A man of iron

Many Japanese join clubs to take lessons in traditional Japanese cultures.
They're the tea ceremony, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, haiku and so on. And many groups and clubs hold their recitals or exhibitions in autumn in Japan. I was invited to a recital. The recital will be held at the Noh theater. It is in the new hotel near the Shibuya station. Though I was interested in it, I was going to refuse the invitation.

I've been to this kind of recitals before. Countless.
Usually, a Noh play isn't presented in this kind of recitals.
Some pupils recite an utai that is a chanting of a Noh drama text and some pupils performed shimai which is a Noh dance performed out of costume and accompanied only by the chorus. They are not whole stories but highlights of the stories.
Probably, people who are experts in Noh can enjoy them but I cannot. Shimai is a sort of dance. So I can endure because watching a person who is moving is not boring. But in case of utai, if the performer is unskillful, I have no choice but sleep.
I like Noh costumes. They are gorgeous and really suit for each Noh story. I can see Japanese original color in them and the combination is fantastic. I can also enjoy beautiful colors in pupils' kimono. But it cannot be the reason to go there for me.
That's why I was going to refuse the invitation. But when I heard about the dinner party after the recital, I changed my mind.

The party will be held at the Chinese restaurant. Its chef is 陳健一, called "a man of iron" in Japan. Wow!
And my mother said to me,
"If you want to join us, I will ask our master. Because there are many pupils in our club, you will be inconspicuous. No problem."
I decided to go the recital.
( To be continued.)