Ninomai
Today I will talk about the Japanese term “ninomai.”
二の舞
“Ni” means “second,” “mai” means “performing art,” and “ninomai” means to imitate someone’s act, especially repeat someone’s failure.
今日は「二の舞」という言葉を紹介します。
This term comes from the answer dance of “Ama,” which is one of Gagaku (Japanese traditional music and dance).
「二の舞」は、人のあとに出てその真似をすること、特に前の人の失敗を繰り返すことを意味します。
After the performance of “Ama,” an old man wearing a smile mask and an old woman wearing an pouty mask play a dance while imitating “Ama” humorously.
この言葉は、雅楽の一つ、「安摩」の答舞に由来します。
This second performance is called “ninomai,” and it has come to have the current meaning.
安摩の舞の後、それを見ていた咲面の老爺と腫面の老婆が、こっけいに（わざと失敗しながら）真似をする舞を演じます。
This term is often used like “ninomai wo enjiru,” meaning “to perform ninomai.”
この舞いを「二の舞」と呼び、失敗を繰り返すという現在の意味を持つようになりました。
