Kabuki Plus
“Did you hear, did you hear?”
The young monks have a humorous dialogue in the style of Kyogen comedy with the repeated words, “Did you hear, did you hear?” They are effectively narrators serving to explain the situation at the show’s opening. The same line is uttered by monks in another Kabuki play, Kyoganoko Musume Dojoji. (The Maiden at Dojoji Temple)
Mime
notable!Characters sometimes tell a story through various gestures in addition to dialogue. In Narukami, the princess uses mime to tell a supposed love story about her late husband. The key is how she seduces the monk with gestures that are subtly captivating without being coarse. This contrasts with the exaggerated aragoto action in the subsequent scene and is one of the show’s highlights.
Hashiramaki
notable!A mie pose in which the character wraps both hands and one leg around a pillar. In Noh, there is a similar pose in Dojoji, representing a strong obsession. Narukami shows his anger at his betrayal by the princess with his pose as well as a “Fudo” mie.
Tossed doll
Also known as “torso doll”. A life-sized figure used to represent humans in fighting scenes. They are used in Narukami as pupils trying to stop the monk, who tosses them around the stage.
