Playing with Joruri and Japanese swords
overview:
This page allows you to enjoy the profound culture of Joruri and Japanese swords in a modern, new way. We introduce "modern Joruri" that conveys the story through narration and music, and a fantastic exhibition space that combines shadow puppets and Japanese swords.
It's a great opportunity to experience traditional Japanese culture, and you can get up close and personal with the history and beauty of Joruri and Japanese swords.
Beginners are also welcome to take a look.
"I want to experience traditional Japanese culture more easily!"
That is the idea behind the creation of "Playing with Joruri and Japanese Swords"
A Joruri performance woven with spoken music, an exhibition of Japanese swords where light and shadow resonate...
It is a place where you can experience the traditional Japanese atmosphere and beauty passed down from ancient times from a new perspective.
Why not join us and experience a moment where the everyday and the extraordinary intersect, which can be enjoyed by both adults and children?
For a more detailed explanation, please seethis blog
Playing with Joruri
Stories and passion alive in Joruri
Joruri, including the works of Monzaemon Chikamatsu, is full of soul-stirring stories and the charm of storytelling. I first became involved with Joruri when I saw a modern Japanese translation of "Keisei Awa no Naruto" at the National Cultural Festival in 2005. Along with the passionate performance of actor Daijiro Harada, it portrayed fundamental human themes such as parent-child relationships and loyalty, and has since been well-received in many productions.
What I especially feel while translating Joruri is the fun of wordplay, the comfort of the 7-5 rhythm, and the beauty of the Japanese language. I try to preserve as much of the essence and charm of Joruri as possible.
We would like to spread this rich culture through contemporary Joruri performances.
If you want to know more about the appeal of Joruri, please see the related blog article.
Light and Shadow of Japanese Swords
A mysterious space filled with swords and shadow puppets
In this special exhibition space where swords and shadow puppets come together, you can enjoy a new side of Japanese swords.
For two years, starting in 2022, the Kaifu Sword will be exhibited alongside a shadow puppet diorama, allowing visitors to experience the "past and present" of Japanese swords woven together with light and shadow. In this space, where swords with hundreds of years of history coexist with silhouettes of animals and nature depicted in shadow puppets, the light and shadows overlap back to back, making the sword that emerges between them particularly mystical. Please enjoy the new sensation of the beauty and history of Japanese swords coming together along with the swaying shadow animals.
This exhibit has been designed so that even small children can enjoy it casually. The "Shadows and Swords" exhibition space is the first of its kind in Japan, and we will continue to expand this fantastic collaboration with various swords across the country.
For more information on the beauty and background of Japanese swords, please see our related blog post
Playing with tradition and classics
A place to encounter new cultures
Joruri is a traditional performing art that expresses the rich Japanese sensibility through storytelling and music. Its influence has spread to regional cultures, where it is popularly performed as songs, such as "Joruri Kuzushi," and danced in conjunction with Bon Odori festivals. In modern Joruri plays, classic stories are re-told in modern language, and together with the tayu and shamisen, we aim to create a new form of entertainment that can be enjoyed by a wider audience. As actor Daijiro Harada says, Joruri has a special sense of exhilaration that is different from theater . Please enjoy the charm of Joruri as a new form of "storytelling music."
The monochrome space created by the shadow puppets and the exhibition of Japanese swords resonate with each other in this special place where tradition and playfulness come together.
We will provide you with a mysterious experience that anyone can enjoy easily.