Noh Prose: 'From Beyond to Beyond'

Kaori Hanamaki

Illuminated by the bonfire,

lost, I dissolve into the gap between.

My breath is gentle,
the dance dissolves the pain.

Surrendering to the calm,
silence reaches out its hand before I know it.

I open my fan like a picture scroll,
at the same time, I begin to open your door.

The red flame illuminates the black waves,
I can see it forming a bridge.

Hesitation is lost, the wind is alive,
I have stitched together fragments of robes in the distance.

Please breathe with me,
yes, slowly drawing closer.

We overlap, I am you, you are me.

As a farewell gift to you, I will join my hands with yours.

Did a transparent robe arrive from the heavens?
Do not hesitate to receive it,
we become one.

Yes, the sunset begins to fall into the waves,
at last, I took your hand.

How warm you are,
how quiet you are,
a texture like silk.

My breath also gradually deepens,
sinking into the deep sea.

Even though the dance ascends to the heavens,
there is no suffering at all.

You knew, didn't you?
You knew we would meet,
no, you can see it, can't you?

Even if I reach out my hand as far as I can,
I cannot reach you,
but it is important that there is no need to.

Now we are already one,
for a brief moment, I feel you.

The wind, the sea, and the feathered robe have fulfilled their roles,
the bonfire has granted infinity.

Oh, pure soul,

relying on the bridge over the waves,
let us walk forward together.

Now, the time has come,
our scenery reflects in each other's eyes, colors bleeding into relief.

I am you, you are me,
to a place of endless silence,
to a sacred moment, we entwine our hands.

Until the silk unravels, at the mercy of love.

(End)

—In memory of Hélène Giuglaris, a French dancer who was deeply captivated by the Noh play 'Hagoromo' and passed away at the young age of 35 while dreaming of Miho no Matsubara, the setting of the play—

☆This work is a reconstruction of a piece created for the opening ceremony of 'Shizuoka x Cannes Week 2023'.
*Copyright belongs to Kaori Hanamaki.
*Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution is prohibited.