Shubukai

Description

Shubukai is a Fujima style Japanese Classical Dance troupe that has been a primary cultural representative in the Japanese American community in Chicago for the past 45 years. We are able to provide traditional costume performances with or without live shamisen(music), conduct cultural demonstrations, and classical and bon odori dance workshops.  

Work Sample

Grandmaster Fujima Shunojo presents an exploration in gender presentation within Japanese Classical Dance. A new choreographic piece, “Trans-figure-ation” , based on the love-suicide play "Umegawa Chubei" , by Chikamatsu Monzaemon. Supported by a grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural and Special Events (DCASE), and support from Asian Improv Arts Midwest. In collaboration with Ozashiki shamisen player Toyoaki Sanjuro and Grandmaster Fujima Yoshinojo. This performance is presented in formal costuming, and live music accompaniment.  

This footage was streamed during the lockdown for our 45th anniversary performance.  Filmed at Ruth Page Center for the Arts, the dancer, Miyumi Aoki, is performing "Shin Fujimusume (Wisteria Maiden, new version) in full make up and costume, with a recorded music track. This performance includes a "quickchange" technique called hikinuki, which is a quick change of costume onstage. (mark 6'25") it also uses several stage props, including a fan, flower stick, and the three tiered red hats.

Time Markers: Chicago's Consulate General of Japan Greeting : 0’00-2’33”
Dance (Members of Shubukai) “Shizuoka Meguri”: 2’34”- 6’20”
This was the inaugural Bon Fest Chicago, performed in Jackson Park's Garden of the Phoenix. Bon Odori is a festival which honors one's ancestors, and brings together the community as they dance in a circle. Due to the pandemic, the festival was streamed, and participants could watch from home and participate. Free lessons were provided (remote virtual lessons) so that everyone could learn the dances. The dances are simple, repetitive, and reflects each neighborhood and their constituents in Japan as well as here in America. We collaborated with the Bon Odori Association of Japan, and the City of Shizuoka Bon Odori Instructors to learn and then teach the dances. Our organization has begun preparations for the 2022 Bon Fest, this time with the anticipation of a live in-person event. 

Each of the work samples serves as a tenant towards what our dance group has been striving to accomplish.  The first work sample, "Trans-figure-ation" addresses gender identity and presentation. The original story is drawn from a Kabuki play, and the event was streamed with an addition of a panel comprised of dancers, musicians, and scholars to discuss the, nuances of the piece. The second work sample is a representation of the traditional form. Full costume and make-up, and presented as it would be in Japan. During performance lectures, time is dedicated to explanations, discussions, and demonstrations to facilitate an appreciation of the cultural and performative differences. The third work sample is a very Japanese-American happening.  The Bon Odori festivals which are celebrated within each community in Japan have their origins from the Buddhist teachings, and actually gained more and more popularity after modern age.  The Japanese-Americans extrapolated the concept and the communities turned to Japanese dance practitioners (folk, classical) to lead and organize the events.  Usually based from a Buddhist temple.  Chicago also had at least two different Bon Odori festivals (organized by the Midwest Buddhist Temple, and the Buddhist temple of Chicago).  Shubukai has started a newer generation of Bon Odori participants, with its inaugural festival happening virtually during the pandemic lockdown.  The samples are snapshots for maintaining and growing our tradition.

History

Founder of the Shubukai Dance Troupe, and artistic director Fujima Shunojo, earned his professional name from Fujima Shusai, and  taught in Tokyo for several years before establishing his dance troupe in Chicago, where he has taught and maintained an active performance schedule.

For over 45 years, Fujima Ryu of Chicago  has maintained its presence in the Japanese American community by performing and supporting various community events throughout the year. For over 20 years, Asian Improv Arts Midwest was the primary collaborator and also helped in part or entirely produce the major cultural presentations of Fujima Ryu of Chicago. Eventually, Fujima Ryu of Chicago became one of the three traditional cultural arts programs within Asian Improv Arts Midwest. The annual student recital has been consistently presented for the last 45 years, and continues to provide a community platform for the presentation of Japanese Classical Dance . Fujima Ryu of Chicago has sustained a community presence in Chicago for the last 45 years.

In October of 2016, in addition to celebrating the 40th anniversary and the inaugural performance of the newest grandmaster, Fujima Yoshinojo, the dance troupe renewed its dedication, and redefined their commitment with the new identity of SHUBUKAI. 

2022 will mark the 46th anniversary of Shubukai and its continued dedication to preserve the aesthetics of the Fujima style, Japanese classical dance.

Artistic Vision

Although we are dedicated to preserving the aesthetic and maintaining the Japanese Classical Dance traditions. The pedagogy and presentation of the works can be adapted to encompass the contemporary application so that it is relevant to present issues in society.  My protege, Yoshinojo Fujima creates works which test and stretch the conventions.  Her neo-classical works (she was one of the main collaborators for the first work sample) demonstrates how the classical form can be adapted and applied to address the contemporary issues of gender presentation, idealization, and identity; in addition to ethnic heritage and identity.

Traditional Folk/Ethnic Artform Statement

The Fujima Style/School of classical dance, was established during Japanese Hoei era (1704-15), occupies the foremost position in Kabuki choreography. It draws from Kabuki and also has origins derived from Noh and Bugaku.  The Fujima School is one of the five main dance schools in Japan and is known for its intricate choreography as well as dancemaking for kabuki theater.  Shubukai is a Japanese Classical Dance troupe that has been a primary cultural representative in the Japanese American community in Chicago for the past 45 years. The performance aesthetics revolve around a classical, or neo-classical foundation, which is proxied by the music, and the style of costuming. The trademark innovation among the eclectic offerings is the hikinuki, it is a quick change of costume that demonstrates its biggest impact when performed on stage, during the performance. The acknowledgement of such a performance reputation attests to Shubukai’s contribution to the cultural awareness that has infused in to the Japanese-American Community through various educational outreach, and community performances.