Kairyo Ningyo Shibai Renaissance Reaches Its Final Performance

The string puppet troupe Isshiza held the final performance of "Kairyo Ningyo Shibai Renaissance" on October 15 at the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center (2 Kaminarimon, Taito-ku). The project, which aims to pass string puppetry on to the next generation, has been handed down for about 400 years since the early Edo period. It opened on September 28.

Program

The tour covered three venues: Koshozan Saitoku-ji (1 Ryusen), Asakusa Hana Theater (2 Asakusa), and the Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center. The troupe performed the classics "Sanbaso," "Date Musume Koi no Higanoko: Yaoya Oshichi, Hi no Mi Yagura no Ba," and "Suzugamori," as well as a new puppet joruri piece set in Asakusa, "Asakusa Monogatari: Yoshiwara ni, Ikitai!" At Saitoku-ji and the Hana Theater, visitors could try operating the puppets by handling the strings after the performance. The final performance was timed to coincide with "Ningyo no Hi" (Doll Day).

What Is Kairyo Ningyo Shibai?

Devised in the Meiji era by the 9th Yuki Magosaburo, this "kabuki-style" theater has the puppeteers themselves speak the lines. When it was shown at the Ichimura-za theater in Shitaya Nicho-machi, it drew full houses every day. This year marks 125 years since that debut.

New Work and Future Plans

The new work "Asakusa Monogatari: Yoshiwara ni, Ikitai!" runs about 20 minutes and was written and directed by Kanno Shintaro. It depicts the journey to Yoshiwara. From December, the troupe plans to start regular performances in Asakusa aimed mainly at visitors from abroad, with a goal of 100 performances a year (venue under arrangement). Representative Eden Naiyo also voiced hopes for a permanent base in Asakusa.