I interviewed "Noppo-san", I asked various questions about musical "Grasshopper story" and "possible kana"

From April 1967 until March 1990, an educational program that was broadcasted on NHK Educational Television "I wonder", I have not spoken a word for 23 years, expressing various things only with dance and pantomimeMr. NoppoMr. Takami's daughter who kept playing.

In 2005, the short version of the short film musical movie format released the first in "Minna no Uta"Grasshopper story"To Nokpo who opened up a new ground with a new topic," Episode "in the topic that touched the first time in the last round" Can do "and the latest work of" Grasshoppers Story "Letter from Grasshopper - Do not forgetI tried to interview about memories, respects, respecting people.

Details are as below.
I did an interview at Shinjuku Village Studio in Shinjuku.


Guide map


Mysterious art on the wall


Musical performed at Ikebukuro on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th, 2009 "Thank you! GrasshopperPoster


Mr. Noppo (Mr. Takami no ho) is the appearance.


GIGAZINE (hereinafter abbreviated as G):
First of all, please introduce yourself. I think that everyone already knows (laugh)

Mr. Noppo:
My name is Takami's, Noppo. Even if there is a title, I do not like to say too much ... ...

G:
The next question is, NHK's program "Can you do it?"Although I think that it kept playing the role of" Mr. Noppo "for 24 years to tell various things with a light gesture gesture instead of talking over the whole time, it remains in the hearts of various people, but what kind Did he decide to play Noppo in the background?

Mr. Noppo:
Before becoming Noppo-san, it is a very famous infant program a long time ago, but "Magic carpetAnd then "BooooooooooWell, I do not know (generation-wise), but I played a variety of roles and wearing costume in early childhood program of NHK generation period. Movement is important for such things, but if it is not interesting you can not use it, but doing that kind of thing.

To tell the truth, in the place where "Boo Fu Wu" ends or does not end, I fell to just before the job loss. At that time, the director who thought that "This is interesting" when I saw the move was "I have a work program on the next program, how about it for that host role?"

This program was not a bit different from teaching the procedure of the work in words, it was a slightly different work program to have people tell people who are looking at the fun of the work. So I was invited to say "For your sake I think that you are very interesting." In order to convey fun rather than the procedure of the work, it is better to work according to the music and dance and play, so I used it.

G:
I see. By the way, I was doing all the gestures with hand gestures and announcements in the program, but did you find something tough with not talking about?

Mr. Noppo:
In those days I was good at moving, so I thought that it would be easier to not speak speech strangely. However, if you start talking after "you can not do it", the person who talks is easier, really.

For example, there is one setting, and there is one important knowledge here. Let me first say gesture "I do not have this knowledge for me" about this. If it is a serif, "I did not know such a thing at all" until it is clearly declared, but I can not quite say it by gesture. I can tell about it as "I do not know".

Then do not forget this setting of "I do not know" until the end "I did not know it at first", "But I knew a little," "But I did not know at first", say something by gesture It is necessary to add it.

Is it going to increase what I have to explain? If it is a serif, if you declare one at the beginning you can explain more and more. Thinking later on you did what you were doing. It is a nice place to go after speaking. I noticed that.

G:
Although "Grasshopper story" and "possible kana" are also available, Mr. Nippo has an image that always expresses light tap dance constantly, but is that ad-lib?

Mr. Noppo:
It is ad lib to dance taps. Of course, I have been practicing from before, but everything that dances over there is improvisation.

G:
Is that so. Is not it difficult to dance improvised dance?

Mr. Noppo:
It is hard to dance with improvisation. There are many tap dance teachers who do not tap on improvisation for decades, really. Rather, there are few people who can dance.

G:
I'm worried about how to connect even if you say "do it by improvisation".

Mr. Noppo:
I think that I can possibly do it the way I studied differently from other people. So unexpectedly, styles say that everyone is important, but going up from where I was taught is that I have to practice self-flowing by myself.

G:
Was it that what made it possible to improve by improvisation is what made himself self-taught?

Mr. Noppo:
There is it. When going to the tap dance rehearsal place, we call it as a basic exercise dance in one step in one phrase 8 measures and the next step in the next 8 bars in accordance with the music as it is in front of the customer It is like a form. I hated it (laugh)

Because, in my dreams I was paintingFred AstaireAndBill RobinsonAmerica's awesome tap dancer like America, I loved the people before learning tap dance, but when I went to the practice place thinking of actually wanting to learn, what was similar but not doing something similar Therefore.

