Distinguish your Japanese Script: Jo-Ha-Kyu Structure

Japanese Traditional Method: Jo-Ha-Kyu

*The target readers are those who will make a speech or a presentation in Japanese.

序 (Jo), 破 (Ha) 急 (Kyu) Structure is a concept of modulation and movement coming from Japanese traditional arts; GaGaku which is said to be the oldest orchestra in the world. In this day and age, it is applied to movies and Japanese scripts. One of its strengths is that it can make your script lively, exciting and attractive to your audience. In this article, you will learn how you can utilize the 序 (Jo), 破 (Ha) 急 (Kyu) Structure for your Japanese script.

Japanese Traditional Method of Structuring Japanese Script : Jo-Ha-Kyu

序 (Jo)

The Chinese character, 序 (Jo) means preface, beginning, order, precedence, occasion, chance, incidentally, etc. In this part, you will explain some key points, such as main characters, their backgrounds, their relationships and the world they live in. The ups and downs of your script are important in this structure. However, since this is the beginning, this part should be calmer than the rest of your script.

Example

わたしぞくちちははおとうとにんです。

My family is my father, mother and younger brother.

どもころわたしはサッカーせんしゅおとうとしゃになることがゆめでした。

When we were children, my dream was to become a football player and my brother’s was to become a doctor.

両親りょう しん わたしたちのゆめおうえんしてくれていて、家族 かぞくとてもなからしていました。

My parents supported our dream and we spent happy days together.

破 (Ha)

The Chinese character, 破 (Ha) means broken, damaged, worn out, break, split, destroy, defeat, etc. In this part, you are going to set a stage for the conflict like a Tsunami about to break on the shore. At the beginning, you are going to lead your main characters smoothly, but at this point, something suddenly happens, which can be something like meeting one’s partner, failing in love, or losing something or someone. After that, it will start kind of a new story.

Example

わたしたちが高校生こうこうせいのとき、本格的ほんかくてきゆめへのちょうせんはじめました。

When we were high school students, we started fully focusing on our dreams.

おとうと学校がっこう成績せいせき一番いちばんで、有名ゆうめい研究所けんきゅうじょくことがまりました。

My brother got top marks in school and got an offer to join a well-known research institute.

すべてが上手うまくいっているようでしたが、あるおとうと交通こうつう事故じこにあいました。そしてにました。

It looked like everything was going well. However, one day, he got a traffic accident and was killed.

ショックでそのあとぶんなにをしたらいいのかわからなくなりました。サッカーのれんしゅうめてしまいました。

I didn’t know what to do after that because of the shock. I even stopped practicing football.

なぜおしゃさんたちがおとうとたすけけてくれなかったのか、そればかりかんがえていました。

I was obsessed by a question; why the doctors could not revive him.

急 (Kyu)

The Chinese character, 急 (Kyu) means urgent, urgency, anxious, to worry, rapid, emergency, sudden, pressing, fast, etc. In this part, you are going to have the climax of your script and all problems should be resolved. Your audience may feel your story ends suddenly. In fact, the 序 (Jo), 破 (Ha) 急(Kyu) Structure is such a way of leading them to reflect on the conclusion, which can be happy or unhappy. It is said that the ratio of the number of sentences should be 25% at 序 (Jo), 50% at 破 (Ha) and 25% at 急 (Kyu).

Example

そして、わたしいま医科いか大学だいがくしゃになるための勉強べんきょうをしています。

Now, I am learning at a medical university in order to become a doctor.

わたしづいたのです。わたしがいくらち込んでいてもおとうとかえってないと。

I realized he wasn’t coming back even if I were so disappointed.

だからわたしおとうとゆめわりにいかけることにしました。

So, I decided to pursue his dream instead of him.

おおくのいのちすくしゃになること、それがいまわたしゆめです。

My current dream is to become a doctor who can save many people’s lives.

Pros and Cons

序 (Jo), 破 (Ha) 急 (Kyu) Structure is appropriate for making a narrative story and not appropriate for telling something logically, similar to the 起 (Ki), 承 (Sho), 転 (Ten), 結 (Ketsu) Structure. One of the differences between them is simply the number of paragraphs; 3 and 4, respectively. Thus, the 序 (Jo), 破 (Ha) 急 (Kyu) Structure will work well when writing short Japanese scripts as opposed to the 起 (Ki), 承 (Sho), 転 (Ten), 結 (Ketsu) Structure will do when writing long ones.

Conclusion

In regards to making a Japanese script for your speech, it is recommended because it has no effect on your presentation skills. With the 序 (Jo), 破 (Ha) 急 (Kyu) Structure, the scenarios become the focus of the speech, rather than your ability to deliver it, although delivery is important. Our advice is to be confident. Have the audience on the edge of their seat, trying to guess what will happen next. If you hesitate and look nervous, the audience will only focus on that. Do your best to be bold when you speak.

Recommended Link

Imitate Great Speaker: How to Write Your Japanese Script

Road-Map: How to Make Your Japanese Speech

For Your Japanese Speech; Imitate Great Speakers II

Enhance Your Japanese Script Ki Sho Ten Ketsu Structure

Apply the Essay Structure to Your Japanese Script

Author and English Editor

Author - Takuya Tokiwa

Takuya is the co-founder, Project Director of Wasabi and a serial entrepreneur in the education field. He is utilizing all of his knowledge and experiences for innovating Japanese learning.

English Editor - Natalia Weiner

Natalia is the Editor and Web Content Manager of Wasabi. She majored in Writing with a minor in Journalism and graduated from Loyola University Maryland in 2013. She was the Assistant Content Editor for the popular culture website EmcBlue, and has written and edited for a variety of publications in both Japan and the United States.