entertainment

Japan’s respected National Theatre surprises everyone with traditional rendition of PPAP

14 Comments
By Oona McGee, RocketNews24

It seems everyone is willing to board Piko Taro’s train to fame by riding on the animal-print coat-tails of the Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen-singing comedic star. We’ve seen Ryuk from the movie "Death Note" do it, along with Elmo and Cookie Monster from "Sesame Street" and even a famous Japanese singer, who racked up more than a million views on YouTube with his own classical version of the original PPAP hit song.

Now it’s time for another traditional version to grab everyone’s attention, and this one comes from Japan’s elite group of performers at the National Theatre. As masters of their craft, these talented musicians can usually be heard providing the musical accompaniment for the stylised moves of traditional kabuki theatre performers. Now, however, they’ve surprised everyone around the country by appearing with a costumed mascot character called “Kurogo-chan” (“Black-robed stagehand”), who dances around to their traditional sound with a pen, a “sampo” (wooden stand used in shrines) and a “nurisampo” (lacquered stand used in shrines).

This is one of the weirdest versions of PPAP we’ve ever seen. Not only does it feature the serious-looking faces of traditional musicians in formal outfits, it also features the usually covert stagehand as a smiling mascot character dancing around at the front, clutching a number of traditional items that give the song its acronym, PNSP.

What’s more, the flute, drums and shamisen used in the routine fit perfectly with the original sound of Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen, as do the vocals, provided here by Saki Kineya, who comes from a respected family of traditional singers whose roots can be traced back to the Edo period (1603-1868). Even Piko Taro’s characteristic grunts are replicated by Kineya in true classical style, using traditional techniques that take years to master.

According to the National Theatre, which produced the video, this unusual performance was created in order to spread the traditions of classical music to a much wider audience, especially in 2017, which marks the company’s 50th anniversary. Now that they’ve dipped their toes into the world of viral videos, perhaps their next move will be to follow up with a rendition of Piko Taro’s latest single, “I Like Orange Juice."

Source: Net Lab

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Japanese singer wishes fans a Happy New Year with traditional version of Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen -- Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen singer makes shocking claim about how much money the song has earned him -- “I Like Orange Juice!” Piko Taro releases new single that’s just as ridiculous as PPAP 【Video】

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.


14 Comments
Login to comment

Japan mistakes Cheese for Cool.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

It's gonna take over. Before long all Japanese "culture" will be some kind of variation on PPAP. It's all building nicely to 2020. The opening ceremony of the Olympics will be one long riff on it. And all foreigners will be greeted with "I have a pineapple" or "Have you my pen?" Japan will close in on the inane like its trajectory has long demanded.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

@SenseNotSoCommon...Comment of the day! I fell out of my chair laughing...

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Let's move along as swiftly as possible from this utter embarrassment.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

It's like flogging a dead horse.....

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Classic.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

After seeing oppai-pen last night on TV and the female attendants were let touch the attributes of the performing young talento with high pitched voice, nothing else matters!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Another hilarious version (groan).

Oh but, "Justin Bieber said on his Twitter that he liked PPAP, so that means it's a massive worldwide hit" - said every Japanese TV channel.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

So much for respect.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Anybody catch TV last night with the busty model doing POOP(PEN OPPAI OPPAI PEN)?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

it like being stuck in one of those nightmares where your being chased by something bad and you cant run because your feet won't move, you scream to yourself wakeup!!. but you cant, then the song is repeated over and over. faaaaarrrkkk!! Japanese are legends of ringing something out until its past dead, its more like a heap of mush on the ground. The next world war wont be fought with conventional weapons, Japan doesnt need them, all they need to do is wheel out the "Cool Japan cart" enemies will surrender in torture!!!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

What a proud moment for them. This years Gangnam Style, only stupider.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

National Embarrassment

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

PPCGALOSBUFIO

Pen Pineapple Cash Grab And Loads Of Sponsorship Before Ultimately Fading Into Obscurity

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites