Bunro Sakaino Concentration Camp Diary

Transcript

507

February 14 (Sunday)

A concert of the Kita School yokyoku [1] songs was held, and I went to see as quite a few people from our group were performing. They have been practicing since we were in Missoula. I noticed huge improvement, and it has been a while since I enjoyed listening to those songs. I am feeling emotional as it reminded me of my father who was a talented singer of the Hosho School.

Our domestic workers and drivers were all singing back then, and some employees of my father often came over to our house to take lessons from my father. I felt like we were floating in waves of songs and we could hear his traveling singing voice from his room around 4 o’clock in the morning. The members held monthly singing gatherings, and I remember how it was cheerful and lively. I also remember he played with Baron Furuichi who was with the Kanze School. They looked very serious while they were performing and had a big satisfied smile on their faces at the end. My father also started to practice dancing, and I was startled as he was making a lot of stomping noises in the western style room on the second floor. I clearly remember the grievous performance of songs in front of his casket led by a prominent singer Master Masakichi Noguchi, who was a teacher for my father, at the wake for him.

I would like to take lessons immediately if I can find a Hojo School instructor.

[1] Songs for Noh plays