David Willmore

THEA 481

Feb 22, 2015

Taniko

A 14th century Noh drama of an unknown author, Taniko (or The Valley Rite) follows

the journey of a young boy who climbs a mountain to ask the gods to save his ailing mother.

During his journey he falls ill himself and agrees to be thrown into a ravine rather than slow

down his traveling companions. In recognition of the boys self sacrifice, the Gods revive the

boy.

Still frequently produced, both with and without a more contemporary spin, Taniko has

seen at least a handful of high-profile stagings in the past decade and a half. More commonly

performed, however, is a Western adaptation of the play: Brechts Der Jasager (He who says

yes/The Consenter). Brecht changes the story to include the boy fetching medical supplies for

his village and omits the happy ending. Der Jasagers message of collectivist self-sacrifice,

fittingly, respects Tanikos original message rooted in Japanese social collectivism.

(Admittedly, its a little crazy to think that a play written in the 1300s could be transformed into

a work promoting communism.) Brecht also wrote a parter work to Der Jasager, titled Der

Neinsager (He who says no) where the boy makes the opposite choice and the group getting

supplies returns unsuccessfully as a result. Unfortunately, Brecht passed up the opportunity to

really hat-tip to N and have the group haunted and filled with regret as a result of their

dishonorable and ignoble actions.

There are definite similarities between well-known N plays and classical Greek

dramas. The small cast and contributing chorus, use of traditional themes and appearance of

legendary characters (such as Gods). Both forms are now looked upon as the roots of modern

theatre. The successful adaptation of a centuries old N drama only emphasizes the ubiquity

of pieces like Taniko and the impact they have had on Western theatre and contemporary

Western theatre artists and playwrights.

(On 99% unrelated note - with a shoutout to Kati - Tniko also refers to a Maori method

of weaving.)