Nagasu Kujira (Fin Whale)

September 14, 1972

Hijikata and Tamano Koichi

Photo Caption: "Four years after 'Hijikata Tatsumi and the Japanese: Revolt of the Flesh,' through numerous experiments in search of the truth of human flesh, Hijikata discovered the 'bow-legged crouch' form [the ganimata kata]. He went on to develop a whole new vision of the world based on this discovery." (Source: Body on the Edge of Crisis, p. 51)

(Tamano Koichi moved to the Northern California in 1978 with his wife Hiroko, who was also a student of Hijikata's. They formed the Butoh group Harupin-ha and have been teaching and performing in the Bay Area for the last 40 years.)

SUZUKI TADASHI took this idea of lowering the center of gravity and walking bow-legged and in the 1980s developed it much further as a technique for developing the actor's body (see below).