“気楽会の習いに行くぜ”　★　『唐桑・神止り七福神を習う』　＠公民館　14-18

“Kirakukai’s We’re Gonna Go Learn” ★ “Karakuwa and Learning the Kadomari ShichiFukujin” at the Community Center 14th-18th

今回も、大変面白く有意義だった。気仙沼の「気楽会観光案内課」　http://kirakukai-tour.net/hitomeguri/home.html　と「習いに行くぜ!東北へ!!」の合体企画、「気楽会の習いに行くぜ!!」。

This project was also very interesting and meaningful. “Kirakukai’s We’re Gonna Go Learn,” a joint project between “We’re Gonna Go Learn in Tohoku” and Kesennuma’s “Kirakukai’s Tour Guide Division”

本日は、気仙沼市唐桑の”神止まり（かどまり）七福神舞”を習う。

Today we will learn Karakuwa, Kesennuma City’s “Kadomari Shichifukujin Dance.”

この”七福神舞”は、66年続いている。代表の小野寺やへ子さんが、10代の時に始めて66年！！他の方も二十歳前に始めて50云年とかみんなかなりのキャリア。唐桑地区は遠洋漁業の漁師さんが沢山住んでいるところで、その奥様達が、漁の安全や旦那様が無事に戻ってくるようにという思いを込めて、この七福神舞が続いている。1年間で99ステージやったこともあるぐらい人気の団体である。来年2月は、東京新国立劇場にも出演するそうな。

This “Shichifukujin dance” has been continued for 66 years. The representative Yaheko Konotera started it in her teens and has been dancing for 66 years!! Other dancers also started before they were 20-years-old and have been passing it down for 50 years- everyone has quite a long career. The Karakuwa region is a place where many deep-sea fishermen live, and their wives have been continuing this Shichifukujin dance, performing it with their wishes for safety in fishing and for their husbands to make it back safely. This is a group so popular that they had about 99 performances in one year. It seems like they will also perform at the New National Theater in Tokyo in February of next year.

今回の参加者は、セシリア、生島翔、ＪＣＤＮ北本に加え、気楽会から道有さん、さゆみさんはじめ6人、京都から野口まどかさん、仙台から久しぶりの千田祥子さん、ＪＣＤＮからこの2日間参加の神前と千代、など大人数となる。「七福神」それぞれに1-2名の参加者が付き、個人レッスン。

There is a large number of participants this time, with JCDN’s Ms. Kousaki and Ms. Chishiro participating for the two days, and Sachiko Senda from Sendai (whom we haven’t seen for a long time), Madoka Noguchi from Kyoto, 6 people from Kirakukai including Michiari and Sayumi, and with JCDN’s Kitamoto, Sho Ikushima and Cecilia. 1-2 participants get together with each person from “Shichifukujin” and have a private lesson.

これまでメンバー以外には教えたことがないので、うまく教えられるかなと、初めはおっしゃっていたが、いざ始めてみると、教え方がうまいうまい。ポイントを的確に伝えてくれる。おかしい、おかしい、みんな面白い。メイクしたらなお面白い。

Since they have never taught anyone besides other members until now, they were uncertain at first if they could teach it well, but once we get started we see they are really good at teaching. They get the points across precisely. Ridiculous, ridiculous- everyone is hilarious. When we put on the makeup, it is funny.

最後みんなで「七福神」の歌を習い、合唱。一本締めでしめる。

At the end everyone sings “Shichifukujin” together. We finish with a single clap.

JCDN 佐東
JCDN Sato