June 02, 2023
Seiko Group Corporation
Seiko Group Corporation (Chairman & Group CEO, CCO: Shinji Hattori; head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; hereafter, “Seiko”) is launching its new Time and Japanese Culture Project, an initiative to promote the appeal of Japanese culture and to allow more people experience it.
As the first step in this project, we are presenting a special exhibition Four Seasons, Nature, and Life – The Passage of Time and the Beauty of Nature, a collection of costumes belonging to the highly esteemed onnagata (female role) kabuki actor Tamasaburo Bando V. This special exhibition will be held at the Seiko House Ginza Hall in central Ginza from June 8 to June 18, 2023. Admission is free.
In this exhibition, we display 10 stunning costumes, specially selected by Tamasaburo from among his personal collection. These superb creations express the beautiful scenery of the four seasons, lovingly rendered in rich, colorful patterns by masters of this art. Enjoy a special experience of the four seasons, Nature, and the passage of time through these elegant costumes on display in the refined space of Seiko House Ginza Hall.
In addition to the exhibition, 40 people will be selected by lottery to attend a special talk by Mr. Tamasaburo Bando on June 17. In conjunction with the theme Time and Traditional Culture, Tamasaburo will talk about the thought he puts into his costumes.
Overview of the Tamasaburo Bando KIMONO Collection: Four Seasons, Nature, and Life – The Passage of Time and the Beauty of Nature
Program: Sukeroku Kuruwa no Hatsuzakura (First Flowering Cherry Blossoms), Role: Miuraya Agemaki
Costume: Flame drum on red crepe ground with sunshine cherry blossoms scattered along outer robe
Date and time:
June 8 - 18, 2023, 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (until 5:00 p.m. on the last day)
Venue:
Seiko House Ginza Hall
6F of Seiko House Ginza, 4-5-11 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Short walk from Tokyo Metro Ginza Station Exit A9 or A10, directly connected to Exit B1
Admission:
Free (no reservation required)
*If the venue is crowded, you may have to wait to enter.
Remarks from Tamasaburo Bando
It is my great pleasure to hold this costume exhibition as the first event in the Time and Japanese Culture Project.
I am thoroughly delighted that the costumes that I have been designing since I was in my twenties will be brought together as a collection at Seiko House Ginza. There have been so many beautiful costumes, each one created individually through discussions with costume makers and artisans.
Since Japanese culture emphasizes the unique quality of each of the seasons, many performing arts also highlight seasonal themes. With this in mind, I have chosen to present a selection of costumes representing Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.
This is an exhibition that transcends time. I sincerely hope that you will enjoy it.
Profile: Tamasaburo Bando
In December 1957, Tamasaburo Bando V made his professional debut under the name Kinoji Bando in the production Terakoya at the Toyoko Hall. He became successor to the kabuki legacy name Tamasaburo Bando in 1964. He has produced countless critically acclaimed plays, including the masterpiece Tenshu Monogatari (Tale of a Castle Keep). His work quickly extended beyond the kabuki stage to include extensive collaborations, such as his highly praised performance of Sagimusume at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, as well as collaborations with world-class artists such as film director Angel Wajda, Daniel Schmidt, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. In September 2012, he became the fifth kabuki Onnagata (female role actor) to be certified as an Important Intangible Cultural Asset (popularly referred to as a Living National Treasure). In 2013, he was awarded the "Commandeur" of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (French Order of Arts and Culture).
Tamasaburo Bando Special Talk Program: Time and Traditional Culture – The driving forces that weave the ages together
Date and time:
June 17, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. (Duration: about 40 minutes, seated format)
Venue:
Seiko House Ginza Hall
Number of participants: 40 people selected by lottery through prior application
How to apply:
Please use the application form at the following URL.
Tamasaburo Bando Special Talk Show Application Form
Note:
We do not accept applications made for multiple people.
Please make a separate application for each person.
Application period:
June 2 - 11, 2023, until 6:00 p.m.
Announcement of winners:
We will contact the winners directly on June 13, 2023.
Contact:
Tamasaburo Bando KIMONO Collection Secretariat (within BG NAVI)
TEL: 03-6441-0524 e-mail ishouten@bg-navi.jp
Monday through Friday, 10:00 p.m. – 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, but open on Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11, reception until 6:00 p.m.
About the Seiko “Time and Japanese Culture Project”
In 2023, Seiko launched a new program to communicate the appeal of Japanese culture and allow a wider audience to experience it. We are holding occasional events and exhibitions at Seiko House Ginza for visitors to experience various aspects of Japanese culture. The second step in this program, following the Tamasaburo Bando costume exhibition, will be a premium event in July called Learning from Time. This event is also designed to share the pleasures of kabuki with a wider audience, and will be produced by famous kabuki actor and Seiko Group ambassador Danjuro Ichikawa.
Press Contact:
Seiko Group Corporation
Public Relations Department
prdeptj@seiko.co.jp
For inquiries from the general public:
Tamasaburo Bando KIMONO Collection Secretariat (within BG NAVI)
TEL: 03-6441-0524 e-mail: ishouten@bg-navi.jp
Monday through Friday, 10:00 p.m. – 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, but open on Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11, reception until 6:00 p.m.
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