The basics are really important, but in ordinary practice places we will not go up there. So, in fact, I have to go up after practicing the basics, I casually also went to learn by living in Kyoto for reasons "This is different from the tap dance I was imagining" Nevertheless, I did not dance for basic exercise at all.

This teacher is now Yoshida Takeo, who is the chairman of the Japan Tap Dance Association, but I still hear that "I was truly an unprecedented disciple." (Laugh) Because I do not want to do the basic dance called "Tatatan Tataki Tatatan" that everyone is practicing, I can not yet do that basic, but Fred Astaire's steps, everyone else Apart from where I was practicing, while watching the mirror I was doing it with a tap with "Takatan Tan Tatan ...".

It demonstrated a light tap.


G:
Did you took a completely different step alone?

Mr. Noppo:
Yes. Then, after seeing the teacher to see, and calling me "Welcome home" at one time, "I know what you want to do, but you will be able to produce such sounds after you have done the basics properly" I have been told. But despite being told by the teacher, I still do not do it. It's not funny (lol)

Then, he said, "I have to practice this only for the legs to move in the wind," and taught the basics in the basics to move their legs precisely.

Mr. Noppo:
When I got up this morning around 5 o'clock this exercise was done for about 3 hours until about 8 o'clock, and continued for half a year, the fineness of the foot alone exceeded the person of 3 to 4 years. But, I can not do the basic dance "Tata Tanta Tataki Tatatan" just before. I do not want to do it (lol)

If so, the teacher came out two records of Fred Astaire and Bill Robinson from the living room, and the teacher listened to the record two bars and demonstrated "It is like this" An excellent tap dancer copied all the rhythms we assembled very cleverly to me. About four songs. Since I do not have a video at that time, I do not know what kind of rhythm it puts out, but only the real rhythm in the other side of the real thing was shown properly.

I am glad that I could not help it. Everyone else has not left the basic step, because I started stepping through the steps I was longing for while singing. My teacher also taught me the first experience. That's why I am very thankful.

G:
How long have you learned?

Mr. Noppo:
Although I broke up with the teacher in about a year, I continued my way of studying, this time I bought a record of Jean Kelly by myself, with 6 songs in half a year at a pace of one song every month I learned. I was prying when I was practicing in the concrete of the house concrete, my older brother was mourning.

However, when this half year ended, I became able to dance freely. Because if the music rang, I understood how freely the combination of steps is. Of course, if you devise from that, it will be a better one, but if, for example, the music rings on here, your feet will start to carve the rhythm without permission. Without permission. Although certainly self-taught, the style was made by himself in a certain way, but in 1 year or 2 years, people over 10 years, 20 years and 30 years passed. I can really say that. But basic dancing is not good (lol)

G:
With that accumulation, it means that you could tap dance in ad libs even in the show.

Mr. Noppo:
I agree. If you listen on the spot you will naturally tap out, so you did not have to worry.

G:
I think that the songs are different each time and that the lengths will also be wrong, but was not it hard to adapt to it?

Mr. Noppo:
Even if you listen to songs for the first time, you can do it if you ring it there and the music is in increments of 8 bars or 12 bars so if you know where the end of the 8 bars will come, you tap the tap cleanly in the previous 6 bars , So it was okay to have the form of a break in the second two measures.

G:
Who were thinking about various works that used cardboard etc. which was introduced in the program of "I can do"?

Mr. Noppo:
This was already thought by real experts. If you mention the name, Mr. Tadahiro Ehitone is handling from the beginning to the end in the form of a modeling chief, and under the bridge there are shapes such as those of the university and those who became associate professors / universities of the university There were about six experts. So it is very luxurious.

G:
So is that people keep making it everyday?

Mr. Noppo:
Everyone brings up 5 or 6 ideas every week, so we calculate it simply 30. Talk about about 5 necessary to take one of them from everyone and let 's use this and this and this. The other 25 pieces are in store.

The next week will be another theme, so I will not use the idea that entered the store. "Can do it" continued only for a while, but the world will change, so bringing the idea that I put out in the previous year to the next year will make me say "I am short of studying." That was properly done.

G:
In other words, it means that you were using only supernatants among those really experts gathered.

Mr. Noppo:
That's it. It is already really luxurious making. I think that I have not done such a thing now. I was doing it like that. I really would like you to know this.

G:
I see. I was casually watching it when I was a child, but I did not know that it was made with such hardships.

