Hosho fights on at helm of noh school

[yuiyoshida]

By Junichiro Shiozaki / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

He is the leader and driving force of the Hosho School of noh. And it is his fighting spirit that drives him on.

While Japanese performing arts can be seen as a stage to inspire one’s inner self, Hosho Kazufusa, the young iemoto (grand master) of one of the five main shite schools, perceives it quite differently. He takes it as an opportunity to challenge his counterparts, and that way of thinking suits him best.

“Despite hard coaching, I wouldn’t let myself be crushed,” Hosho recalled of the days when his mentors — not including his father — would give him lessons. He was grateful for their advice, but there were many occasions he did not agree with them.

“Of course I had a lot of respect for them,” Hosho said. “But to aspire you had to give more. I really worked hard to acquire their techniques while secretly challenging them.”

Hosho, who made his debut as the main character, or shite, in the play “Iwafune” in 1995, said he sticks even more doggedly to his school’s style whenever he performs at events where actors from other schools are also appearing.

http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002918843