Tenshumonogatari is a narrated play performed by Japanese actress Keiko Matsuzaka.	Masks are used as forms of expression in traditional Japanese art.
Mystical and yet lively. The dancing in Daidengaku is uplifting.	Man Nomura enjoys the performance with the other spectators.

■The feelings of the dancers from Japan and Hawaii joined as one as they strived towards a successful performance.

A joint rehearsal for the dancers from Japan and Hawaii was held a few days before the actual Daidengaku performance at the 15th Annual Honolulu Festival.
The practice was conducted by Kaori Sugahara Sensei and Kumi Akasaka-san of Daidengaku's Japan production group. The members of Hawaii's group ranged from 7 to 60 years old in age. It was quite a wide range.

Being that Daidengaku was to be performed in Hawaii, the choreography was improvised so that the dancers would shout "Kamehameha", the Hawaiian king's name, during the dance. They also wanted to use the word "humuhumunukunukuapua'a", the name of Hawaii's state fish, in their dance routine.
Sugahara Sensei added her creative choreographic ideas as they practiced. The group rehearsed over and over again until they mastered their routine. Members discussed how to improve their dance and got advice from the teacher even during their breaks. The local participants were happy to practice with the members from Japan and eager to get the most out of their limited time together. It was a wonderful sight to see.

"There is so much about Japan that I don't know even if I am of Japanese ancestry. This opportunity has been great for me to learn about my roots. I hope to search for more opportunities to experience 'the real' Japan and its culture in the future," said one of the local girls, a second generation Japanese American, as beads of perspiration trickled down her forehead.

It was hard to believe that this was the first time for the dancers from Japan and Hawaii to rehearse together. They moved in unison and there was so much harmony. The feelings of the dancers from Japan and Hawaii joined as one as they strived towards a successful performance.

The dancers rehearsed their routine over and over again. Serious faces.	Sugahara Sensei's energetic voice resounded.
They even rehearsed during breaks. Looks like a lot of fun.	The more they rehearsed, the more they excelled.

■ Language barrier will not deter wonderful opportunities of cultural exchange. The authenticity of the experience will fascinate people throughout the world.

The seats in front of the main stage of the Honolulu Festival at the Hawaii Convention Center were filled with spectators on the afternoon of March 14, Saturday. They all waited anxiously for the performance of Tenshumonogatari and Daidengaku to commence. The faint music of flutes and taiko could be heard in the background as the announcer introduced Tenshumonogatari. Keiko Matsuzaka appeared on stage with a book in one hand, singing the children's folk song "Toryanse". She wore a beautiful blue kimono. The color of the kimono was as blue as the skies of Hawaii. The crowds cheered as she performed. Then appeared Kyogen master Manzo Nomura, younger brother of Mannojo, who spoke eloquently as only a Kyogen master could.

The final scene of Tenshumonogatari is over, the lights grow dim and the dancers of Daidengaku, the Dengaku priests, appear out of nowhere and begin to dance through the aisles where the spectators are seated. Catching the audience by surprise, the dancers continue on to the stage. The taiko beats louder as the dancers from Japan and Honolulu unite on stage and the joint performance begins. 25 dancers from Honolulu performed with the Japanese dancers. Their dance was lively. It was exciting to watch them in their colorful costumes as they twirled around and around on stage.

The Japanese dancers are experienced dancers who have performed Daidengaku all over Japan. Amaike-san, a dancer from Yamashiro Onsen in Ishikawa prefecture, said, "I had a great time just watching the Honolulu dancers enjoy themselves. I could tell that the audience was very interested in our performance by the number of people taking pictures with their cameras."

Tenshumonogatari and Daidengaku are normally longer productions when performed in Japan. They were both shortened to thirty minutes specifically for the Honolulu Festival. There were many people in the audience who did not understand Japanese and it may have been difficult to follow the plot, but the crowd paid attention from the beginning to the end. The one hour at the Honolulu Festival was time well spent.

A huge crowd came to watch the performances.	A book was used as a prop in this narrated play.
A joint performance by dancers from Japan and Honolulu.	Colorful costumes and a variety of musical instruments create a dramatic stage presentation.