Mr. Noppo:
so. The viewer will not be casual, but it is natural as a creator.

G:
It is amazing. By the way, in the survey of major Internet portal site "Yahoo! JAPAN", there is a survey result that "I wonder if I can do it" in the item "NHK program I want you to make it to DVD", but it got first place Is there anything you think about that?

Mr. Noppo:
There is no sense in spite of being overwhelmed here myself, but it is very pleasing for you to say so. Indeed, there were times when I even thought that there were things that sometimes were not very good, and after all there was also a director of the producer and conditions at that time. But when you look at it in total you definitely say that it is rich as a producer side, but it's totally poor, how to make it.

Because, at that time, to make a program of 15 minutes, one meeting per week, we first discussed the idea that everyone brought, I wrote the script, made the music, then the lesson for 2 days. I spent three days in that fifteen minutes.

Now say "Please come in 5 minutes in advance" easily. What will you do coming 5 minutes ago? You think. So now it is not rich at all. In those days it was poor but rich, but now it is rich but poor.

G:
Is "rich" an aspect of ideas rather than a monetary problem?

Mr. Noppo:
I think that I've forgotten that "making things" is important, though.

G:
About Gonta-kun who co-starred for 20 years, is there any episode?

Mr. Noppo:
That was truly a buddy. I was inside.Atsushi ImuraI am one or two years older than I, but they do not interfere with each other 's way or something like that. The other side thought very carefully what I wanted to do, but I told him not to say by myself "If Mr. Noppo wants to do that, I will adapt to it", but it did it silently.

"I want to do this here because you want to do this," you said that if I do, I will match the other side properly and the other side will take it properly if I think that I want to do this Right.

G:
Is that what has been cultivated within 20 years after all?

Mr. Noppo:
No, it is from the beginning.

G:
Was it from the beginning?

Mr. Noppo:
The other side is the master of puppeteers who became the president or vice president of the puppet theater association.

Well, I always competed with me at the end of the program, because Gonta-kun fought with fights of me, but when I am not good at chasing after chasing, I will do "gang" on Gonta-kun. That's why Mr. Imura's wife, who is always in attendance Gonta-kun, is worried about Mr. Imura, "Do not make it so bad".

At this time from Gonna-kun, it is nice to hear "Noisy, born" like this. You know well that you are thinking over there that it is good to work as hard as two people. I will go hand in hand over you, properly. Because I am unexpectedly serious, I'm going to do it, so you can call me "stop it" from the side, but from the side I was told, "noisy, born".

G:
I see. But do not you keep on moving forever in the costume, is not it really hot too?

Mr. Noppo:
so. I think that it is surprisingly difficult, but since that's not so much a move, that's why you are standing wearing and fighting in a certain sense "in". So in that respect, I was a good puppeteer, so it was quite a while. In any case, because I am a guardian that I will not disturb you. So it was good.


G:
I also remember that it was talked about at the time that I talked for the first time in the final round of "I wonder", but how do you feel about that time?

Mr. Noppo:
Everyone opposed you to talk. Because I came without talking, I wonder if I say "good bye" at the end, please. I thought that I could actually continue for a few more years, but I guess I was a bit angry because I could not continue because of various circumstances.

Although I was talking about "I will stop it when it gets dirty," but the hand reflected on the monitor is still beautiful, and when it is not so declining as a movement, it is time to step down in various circumstances Then. At that time, "I have not spoken to date, but I'm such a good voice", it is very shallow and not bad, but "There is no other voice in the end that people who did not talk until now I would like to inform everyone in Japan about it ", everyone said" Aeet ". But when I say "noisy", everyone says "There is no gingering".

It was the first time when I got a microphone on my chest on the actual day, "I guess so, yeah, it is so, after all I do not speak at all and it will not be damaging, have you put a microphone here last time only?" I thought, but I see, before I said, I can not withdraw again.

And I said obediently, "I will move on to the next program from next week," but as soon as I said, at the moment we speak, although I said that I wanted to hear my own good voice, Everyone who heard of it will be surprised "I thought. Because I spoke suddenly.

Still can not say "I am sorry"? That's why the word "Ah, I talked" including that meaning "I am sorry" came out without any idea. So very, as a motive, I do not care. "I want to be surprised to tell everyone because I am silent because it is such a good voice."

