On the corner of old earthen walls there is a place for art and food
Bonten is located on the corner of Chofu town which has 1800 years of history with many earthen walls in Shimonoseki-city.
The forest like garden has a lot of camellia flowers, and Gregoria hymn is played inside the restaurant where you can enjoy sweet taste of kudzu (ground cherry), shiratama mitsukan (rice-flour dumplings with punch) or food like zouni (soup with vegetable and rice cakes), or noodle soup that bring back memories of old days. In the gallery there are paintings of Morikazu Kumagai or Shinichi Tsukumo are exhibited as well as bowls of daily use that are reasonably priced.
The area is assimilated with old and new cultures allow your five senses to feel the profound wealth of peaceful moments.
Noma Kikaku was established in 1973 and since then project exhibitions of paintings were held in Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kitakyushu, Ube, Yamaguchi and Shimonoseki.
In 1994 the company moved to Chofu, Shimonoseki city when gallery and cafe/restaurant Bonten opened with fusion of old and new cultures. The gallery is performing unique exhibitions different from the city museum that has been introducing artists who are continuously seeking quintessence of art, and together with these artists we offer works that can reach hearts of many people.
As a planner of an art exhibition we produce 5 to 6 exhibitions a year including glass or ceramic as well as permanent exhibits.
Main aritists
Yasuo Kazuki, Morikazu Kumagai, Lacy Pan, Shikou Munakata, Saneatsu Mushanokouji, Marino Marini, Katsuhiko Sato, Cecco Bonanotte, Kosho Shimizu, Tsuzen Nakajima, Kaya Kumagai, Akifumi Sakano, Fujio Kawagishi, Tetsuro Yamashita, Susumu Sakaguchi, Teruhide Kato, Yoshio Kaneko, Osamu Kanamori, Ayako Imori, Sarah Brayer, Shinichi Tsukumo, An Wajun, Keisetsu Yata, Bin Saitou(random order)
Enjoy the world of profound traditional entertainment
Noma Kikaku is the liaison office for ' Mansaku Society ' since 1988 started with his act of ' Last Tsurigitsune ' at Noh theater in Ohori park, Fukuoka city.
Fukuoka ' Mansaku Society ' is well received even in local areas for high quality Kyogen for 23 years performing large scale, esoteric or rare plays.
On the 10th year of Mansaku Society, ' Mansai Society' was organized in Fukuoka along with ' Mansaku, Mansai Society ' in Kumamoto and Oita. We continue to work on increasing awareness of extensive artistry of Kyogen.
We would like to perpetuate our culture by honoring and keeping alive the tradition of "KYOGEN" by exposing it to people around the world. We hope this traditional Japanese art form of entertainment will be appreciated and enjoyed.
Main performances
| 1988 January | Organized the most honorable Kyogen 'Turigitsune' the last act by Mansaku Nomura |
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| 1989 March | Organized the first live NHK satellite broadcast of Noh 'Okina' and 'Sanbasou'. |
| 1992 January | Fukuoka ' Mansaku Society ' 5th anniversary performances of 'Shuron' , 'Utsubozaru', co-acting with Sengoro Shigeyama for the first time and 'Tsurigitsune' by Takeshi Nomura. |
| 1993 | Encountering with the mask of 'Hakuzousu' of Yanagawatachibana family Mansaku Nomura once again performed 'tsurigitsune' at Kumamoto Prefectural theater. Documentary program on Mansaku Nomura's final 'Tsurigitsune' was produced and broadcasted by NHK on the Culture Day. |
| 1996 | Mansaku Nomuwa received medal with Purple Ribbon, and performed 'Sanbasou' and others at the succession to Mansai Nomura's stage name announcement performance. |
| 1997 | Fukuoka 'Mansaku Society' 10th anniversary performed 'Higeyagura' and 'taue' by Mansai Nomura Also started 'Mansaku, Mansai Society' in Oita and Kumamoto. |
| 1998 | Kokura Sogo Department Store 5th anniversary performance 'Sanbasou' by Mansaku Nomura and Mansai Nomura costume designed by Hiroko Koshino. |
| 2001 | 5th anniversay 'Summer Kyogen' where both Mansaku and Mansai Nomura performed together 'Sanbasou' in Kumamoto. |
| 2002 | Fukuoka 'Mansaku Society' 15th anniversary performance 'Utsubozaru' by Sayako Nomura, three generations Kyogen. |
| 2003 | Mansaku performance of 'Kotoboki' and 'Kirokuda' Former chairman of ' Mansaku Society' Suzumi Noma's memorial KYOGEN 'LAST of KYOGEN with Suzumi Noma'. Suzumi Noma was described as a honorable person who has united the stage and audience by Mansaku Nomura. Asahi Newspaper Western Head-office (Kokura) opening performance 'Sanbasou' and 'Futaribakama'. |
| 2004 | Mansaku Nomura 70 years art career commemoration performance, three generations Kyogen, 'Utsubozaru' by Yuuki Nomura. |
| 2006 | 10th anniversary 'Summer Kyogen society' large scale performance of 'Kanaoka' was performed by Mansai Nomura and others. |
| 2007 | Fukuoka 'Mansaku Society' 20th anniversary performance 'Sanbasou' by Mansakju Nomura and 'Tsurigitsune' by Mansai Nomura. |
| 2008 | Mansaku Nomura recognition as a Living National Treasure commemorative performance by parent and child three generations, and Yuki Nomura took a leading part in 'Juki'. |
| 2009 | Nomura Mansaku Age of Joy (77) commemorative performance, 'Kasen' - very rare program. |
| 2010 | Parent and child three generations performance 'ushinusubito' - Yuki Nomura took a leading part. |
Gallery/Cafe,Restaurant guide
Address: 2-26, Furueshoji, Chofu, Shimonoseki-city, Yamaguchi-ken,Japan 752-0972
Telephone:+81-83-246-6255 (restaurant) +81-83-246-6266 (gallery)
Fax: +81-83-246-6288
Business hour: 10:30-17:00 (weekdays) 10:30-1800 (weekends)
Holiday: Fridays (open on national holidays)
Parking: 4 spaces in front of the gallery/restaurant and others
*Cafe/restaurant can be reserved for meetings and special events
Access
By car - exit at Shimonoseki Inter Change and take route 2 to northeast for 20 minutes.
By public transportation - JR Shinshimonoseki station and take a taxi for ten minutes, or from JR Chofu station take a taxi for ten minutes.
