All things must come to an end.
Even the strongest will someday fall.
Tragic.
Truly tragic.
But if we are to live, we must accept it.
What is it?
Even in a place like this, flowers still bloom.
The Northern Court in Kyoto, the Southern Court in Yoshino...
This was an era torn between two courts, where civil war never ceased.
Onwards.
The people were starved for food, for employment, for entertainment,
and for life itself.
Jinen Koji
Kanze Troupe!
Kan'ami!
What's so interesting?
Please, no issues today.
Ishiya, what are you doing?
Goro?
You'll be seen.
He's doing it again.
Head in the clouds.
Bird bones are extremely light.
That is why they can fly.
Horse's legs are very thin so they can run fast.
Birds are formed to fly.
Horses are formed to run.
So then what are humans formed for?
Sir?
Not for dance.
I know that for sure.
Dancing seems an unnatural act for humans.
Yet people still pursue what is unnatural for them.
I don't understand.
Sir? Sir, listen!
It's your cue!
Sir!
Come on!
Sir! Sir!
Oniyasha!
I speak to you, Jinen Koji.
What is it?
Well done!
Let's go.
I did it again!
What's with that doll?
Give it back!
Sorry.
I wasn't paying attention either.
A turtle?
I'm Kamekichi.
I'm very sorry, Father.
For what?
Jinen Koji is Kanze Troupe's main attraction.
If its popularity fades, it might affect all of sarugaku theater.
I apologize for disturbing the performance.
As long as you understand.
But...
Hifumi. Toshigo.
Yes?
Back away.
I enjoyed today's performance.
Thank you.
Come again.
Kan'ami!
Oh, you came again?
The day is close when sarugaku theater will overtake dengaku theater!
Thanks to all of you.
Share these with your troupe.
Thank you.
There's really no limit to our leader's stamina, huh?
The audience has been growing bigger and bigger.
Master, is it true we've gotten requests to perform in the capital?
It is.
Wow.
It's impressive how he grew the troupe in a single generation
Unfortunately...
Oniyasha!
Are you okay?
Ishiya...
He got mad at me again.
Don't cry.
Sob sob.
I'll help pull too. You stand there.
Ready?
Never mind. I'll do it alone.
What a crybaby.
At least he doesn't cry in front of his father.
We're so close to a new future for sarugaku, but...
Oniyasha! Keep going!
Have some dango when you're done!
At least he's got a pretty face.
Aw, man.
I wish I were handsome too.
Did you just scoff at me?
You did it again!
We'll never finish.
Yokai monsters must be adding more weight.
Y-yokai?!
I have heard that a lot of evil spirits lurk around here...
Ishiya, you can go home.
Father told me to do this on my own, anyway.
Sir...
Trying to slack off?
Ack!
You thought I haven't noticed you sneaking off to town?
Not the town!
I just went down to the river...
and I've been practicing!
You can't go out without your father's permission.
But...
It's just for a while!
I've done nothing but read, write, and practice since I was little!
Why can't I have a little free time?
Wait, are you helping out only to keep an eye on me?
Ack.
Father's orders?
Well, uhh...
I'm sorry, sir!
I've had enough.
Everyone only thinks about Father.
Father only thinks about his craft.
He doesn't think of me as his son.
Father isn't teaching his son his craft.
He's watching to see if I understand what a good performance is
and what isn't.
Straighten up!
You are not formed to dance.
That is why your performance is no good.
I hate dance.
I hate Father!
I don't understand how Father thinks.
Really?
You understand him?
I mean...
I have an idea, but it's vague and hazy and pretty fuzzy...
I know!
When our leader dances, the world changes.
The world changes?
The world... changes?
I guess that doesn't make sense.
Sorry.
With my bad leg, I can't travel very far,
let alone dance at all.
But for some reason,
when I see our leader dance,
I feel like I can go anywhere.
That's the power of his dance.
I don't understand.
Anyway! Just don't wander off without me!
Understand?
I understand.
Good!
Oniyasha?
Where are you, sir?
Sir?
Oniyasha?
Sir?
Where are you?
Oniyasha!
Again?
Sir! Please come out!
Please, sir! Where are you?
Forgive me, Ishiya.
Oniyasha!
Kogane!
Your dad got you down again?
You must be feeling down too.
Another fight with your friend?
I'm not friends with a guy like that!
There's no life in his eyes. He's a demon, like an oni.
My father's an oni too!
So your name is Oniyasha because you're the son of an oni?
That's not why!
Haven't seen you lately. How've you been?
What about you?
How's your brother who was born from a gourd?
Huh? Did I ever say that?
You did!
Before that, you said you came from across the sea.
And before that you found a talking rabbit.
Hey!
And you said you lived with a pine tree yokai
that was going to eat you soon.
Did I say that?
We're always talking nonsense, aren't we?
I only do that because you do!
But your nonsense tales aren't so bad!
Really?
Yeah, really!
You got strong legs.
Kogane...
You look funny!
Can't catch me!
Stop!
What's that screaming?
The festival was canceled.
The harvest was bad this year.
It must be a wild crowd dancing.
A wild crowd... dancing?
Even if the big wars are over, there's nothing to eat.
People die so easily.
Some steal to live,
while some women sell their bodies.
They're all sick of this world.
Dancing gets it all out.
What meaning is there in it?
Whether they dance or not, people die.
Dancing cannot change the world.
I should get home.
All right.
People are not formed to dance.
If they have food and shelter, people can live without dance.
Then why do people watch and dance?
Why?
I'm lost!
Um, I'm sorry to interrupt, but I've lost my way.
That way.
Thank you very much.
Why were we born?
Singing?
To have fun and play?
Why were we born?
A shirabyoshi?
Why were we born?
To revel in joy?
When I hear the voices of children playing
Such a raspy voice.
When I hear the voices of children playing
But...
When I hear the voices of children playing
my body begins to sway on its own
Dance, dance, snail.
If you will not dance, then the cows and horses will kick you.
It's good.
Pardon me!
That...
That was "good"?
I don't understand.
What about it did I think was good?
I don't understand at all.
But if I could possess that "good"...
If that day should ever come...
Oniyasha, age 11.
He would later become the Noh actor, Zeami.
He doesn't yet know he is headed to an expanding world,
wider than the rivers, the oceans,
and even the sky.
1374 - Kyoto,
Northern Court
Graaa!
KANZE
Hey!
Graaa!
GOOD
Episode 1
Why Do People Dance?
Kazuto Mihara / Kodansha