This year is the 400th anniversary of diplomatic and trade relations between my two beloved adopted nations: Mexico, with which I fell in one when I was 12, and Japan, with which I fell in love when I was 19. And oh, what a love affair both have been!

On Thursday, December 5, we were fortunate to be able to attend a performance entitled
「舞書楽」—  MaiShoGaku, or “dance, calligraphy and music,” written and performed by Irene Akiko Iida, choreographed by her and Arturo Tames, with music by Alejandro Méndez.

The piece is the story of the inner struggles of a Buddhist monk to achieve enlightenment, struggling with the elements of water and fire, using the discipline of calligraphy to work through and free himself from emotion. Accompanied by taiko drumming and some incredible vocalizations, it made for an evening far from the norm here in Mazatlán.

Opening act: taiko drummer

Grinding ink as meditation

The monk begins his calligraphy or Shoudo

Two scrolls, one of which was raffled at the end of the evening

Struggles with fire and water

Struggles with emotion, in this case with sadness

Achieving peace

Kabuki’s golden lion

The cast along with Esperanza, head of our local Nikkei community, and her husband

Thanking the cast members

And with Irene

As always, thank you CULTURA Mazatlán, for helping us retain our cultural connections with the world in which we live.