I think would come to surprise people

by the variety of green spaces it has

and those are propped up by the number of museums you can discover

so the topic of this video is going to explore

The Tokyo National Museum

You can explore around that museum as well

if you ever have a chance to get out to this region

And it's beautiful, calm and peaceful

And there are 101different historical buildings

displays, and interesting things to take note of

Should you be so lucky,

Asakusa actually even has a Onsen

a legit hot spring you can go and visit

And if you're craving for an energy beforehand

there are absolutely beautiful hotels which include

some wonderful traditional Japanese dining

I'm not the one usually for fish in the morning,

but if it's prepared very well,

as often you can find it,

if you find these special places, in Asakusa

Then you're treating yourself well before you go out for the day

Lean, mean and prepared to take in all the arts

I highly recommend checking out something like this

because this is the sort of even burning fuel,

that is not just going to keep you awake,

but actually a part of cultural experience

when you come to Japan when you can find it

Here today at the Tokyo National Museum

And they're putting on the Japan Cultural Expo

Here you can see 5 of Japan's important Traditional Performing Arts

Now for a lot of you it's going to be difficult to come and see this in person

and that's why we're creating this digital production

The museum was an incredible experience to be hold

The image you see are all taken from all installations at the exhibit

Not in order of style,

This was my exposure of performing arts of Japan

and I can say with confidence, I'm impressed by not one particular style

although each of them is impressive in it's own right,

but more by the fact that they've each so influence each other over the years to they've grown

What I've learned that if you follow they line of their inception,

there was a root style

Gagaku

It takes it's influence from China and Korea

I was struck once understandings that,

how you could see the influences of the respective countries

both the colors and styles of the contributing countries

Shapes and palettes I would usually associate with China,

correspondingly Korea,

were present in the so many garments and tools of the art

A first sight of just how these are inter mingled are with the rest of the world,

if you look just far enough in their history

On that detail,

it's notable that each of these performing arts within Japan

one specific location where they originate

instead,

many different areas of Japan has contributed to their own style

Within the museum there are 5 performing arts on display

Kabuki, perhaps the one most well known,

Bunraku, a kind of advanced puppetry similar to that you see in North America,

but a Japanese iteration performed by black cloaked figures,

Noh and Kyoden famously telling their stories from beautifull minimalistic stage

Gagaku, as mentioned previously,

The oldest tradition, most sporing from other cultures,

and finally Kumiodori, a style which owes it origin to Okinawa Japan

Each has influenced the other,

and each provides from fascinating different forms of Japanese fine art

Kabuki, the most well known has taken their tradition from Edo Period of Japan

and was performed by men and women taking on roles opposite that their gender

Dance is an enthusiastic focus of the art,

and the beautiful costumes associated with the dances

stand out as the center piece of what makes it so special to observe as the audience

Historical location such as Nanzenji Temple in Kyoto

feature in this story that are conveyed through this style of performance

Bunraku is a skillful manipulation of puppets

it too takes its origin from Osaka as well,

from the Edo Period of 1603 to 1868

but also grew in popularity,

through the Meiji Period of 1868 to 1912

The performance in this case is done to a musical recitative performance of

Gidayu Bushi

The extremely famous instrument of Shamisen,

is used to create the melodic backdrop to what it's sung

By mid 18th century it became common practice,

for 3 puppeteers to operate the show

Innovative and ingenious mechanisms were incorporated to the heads of the puppet by this time

which unlocked the potential for far more elaborate expressions,

to further engage with the audience

of the skills of those who would put on the displays of this unique art

Noh and Kyoden are together referred as Nogaku

They were initially referred to as a pair

called Surugaku

While at first this art form was exclusively an act done at religious rights,

temples and shrines,

and limited entertainment only at those events

It would embark from the sacred only

to be included as well

an artistically dramatic performances

all accross Japan

at a variety of events and locations

The two forms play at each other as well

While Noh is considered quite solemn,

Kyogen has the more laughter and playful associated with

The guidebook provided by the museum,

perhaps best describes them when it reads,

Noh and Kyogen are like siblings

branched out from Sarugaku,

to compliment each other for tension and relief

It's quite easy to get lost in the historicity of these art forms

In the brief time I have dedicated to understand them a little better

I fully admit to becoming entangled at times

in the many historical dates and symbolism each seek to convey

What I'm reminded though is that history is important,

what carries them into the present day and future

is that intangible element

not written down or spoken of

That enabling experience that comes with the enjoyment

and participating in and absorbing a skilled art

While clothes, tools and stages make comprise what we literally see,

they are in the end something more

A portal in which we are all invited to experience something new

I hope exposure to them will inspire others to beyond the costumes and sounds

to the world which exists

not outside, but inside all of us

when we experience intangible cultural expression

but we do in fact have another way to experience this

This is the Virtual Japan Cultural Expo

And this is the main area you have access to when you go into it

Now from the main map,

you can select a number of locations you can visit

VR Expo App is available both on Android and Apple

All you need to do is download, install, brief sign in, registration and

then you have access to this particular Metaverse

From its main part you can access many different parts you would see at the exhibition

Here we're at the Wood Art Theater

It is here that we can see some of the performing arts

that Japan has at the exhibition

Inside the theater clickable links allow you to see them

And there are a variety because they have 5 different arts on display

There is more as well than the 5 traditional performing arts for you to learn about in this metaverse

and you can explore through a variety of different locations

each of which with ease set of location

and experience you can have

For me the most fascinating point of interest in the wood theater,

where they had macro pictures

where you can zoom into on a incredible level of detail

I don't remember the last time that I've seen images of this kind of resolution

that would allow you to do that

This was a lot of fun,

and there is a ton of cool information to explore