Chapter 6 Section VI

After New Years, I went to hear Beethoven's Ninth Symphony performed by the Orchestra of the Staatsoper Drestin under the direction of Mr. Snowbury.I like the Ninth Symphony very much, especially whenever I hear "Ode to Joy", my heart is filled with joy. (Maybe everyone is like this.) "What a beautiful thing music is", although this sentence is a cliché, I still can't help but say it.When I went to listen to the Ninth Symphony this time, I made a very important discovery. 20 years ago, I used the royalties from this book to establish the Xiaodoudou Foundation, a social welfare corporation.

To fully support Japan's first professional theater troupe for the deaf.Whenever someone asks: "Why did you create this troupe?" I always say: "I was born in a family of musicians, and I have many opportunities to go to halls or auditoriums to participate in concerts since I was a child. Going to plays, operas, ballets, etc. Everyone has their personal opinions like 'that's good, this is boring', but deaf people rarely have the opportunity to really feel interesting and understand. So they go to the theater and There are very few opportunities in concert halls. Therefore, I hope that there will be a kind of performance that can give the same pleasure to those who can hear as to those who can't." I always reply like this.

The United States has the world's most famous American deaf theater troupe, which is a professional theater troupe. I have become friends with the theater troupe since 30 years ago.The troupe won the special award of "Tony Award" on Broadway and is known as the national treasure of the United States.I often think that it would be nice to have such a professional theater troupe in Japan.Especially from 1971, I lived in the United States for a year, during which time I often went to the show.I have known many Japanese deaf-mute people since a long time ago. When I was asked: "Do you want to watch a play performed by American professional actors?" Everyone said: "You must watch it, you must watch it. "So, I calculated the travel expenses, accommodation expenses and meal expenses with the people from the American Deaf Theater Troupe, and felt that we still had the ability to invite them to Japan, so we made a plan.It so happened that the Japan Cultural Foundation told me at that time that if I could perform with the American deaf-mute troupe, I would translate their words into Japanese sign language, speak English lines in Japanese, and go to various places to perform together. Then they will be responsible for the cost of the invitation.That was in 1979.I was overjoyed and immediately invited the troupe.This performance was highly praised in all parts of Japan, and NHK and many TV stations broadcast it. Sign language has received widespread attention. People have discovered that sign language is so beautiful, so infectious and expressive.At that time, there was a wave of sign language craze.

Two years later, the American Deaf Theater Company once again held a performance in Japan, and I also participated in performances in various places that time.There were many programs, and the one that moved the guests the most was My City by Thornton Walda, a representative American playwright.The members of the Japanese deaf theater troupe that I support now gathered after watching the first performance of that public performance.Everyone felt: "If deaf-mute people can also become professional actors, we would like to give it a try." Now the troupe has about 20 professional actors.The troupe is good at performing classical burlesque in sign language and won a festival award 13 years ago for creating a new visual art form.The troupe has also received many invitations from abroad, and last year went to Russia, Germany and Hungary to perform.Classical burlesque is taught by Miyake Ukon, a master I have always respected, from the beginning. Every year, the Spring Sign Language Classical burlesque conference is held at the National Noh Theater.

When we put on a show, we always try to make it enjoyable for hearing and deaf people alike.In addition to classic burlesque, we also experimented with new plays.If sign language is needed in TV and movies, almost all people now invite actors from the Japanese deaf theater troupe to teach sign language.Just recently, they also participated in the production of Noriko Sakai's "Golden Coin of the Star" and the movie "I Love You". Since our foundation obtained the qualification of a social welfare legal person, we had to build an office building as a vocational training place.I found a piece of land in Osaki, Shinagawa District, and built the Xiaodoudou Cultural Museum.Actors also rehearse plays there, but the main function is to create a working environment for disabled people.Now, under the direction of the curator, about 20 people are engaged in printing T-shirts and making snack cartons.The cultural center also opened a class to teach sign language, guided by several deaf-mute actors.The sign language taught by deaf-mute actors is very interesting and highly rated. The classes are always overcrowded, and people even have to wait in line. Many housewives have become sign language interpreters.Some young artists also came to learn sign language. Whenever I think of these, I am filled with gratitude.Speaking in sign language has long been an embarrassment, but now it is a matter of pride for everyone to be able to converse in sign language.As the chairman of the foundation, I have received a lot of help from everyone, and at the same time, I have to solve many important issues such as raising funds.

Plus, I've found that sign language is a wonderful communication tool in ways that hearing people can't imagine.When speaking in spoken language, when we meet a foreigner, we think, "How can this be done?" But an actor from the American Deaf Theater Company once said to me, "It doesn't matter what sign language the other person uses. How different from me, I can have daily communication with him if I give me three hours. If I give me a week, I can even discuss philosophy with him.” If people in the world use sign language, we may be able to do more Talk to foreigners quickly.People often ask me: "Isn't sign language the same in all countries?" Because sign language also comes from life, and there are considerable differences in sign language in different countries.

method. I was originally talking about Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, but I dragged the topic far without knowing it.Because I really want to introduce the troupe I founded to everyone, even if I can say a few words, I wrote the above words.That's why I started the Deaf Theater Company. While listening to the Ninth Symphony played by the Dressin Orchestra, I also remembered something that I had forgotten for many years, that is, my father once took me to see the movie "Le Saint Beethoven" when I was young.At that time, many films about music saints were imported from abroad, such as "Unfinished Symphony" about Schubert.I watched "Le Saint Beethoven" more than 50 years ago. I can't remember the outline of the movie, but I remember a scene where Beethoven's ears gradually became deaf, and the old wooden shutters "slapped" It was loud, but Beethoven couldn't hear it at all, which is very poor.What impresses me the most is that when Beethoven finally composed the Ninth Symphony, his ears were completely deaf. He was lying on the bed, and the movement of the Ninth Symphony and "Ode to Joy" were being played at the concert.The sound of the music reaches our ears, but from the footage of the film it is clear that Beethoven could not hear this.After the Ninth Symphony was finished, the audience applauded enthusiastically, but when the camera turned to Beethoven lying on the bed, there was immediate silence, and Beethoven passed away quietly in this silence.Beethoven had a bad nephew who stole his money when Beethoven was dying.I still remember looking at that nephew with disgust and thinking: "He is such a villain!" At that time, I thought that although the audience applauded so enthusiastically, only Beethoven could not hear him. It is so pitiful to die with despair in your heart.I cried for a long time for him.

