Highlights
- 400 years of history is reborn through the artistry of Isshi-za.
- Enjoy the intricate movements of a puppet controlled by over 18 strings.
- Classical masterpieces, live Gidayu narration and shamisen
Description
Experience Japanese String Puppetry in Asakusa
Discover the elegance and artistry of traditional Japanese string puppetry.
This cultural experience features three traditional puppet performances and one newly created piece, followed by a hands-on workshop where you can try operating a string puppet yourself, and a commemorative photo session with the puppets.
Guided by skilled performers, you will gain insight into the delicate techniques and long‑standing traditions behind this unique performing art.
The Program
Sanbaso: A Ceremonial Dance to Purify the Stage and Pray for a Safe Performance
Sanbaso is a sacred and celebratory dance that has been passed down for centuries in Japan’s traditional performing arts. Its origins lie in ancient rituals offering prayers for peace, the blessings of the earth, and an abundant harvest.
The string puppet’s powerful stamping movements are believed to awaken the life-giving energy of the earth and invite happiness and prosperity. Enjoy this lively and dynamic dance, performed with such agility that you may forget the puppet is controlled by strings.
• Yaoya Oshichi: A Young Woman Who Risks Her Life to Save the Man She Loves
Set in the Edo period, this tragic love story follows Oshichi, a young woman who falls in love with a temple page after taking refuge at a temple during a fire.
One snowy night, she climbs a fire watchtower and sounds the fire alarm bell to open the town gates and save him. Knowing that raising a false alarm is punishable by death, Oshichi risks her own life for the man she loves.
Look for the graceful movements of the female string puppet, the suspense as Oshichi climbs the snow-covered watchtower, and the charming miniature string puppets representing the gidayu chanter and shamisen player.
• Suzugamori: A Fateful Encounter in the Shadows of Edo
While traveling at night near the desolate Suzugamori execution ground, the young swordsman Gonpachi is suddenly ambushed by a group of bandits.
He fights them off with remarkable skill, catching the attention of Banzuiin Chobei, a renowned and chivalrous leader among Edo’s townspeople. This chance encounter marks the beginning of an unexpected bond between the two men.
Enjoy the fast-paced sword fighting, bold stage effects unique to string puppetry, and the extraordinarily precise control of the strings that gives every movement a sense of expression, breath, and life.
• An Asakusa Tale: “I’m Dying to Go to Yoshiwara!” — A Comical Journey to Edo’s Most Glamorous Pleasure Quarter
The protagonist of this original string puppet play is a farmer who dreams of visiting Yoshiwara, Edo’s most glamorous pleasure quarter, at least once in his life.
This fast-paced comedy finds humor in a timeless human tendency: setting out with a grand ambition, showing off along the way, giving in to temptation, and ultimately losing sight of the original goal. Although set in Edo-period Japan, its humor can be enjoyed across cultures and generations.
Includes
Admission fee
Easy cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
