On Nou Masks (NOUMEN)


We at KIKKOU have chosen the art medium known as No to serve as one of the symbols representing our services. The imagery associated with No, such as the masks and fans used in performing it, will be periodically used and displayed prominently at our sites. No is an art form that dates from the 14th century. It has its roots in the chaos and fighting of that era, when a class of samurai warriors arose out of the turmoil then evident in the ruling aristocratic circles. These warriors, who had gained power by force of arms, found in No an art medium brimming with a profound, mystical sense of beauty and grace. These were traits that appealed to samurai, who were warriors who otherwise knew nothing else but death, and the pessimism and sadness that it brought about. We too at KIKKOU were attracted to No because of its exquisite combination of serene tranquility, extravagant splendor, as well as the ever-present danger of death that lurks as a motif in many of its performances. Death hiding behind the No mas. this serves as the perfect counterpart to the other symbol we have selected to represent KIKKOU-namely, the phoenix, a symbol of life and rebirth. Death and rebirth-these are the elements which we seek to emphasize at KIKKOU. In other words, we believe that SMBD distills the essence of any relationship between man and woman-meeting (life) and parting (death). Death and rebirth;these are the themes which intrigue us, and which we have chosen to emphasize.





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