Uendo Toneido (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
whirluendo_of_puns) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
melodiesofeternity2019-02-26 06:22 pm
whirluendo_of_puns) wrote in melodiesofeternity2019-02-26 06:22 pm
Entry tags:
[Open] Who wants to learn about rakugo?
Who: Uendo, open
When: February 25
Where: Arito
What: It's Otherworlder Culture Day, a local festival where the scholars of Min'To gather to learn about the cultures of past otherworlders! Uendo is there to share his rakugo; anyone is free to come watch, and perhaps you can share something from your own world while you're there?
Warnings/Notes: Whatever people bring with them
Only two weeks left until Bahamut's summoning. Uendo knows he should be out there, doing something to prepare himself for the upcoming battle -- but even after this entire past year in Vaikuntha, he's still not a fighter. He's not the detective type either, no matter how much he likes his crime shows. What could he possibly do to find the summoner that someone hasn't already tried?
So, he's helping in the one way he knows how.
"Thank you for coming! My name is Uendo Toneido. I'd like to introduce everyone here to rakugo, an art of comedic storytelling from my homeworld!"
The scholars have helpfully provided him with a stage and a cushion to sit on. The venue is fairly small, just as he was hoping. Being able to make eye contact with every audience member makes a huge difference in creating a warm atmosphere.
"The easiest way to explain rakugo might be by comparing it to a one-man stage play... though I've heard it called sit-down comedy as well. A rakugo artist acts out a story without leaving his cushion, with only a fan..." He holds up a paper fan, as well as a small linen towel, "...and a towel, called a tenugui, to use as props. I'm going to ask you all to help me out by stretching your imagination to its limits, okay? This way, a simple fan can become anything: a pipe... a pair of chopsticks... a ladle... a sword..."
He rests the fan on his hip like a hilt of a sword, and swings. Some of the audience members in the front row instinctively jerk back.
"Perfect, you got it already! Now, the tales of the rakugo tradition go back hundreds of years, to the Edo period of Japan. We're not talking about myths or legendary heroes here; rakugo is about the everyday lives of ordinary people, the good and the bad. You could call it a window to the past... though, looking through it, you'll find people were just as easily amused by poop jokes and puns then as they are now, so that can take the shine off the nostalgia a bit."
There are a few good-natured chuckles around the room.
"Usually, I don't pick out a story until I'm already on the stage and see what the audience is looking for. Which can be a bit of a pickle when the audience has no expectations! For my demonstration today, I'll go with the easy answer and look to recent events for help, so... How about that Valentine's Day?"
Uendo shrugs his haori off, continuing to chat conversationally.
"It's easy to get caught up in the idea of a whirlwind romance and trying to impress your girl with pricy gifts. Once the honeymoon glow wears off though? Making a relationship last takes a lot of hard work. Today's story is about a fishmonger and his wife who live near a riverbank in Shibahama. The fishmonger, named Kuma, has a good eye for fish, but is sadly something of a lush. He skips out on work and drinks from dawn to dusk, much to his wife's chagrin. One day, she manages to pester him into leaving the house..."
He shifts a bit on the cushion and, with merely a change in body language, begins acting out the story. The scenery is painted by miming each movement, by directing the gaze, as though he's truly on a riverbank and not the stage. The fan becomes a smoking pipe, the towel becomes a purse. The way he switches effortlessly between the fishmonger and the wife... It's like he's a different person.
The story, despite its comedic moments, turns quite emotional. Uendo is in tears by the end, voice cracking with feeling. There are a few moist eyes in the audience, too.
"Actually, though... I'd better not." He places an imaginary sake cup back on the floor and smiles tenderly through his tears. "I wouldn't want this to become just another dream."
He bows, and the audience breaks into an applause. It may not be a standing ovation, but... It looks like everyone had fun.
[OOC: You can respond to Uendo's performance, but you can also use this log to write up something your character wants to share at the festival if you'd like!]
When: February 25
Where: Arito
What: It's Otherworlder Culture Day, a local festival where the scholars of Min'To gather to learn about the cultures of past otherworlders! Uendo is there to share his rakugo; anyone is free to come watch, and perhaps you can share something from your own world while you're there?