G:
I see. That was really surprising (laugh)

So the question will change slightly from here, but the fact that "Grasshopper story" released in 2005 is a work that also made screenplays, lyrics, choreographies, etc. It means that we have already done the third bullet , What kind of things are the feelings and messages put in this work?

Mr. Noppo:
"Everyone's Song" is a terrible program, so I do not dream of saying that I can be a singer there. However, it happened that I thought that I would like to work with myself as a "moving person" for over 10 years ago, who happens to be a producer at "everyone's song".

The composer named Mr. Toshiaki Matsumoto brought the song of the first Grasshopper story there. I wrote the song because he liked it because he liked the composer who rescued the grasshopper who got lost in the subway while studying abroad in London and returned it to the park What.

G:
It is still an episode of "Grasshoppers Story", is not it?

Mr. Noppo:
It is as it is. That song was completed with such a story, but "Noppo-san, what is this something?" Because it is a very good song, if I say "funny" as soon as you listen, will you play the role of a grasshopper that appears? I was told that I was comfortable and wrote the lyrics.

G:
Is the lyric of "Grasshoppers Story" a message to children?

Mr. Noppo:
Although this is a message to small people, I myself did not challenge, thinking that I should not hurt the image of "Noppo" who everyone liked and praised.

In fact it may have been able to challenge more various things, but when I turned down with some reason, when I became about 40, I began thinking myself as "Who is Nippo?" Everyone gets angry with such a thing. "Though we like Nokpo like this, the person himself said" What kind of guy did you think "Noppo-san?"

But as an entertainer, there was something else you could do? I guess. That's why I put the lyrics "Tabetto" into the Grasshopper story in the sense that "Do everything without fear of failure".

A reporter from 40 to 50 who interviewed me earlier when he got a sports newspaper interviewed that song every morning "I heard" Tabetto "I will go to work I listen every morning I said, "Is not it? That's why it's a message not only to small people but to everyone. Because I am a missing person, I want to do it straightforwardly. If it is not, I will not write a simple word "Tabet".

Soundtrack of 'Grasshopper Story' released on October 7


G:
I see. In the meantime, I was calling my child a "small person" in the story, but why is that?

Mr. Noppo:
This is already told to everyone, human beings are of large and small in such physical place with age and height, though there are few and few experiences and knowledge, but the wisdom of the main Sensitivity and such are already meaningful at the age of 5.

So it is often "adult" and "child", but if you divide it into the "big man" and "small person" I am a "bigger person" who is age old and a "small person" I think that it is only that person who is small in age and tiny.

I am now 75 years old, but to be honest I think that it will be the year "When was my glory?" "Did I have a time of glory?" Then, I have not had it all the time.

G:
No, no I will not think such a thing.

Mr. Noppo:
I say "no no," but he does not exist. I go back ahead for a while and I shine glittering at the age of 5, so this 5 year old is a more amazing person, seen from the 75 year old me.

Therefore, when you see a small person, you are conscious of being "this person might be more amazing than me". So, for a small person, tremendously, I will respect my best respect and respect for my strength at my best place. So it may not be exact politeness for you (lol)

If you were a small person, you are not looking at such a relaxed look. I will correct my posture. You are a big person, you see, is not it good? Because we do not have anything to wait for Mr. Ochi. If a small person is sitting there, I will really correct my attitude.

G:
I see.

Mr. Noppo:
That's it. That's why I say "a small person".

Mr. Noppo who touches as "small person" instead of "child"


Mr. Noppo when contacting as "a big person"


G:
As for the next question, how long is it that it took us to write songwriting, script / choreography etc., including this "Grasshopper story"?

Mr. Noppo:
Writing songs, it's tough to have a theme well with it. But if you write something and write a song in it, you can write dozens of them if you have a day. It can be written smoothly and smoothly. Because I write with easy words. The script thinks into the idea from the whole morning till night all throughout the week. With that, you can write it overnight.

G:
Overnight?

Mr. Noppo:
Yes. However until then it is serious. Of course, after that, there will be correcting afterwards, but if you thought about thinking by thinking about it too dead and planning to thought out and saying "Yes, this is fine" can be written in one night, if there is a song If you need it, you can write as smoothly as I really said right now.

G:
It's amazing, is not it ...

Mr. Noppo:
It's just blowing like this (laugh) But it's really early. For example, there are times when I went to "time of haiku", but I wrote something like "a child of a grasshopper who fell to the chair or knocked down or jumped in a thunder" I said, 'I could write such a thing in one second' because I said 'was hard work.'

