reprinted with permission
from KYOTO JOURNAL
2004
written by Christopher Caldwell
Tales from Japan, by Jonatha and Harold
Wright (SoundSpace Inc.; CD, 71 minutes;
$16). Ichi,
Ni, San, Shi... Go! 500 Rivers and Other Tales from Japan,
by Jonatha and Harold
Wright (SoundSpace
Inc.; CD, 56 minutes; $16)
"Long ago and far away, somewhere
in Japan..' — spoken in Japanese — is how Jonatha
and Harold Wright begin their folktales. When not traveling
and collecting
source material in Japan, the Wrights are professional storytellers
and teachers based in Yellow Springs, Ohio, who frequently
perform from their English-language repertoire "Two
Thousand Years of Tales from Japan."
Now some of their favorite tales have been recorded and are
available on two CDs. One of the neat things about the Wrights'
storytelling technique is that they effortlessly blend Japanese
terms and onomatopoeic sound effects into the fabric of their
traditional tales, and not once does it alienate or seem
like scholarly affectation. Each tale begins on a cultural
note that may be unfamiliar to most, from language to unconventional
behavior of stock characters or unfamiliar social systems
of the generally rural Japanese setting. But the way a listener
can become so fully engaged within seconds is a testament
to the power of these tales and the skill of the storytellers.
For listeners having previously encountered traditional Japanese
stories, perhaps through the writings of Lafcadio Hearn or
other folk collections, there is a pleasant mix of familiar
material, such as "Crane Maiden" and "Snow
Woman" as well as formerly uncollected material, notably "500
Rivers" which the Wrights learned from Fujita Hiroko,
a fellow storyteller and folklorist from Japan. For biographical
and historical purposes, more information about how the Wrights
encountered these tales would be intriguing. Perhaps a companion
disc will follow, about how these folk tales were found.
There is entertainment for all ages here. Children and adults
alike will enjoy the magical elements and suspense, while
adults especially will appreciate the wry commentary on married
relationships and the many human foibles that transcend cultural
divisions. These folktales do exactly what they should do:
namely, bear repeated listening throughout the life of the
audience.
There is a homemade simplicity to the presentation of these
CDs, from the tasteful but budget-conscious packaging to
the warm spontaneity of the recording.
One can tell that the Wrights have told these tales many times, but
are open to the amorphous possibilities of the storyteller's art.
These releases by Jonatha and Harold Wright are wonderful examples
of how oral traditions can live and breathe in the audiobook age.
To hear Jonatha and Harold Wright tell stories is to encounter storytellers
who clearly respect their subject matter more than the financial
profits made from sharing it.