Warnings/Notes: Whatever people bring with them
Only two weeks left until Bahamut's summoning. Uendo knows he should be out there, doing something to prepare himself for the upcoming battle -- but even after this entire past year in Vaikuntha, he's still not a fighter. He's not the detective type either, no matter how much he likes his crime shows. What could he possibly do to find the summoner that someone hasn't already tried?
So, he's helping in the one way he knows how.
"Thank you for coming! My name is Uendo Toneido. I'd like to introduce everyone here to rakugo, an art of comedic storytelling from my homeworld!"
The scholars have helpfully provided him with a stage and a cushion to sit on. The venue is fairly small, just as he was hoping. Being able to make eye contact with every audience member makes a huge difference in creating a warm atmosphere.
"The easiest way to explain rakugo might be by comparing it to a one-man stage play... though I've heard it called sit-down comedy as well. A rakugo artist acts out a story without leaving his cushion, with only a fan..." He holds up a paper fan, as well as a small linen towel, "...and a towel, called a tenugui, to use as props. I'm going to ask you all to help me out by stretching your imagination to its limits, okay? This way, a simple fan can become anything: a pipe... a pair of chopsticks... a ladle... a sword..."
He rests the fan on his hip like a hilt of a sword, and swings. Some of the audience members in the front row instinctively jerk back.
"Perfect, you got it already! Now, the tales of the rakugo tradition go back hundreds of years, to the Edo period of Japan. We're not talking about myths or legendary heroes here; rakugo is about the everyday lives of ordinary people, the good and the bad. You could call it a window to the past... though, looking through it, you'll find people were just as easily amused by poop jokes and puns then as they are now, so that can take the shine off the nostalgia a bit."
There are a few good-natured chuckles around the room.
"Usually, I don't pick out a story until I'm already on the stage and see what the audience is looking for. Which can be a bit of a pickle when the audience has no expectations! For my demonstration today, I'll go with the easy answer and look to recent events for help, so... How about that Valentine's Day?"
Uendo shrugs his haori off, continuing to chat conversationally.
"It's easy to get caught up in the idea of a whirlwind romance and trying to impress your girl with pricy gifts. Once the honeymoon glow wears off though? Making a relationship last takes a lot of hard work. Today's story is about a fishmonger and his wife who live near a riverbank in Shibahama. The fishmonger, named Kuma, has a good eye for fish, but is sadly something of a lush. He skips out on work and drinks from dawn to dusk, much to his wife's chagrin. One day, she manages to pester him into leaving the house..."
He shifts a bit on the cushion and, with merely a change in body language, begins acting out the story. The scenery is painted by miming each movement, by directing the gaze, as though he's truly on a riverbank and not the stage. The fan becomes a smoking pipe, the towel becomes a purse. The way he switches effortlessly between the fishmonger and the wife... It's like he's a different person.
The story, despite its comedic moments, turns quite emotional. Uendo is in tears by the end, voice cracking with feeling. There are a few moist eyes in the audience, too.
"Actually, though... I'd better not." He places an imaginary sake cup back on the floor and smiles tenderly through his tears. "I wouldn't want this to become just another dream."
He bows, and the audience breaks into an applause. It may not be a standing ovation, but... It looks like everyone had fun.
[OOC: You can respond to Uendo's performance, but you can also use this log to write up something your character wants to share at the festival if you'd like!]
no subject
The 'now' involved watching on eagerly as Kenichi's art bloomed again, and her smile grew as she recognised it. As much as they could cause grief, she always appreciated the efforts of all moogles who were appointed as guardians.
"May I ask how you came to know them? Takeshi and Bonnie?"
no subject
While Kenichi went on, Cecil carefully removed the finished painting and placed a fresh paper just to be safe. "As for Bonnie, both she and her hero, Mary Read, decided to come home with Saori in the end. The two heroines became very close during their adventures and Bonnie wanted to learn more from Mary. They've been welcome in my family since then. My kids were especially fond of Bonnie for obvious reasons." He had yet to see a kid turn down the idea of cuddling a flying furry creature that could talk.