After listening to the Ninth Symphony of the Delestin Orchestra, my major discovery is: the reason why I want to found the deaf theater troupe is also the reason for Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.Many actors of my predecessors and companions said: "I was able to persevere until now because of the encouragement of the audience's applause." But what if there is no applause?I really want to tell those who can't hear the applause: "They are applauding you." Beethoven wrote such outstanding music in a silent world, he is really a genius.But how painful it must be for him not to be understood by the people around him!This is so pathetic.Just because he was deaf, no matter how enthusiastic the applause of the audience was, because no one told him, he thought he was not recognized by people, and died lonely and desolately.This is really a pity!It is precisely because I have a strong feeling about this that I will associate with deaf people in the future and lead me to create this troupe.Now that this is the reason, I am surprised even myself.Some people may think that although Beethoven could not hear the applause, the "Ode to Joy" echoed in his heart, which is enough.But I still wanted to tell him that people were applauding him.

In the Ba Xueyuan where Xiaodoudou lives, there are several disabled children.But Mr. Principal never said such words as "help them", what he said was "let's do it together! Everyone should do it together".So whatever it is, I do it with them.But if I hadn't heard Mr. Snowbury conduct the performance of the Drestin Orchestra, perhaps I wouldn't have remembered that it was because of Beethoven that I founded a troupe for the deaf. In addition, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and I have another fate, that is, without the Ninth Symphony, I would not have come to this world.

My parents met at a concert of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.At that time, my father was the organizer of the concert of the New Symphony Orchestra (now the N Symphony Orchestra), and my mother was a student of the vocal music department of the Tokyo Music University (then known as the Toyo Music School).Take it a little further.People often have questions: why is it always December in Japan, that is, at the end of the year, when the Ninth Symphony is played in concerts?In fact, this practice was initiated by my father.I asked him once, and it turned out to be for a very sympathetic reason, which today's musicians probably wouldn't believe.In short, musicians in Japan at that time were very poor. Especially at the end of the year, they had to buy rice cakes for the New Year, and those who were in debt had to pay off their debts. In short, they needed money.At that time, if there was a concert, playing the Ninth Symphony would definitely sell tickets.Because there is a chorus part in the Ninth Symphony, which is so important. At that time, just tell the students of various music schools, and they will come to the chorus for free.Even if it wasn’t my father’s time, when I was in a music school, I was invited to participate in the chorus several times, and of course I was not paid.According to my father, not only did the students not get paid, but they would also tell their parents, relatives and friends, "I want to perform at the Hibiya Auditorium." Therefore, many tickets were sold.As long as one person helps to sell a few tickets, the seats in the auditorium will be full.Therefore, the Ninth Symphony, which can be used in emergencies, should always be performed at the end of the most embarrassing period.If our country can extend a helping hand to cultural undertakings, the Ninth Symphony will not have to be performed at the end of the year.So abroad, the Ninth Symphony can be performed whenever people like.

Besides, my mother came to Hibiya Hall with everyone in order to participate in the chorus.On that day, my mother was wearing a dark green sweater and skirt, which she knitted by herself, and a green hat.My mother was very beautiful at that time, and Matsutaro Kawaguchi, a writer engaged in film business, invited her to be an actor several times.The beautiful mother must be more attractive in the hand-woven green dress, which is very eye-catching in the crowd.Dad, on the other hand, was known at the time as "the Hinds of Japan," a gifted violinist and very handsome.Mom stood on the high steps of the choir, and of course she could see Dad clearly at the front of the orchestra.However, it is really admirable for Dad to be able to spot Mom among the crowd in the choir.And my father is still nearsighted! Maybe this is the guidance of the gods in the dark?The two met on this day, started dating, and then got married, and soon gave birth to me.So the first lullaby I heard was "Ode to Joy".When I was not very good at speaking, I started to sing: "Goddess of Joy, holy and beautiful..." But maybe my mother's pronunciation was not correct, or maybe I couldn't hear it well when I was a child, anyway, I sang the lyrics in German It's just that the pronunciation is close, but it's very inaccurate. Whenever I sing this song, Mr. Akutagawa Yasunshi will laugh so hard that tears will fall from his laughter. Anyway, I grew up on "Ode to Joy", which is very happy.After the Berlin Wall came down, I went to East Germany and paid my respects at the former residence of the songwriter Schiller.Schiller's former residence was smaller than expected, but I felt very happy there once again to appreciate the meaning of the lyrics "Under your gentle wings, people are united as brothers...". When the Berlin Wall came down, the Symphony Orchestra conducted by Bernstein performed the Ninth Symphony.This move has attracted widespread attention, which shows the importance of this lyrics. If Beethoven hadn't written the Ninth Symphony, maybe I wouldn't be in this world.While giving warm applause to the performance of the Dressin Orchestra, I prayed in my heart: I hope that in the 21st century, "people will unite into brothers"!