Yaji-san, Kita-san come alive through puppetry and song, Oct. 14
Cultural News, September 2007
Living National Treasure Tsuruga Wakasanojo XI
Puppetry master, Nishikawa Koryu V
HANFORD, California - Two of the most beloved characters of Edo era Japanese literature, Yajirobei and Kitahachi are a pair of good-for-nothings whose hilarious mishaps along the Tokaido Road between Edo and Kyoto were the subject of a serialized bestseller written by Jippensha Ikku and published between 1802 and 1809.
The escapades of these two characters became so well-known and so well-loved that parodies and spin-offs abounded in print form and images of the two travel companions in their various misadventures appeared in woodblock prints as well as in popular theatrical productions on the stages of Kabuki, Bunraku puppetry, and Kuruma Ningyo puppetry among other performing art forms.
On October 14, The Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture in Hanford, California, presents Nishikawa Koryu V, headmaster of the Hachioji Kuruma Ningyo puppetry troupe, in a performance of “Yaji Kita” set to the narration of Living National Treasure Tsuruga Wakasanojo XI, the premier singer of Shinnai, a form of narrative song that dates back to the 18th century.
Kuruma Ningyo is a unique style of puppetry that developed in the 19th century with the innovation of using the “rokuro kuruma,” a wooden block with wheels.
In contrast to the well-known style of Japanese puppetry called Bunraku, which requires three people to manage a single puppet, the use of the “kuruma” cart enables a puppeteer to manage a puppet alone. This innovation also allows for a faster-paced, highly realistic and livelier form of performance, perfectly suited to the romping adventures of Yajirobei and Kitahachi.
Master of vocal performance, Tsuruga Wakasanojo XI will supply the individual voices of the protagonists as well as the narrator’s voice, demonstrating his stunning range of expression and tone.
If “Yaji Kita” exemplifies the classic popular appeal of Kuruma Ningyo puppet theater, “Yuki” (Snow), which will introduce the program, epitomizes the tragic passion of traditional Shinnai narrative.
One of the masterpieces of the classic Shinnai repertoire, this short piece explores the stirring heartache of a woman who has lost her love and spends her nights alone under the softly falling snow.
The haunting beauty of the voice of Tsuruga Wakasanojo XI paints a picture for the ears, as the captivating dancing of the puppet master brings her grief to the stage.
The 90-minute program will thus offer audiences the opportunity to experience the essence of
The performance will be in Japanese with English projected supertitles. Due to the length of the performance and the translations, parental discretion is recommended for children under 12 years old.
The performance on Sunday, October 14 at 3 p.m. will be held at the Hanford Fox Theatre,
General admission tickets go on sale Sept.1 through the