Note: Our Bluffton High School classmate, Rick Emmert, provides updates from time to time about his experiences in Japan, where he lives.

The following is an e-mail update that we think Icon viewers who know Rick will appreciate. For more details, click on the links.

Dear Family and Friends,

After a rather cold Tokyo winter, there are signs that spring is on its way - although the last couple of days have been quite rainy. In some ways it reminds me of March in Ohio while growing up. I don't mind the rain and I don't mind the cold--but I am not particularly fond of them together. I hope all of you are well and enjoying life despite the weather, and despite the economic and political news which often seems to want to "ruin our day."

And my apologies for the form letter. Some of you are also "Friends of Theatre Nohgaku" so you will soon be getting an email from me under that banner as well.

Theatre Nohgaku will be launching a Kickstarter campaign in support of the Noh Training Project 2012. Kickstarter is a web-based "all or nothing" funding platform. The goal is to raise funds for this summer's Noh Training Project production of Atsumori in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania and to be able to offer discounted attendance for members of Theatre Nohgaku.

Some of you know that I am both the Artistic Director of Theatre Nohgaku and the Director of the Noh Training Project. Many of the members of the former have received much of their training as participants in the latter and wish to continue to do so. But with the present poor economy, the costs of the latter just keep increasing.

Still the Noh Training Project probably is one of the most reasonably priced workshops of its kind: three-weeks of performance training including dormitory housing for $2000-$2200.

In any case, you can read about the Kickstarter drive directly. And Kickstarter is an easy means of donating to an interesting and worthy cause. Please take a look at our page and consider donating even a small amount.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1894890352/atsumori-in-the-park

And if you would like to find out more about Theatre Nohgaku, please look at our webpage here:
http://www.theatrenohgaku.org/

And here is the Noh Training Project web page.
http://www.bte.org/index.php?page=noh-training-project

Meanwhile, I am flying from Tokyo this afternoon to Richmond, Virginia near where I will be participating in a week of rehearsals and then performances at Hampden-Sydney College near Farmville, Virginia. I am looking forward to being back in the States even if only for 10 days.

Best wishes to you all,

Rick

Richard Emmert
Hon-cho 2-27-10 Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164-0012 Japan
tel: 03-3373-0553 fax: 03-3373-4509

Professor, Asian Theatre and Music,Musashino University
www.musashino-u.ac.jp
Artistic Director, Theatre Nohgaku www.theatrenohgaku.org
Director, Noh Training Project www.nohtrainingproject.org