposium for a select audience of 200 people at the Hotel New Otani, Tokyo. The discussions centered on one of the greatest global issues today, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its far-reaching consequences.

  Yulia Timoshenko, Ukraine's former Prime Minister started her speech by thanking Japan and its people for the steadfast support and outpouring of generosity toward her country. She mentioned how Japan and South Korea's Invasion stand out in Asia, sternly noting, "It is a great puzzlement to us in Ukraine to see many Asian leaders averting their eyes from the fact that Russia invaded our country, and that many of them even embrace the propaganda...of the invader. Russia's war on Ukraine...is a war of aggression, a war for territorial conquest aimed against all countries of the free world."

  Harper, Nemyria, the University of Tsukuba's Higashino, Dr.Handa and People's Deputy of Ukraine Serhiy Vlasenko took part in the symposium. 

     Former Ukraine Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko thanks Japan on July 29 for supporting Ukraine. 

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The 6th Global Opinion Leaders Summit (4)

  The final discussion of the day focused on a theme dear to Abe's heart, that is, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, a strategic cooperation pact comprising Australia, India, Japan and the United States. The main speaker was former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and panelists were First Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Ukraine Hryhoriy Nemyria, professor Atsuko Higashino of the University of Tsukuba and Meiji University's Ito.

  Morrison noted that when facing pressure from the People's Republic of China, the Indo-Pacific region "must not embrace the path of acquiescence in the face of coercion. Rather we must practically insist on engagement whthin the clear and established rules, with accountability and transparency."

  Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland Enda Kenny closed the sessions, and Dr.Handa made the final remarks, cracking a few clever jokes to lighten the mood after the serious discussions of the day.

The 6th Global Opinion Leaders Summit (3)

  The second panel was led by David Cameron, former prime minister of the United Kingdom. He expressed his condolences on the shocking passing away of Abe and reminded attendees through a quote from the same that, even with the serious challenges the world is facing, "hope is the most important factor for growth."

  The discussion ranged across the many issues facing Indo-Pacific region, such as globalization and populism and Putin's increased aggression. It benefited from the insights of the luxurious cast, including Ukraine's former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko, former Ambassadors to Japan Hisham Badr of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Ireland's Brendan Scannell. 

Cameron expresses his condolences on the assassination of Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. 

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