The Beauty that Dwells in the Spaces between the Images: Ichimaru and the Art of "Unshown Colors" (1969)

The Beauty that Dwells in the Spaces between the Images: Ichimaru and the Art of "Unshown Colors" (1969)

In 1969, Ichimaru, a master of Edo kouta, said, "Shame is the essence of art" in the increasingly exposed world of entertainment. Ichimaru's art emphasized "scenting," not direct expression, and was rooted in a sense of beauty that concealed emotion in pauses and silence. The red lintel, the gesture of turning around, and other details of sexuality stimulate the imagination of the audience. In contrast, nudity and nude scenes in movies and TV shows at that time were beginning to be called an art form, and showing them was becoming more and more valuable.

In response to this trend of the times, Ichimaru stated categorically, "Exposure is the most tactless. There is a strong sense of crisis that the performing arts are being consumed by money and ratings, and a sense of pride in the classical arts. Her words were not merely an assertion of aesthetics, but also an expression of her determination to "stand on stage as a woman.

In an era of rapid change, Ichimaru's art was like the last fortress to protect the culture of "refinement," which is rich in restraint. His quiet resistance still raises essential questions about what "sex appeal" and "acting" really mean.