Mr. Kawamoto: I went to the United States when I was 8 years old and didn't come back until I turned 22. I learned about noh at college, and began taking lessons from Mr. Inoue a few years after I got back. My wife also studies with him. Susumu debuted on stage when he was three years old, but in a sense he has been "listening" to noh since he was still in his mother's womb. Noh has always been a part of Susumu's life; he loved watching noh videos before he could even talk.
 Susumu practices three times a week. |
Question: Have you ever been bored with noh?
Susumu: Never. In fact I want to do more. There are a lot of pieces I'd like to do and a lot of really cool moves I want to learn.
Question: How often does Susumu practice?
Mr. Kawamoto: About three times a week. We go over the things that Mr. Inoue points out. But when there's a big performance coming up, he practices at least an hour a day.
Question: What kind of influence has noh had on Susumu?
Mr. Kawamoto: I think studying noh improves your memory. I've heard that it's good for the brain's development. Susumu used to get tense before a performance, but he's relaxed now, even right before he goes on stage.
Mrs. Kawamoto: Susumu can't sit still for very long at school. His teacher came to see him in a performance the other day and said she couldn't believe her eyes: Susumu was perfectly still, for almost an hour!