I can really write it in 1 second. I think that this is not a bad phrase. So, if you go to a frequent couple meeting, you can do dozens of phrases. I do not mean to take this apart. There are good and bad things, but if it is about this haiku, I can handle it a little at once.

G:
Does that mean that it is inspiring?

Mr. Noppo:
Surely, it may be funny to say that such a thing is inside when it is small, but it is not that I read it by study separately, since I have read books a lot since I was a very small person, so it is natural.

G:
When you say that you read a book from a young age, how much is it about? What kind of book is there?

Mr. Noppo:
Would you also let me be proud of you? (Lol) Let's be honest. I was reading Iwanami Bunko when I was in the third grade of elementary school. From Natsume Soseki to Balzac, Flo Bell, from anything else. I am reading a total of 60 volumes of Shakespeare's plays by Shigeru Tsubouchi, a junior high school student.

G:
It is amazing. Well, for example, did not you read manga in particular?

Mr. Noppo:
For manga, wonderful 4-frame manga is nice, but I do not read ordinary manga.

G:
What is 4 frames, for example?

Mr. Noppo:
If it is 4 frames, it will be posted in the newspaper or something, even a comic of 1 frame is OK, but I think that it is after all that a wise person draws it. I am happy to see it when I have a wonderful start and finish with one or four frames and it is really fancy.

G:
Do you have any respected composers, script writers, choreographers, etc?

Mr. Noppo:
When I say the god of dance, it is Fred Astea of ​​an American dancer after all since it is small as my idol. This is my god as a dancer.

When I say somebody, there are also classical composers such as Mozart, and if it is around jazz or pops, in the 1920s and 1930sIrving BerlinYaGeorge GershwinThere are tremendous people like that. I truly honor that kind of person.

Regarding music itself, I love it as it is a kind of great thing. So when I am doing such a play, I will respect the composers and the music that comes out the most.

G:
I see. And the third bullet to be released on October 30 "Letter from Grasshopper - Do not forgetIt is about the DVD 's, but if you have a particularly strong part of it here, would you please teach me?

Mr. Noppo:
The first "Grasshopper Story" is "Tabet", in the second "Highty Grasshopper" "Greetings are Important", greeting is the beginning of communication between people and greetings I put in a message saying that it is an important thing to tell me that "I am not hostile to you."

The third bulletin, "Letters from Grasshopper - Do not forget" said, looking at the way people live today, you know, despite having failed a year ago by the Lehman shock, the trilling financial industry I told you to forget it and trying the same thing. Many people have not thought about something about other people because of their lack of desire. But not only these people, I think that it is dangerous to go as it is, human beings.

But I do not think he will complain about human beings complaining. So I borrowed the mouth of a bug and said "I will do it badly." Actually I would like to say more tightly, but now I borrow the mouth of a grasshopper's grandfather "I can not live by myself alone" "The earth is not only for human beings" "Everyone has to get along I thought to say that "Is not there?" Although it is the most severe message.

G:
It certainly is tough content, is not it.

This will be released on October 30 DVD "Letter from Grasshopper - Do not forgetIt is a package picture of " Furthermore, letter from Grasshopper ~ Do not forget ~NHK everyone's songIt is broadcasting as a song of October / November of the year.


Mr. Noppo:
Of course, even if a small person sees it, it will be pleased, but this time, I would like someone who is slightly larger than that to see it. Probably I think I will be surprised. I do not want to use such words, but I often say, 'Child cheating'. This is not a "childhood deception". That's why it's OK with "adult deception" (laugh)

But I hate fooling anyway, this time I made it older than Mr. Oshii, everyone, including young people and people above that, made it to make me think "that!" Please, please see.

There are two tap dancers that are young but they resemble me. One person is particularly similar. I devised my own way and I am very good at it. Not only the dancers but also the actresses are neat and they are serious. I do not pull out my hands.

G:
musical"Thank you! GrasshopperWill the performances be held in three places nationwide?

Mr. Noppo:
It is three places right now. I think that there will be movement again in the future. (Editor's note: The Tokyo performance ended)

G:
Thank you very much.

Details about the future performance of "Thank you! Grasshopper" is from the following.

Musical 【Thank you! Grasshopper】 Noppo's little music play
http://www.grasshopper-musical.com/

Also, we have decided to release a DVD containing patterns of the Tokyo performance. For more information from the following Pony Canyon official website.

Pony Canyon
http://visual.ponycanyon.co.jp/