- Presenter: Weiwuying
- Duration is 140 minutes with a 20-minute intermission.
Performed in Japanese with Mandarin and English surtitles.
- Age guidance 12+
- Latecomers must follow staff instructions for entry and re-entry.
- For Group Purchase Discounts, please contact 07-262-6666.
- More Offers
※Discounts are not applicable for tickets tier at NT$300 and lower.
- 10% off for Weiwuying Lifestyle member
- 25% off for Weiwuying Youth member
- 10% off additional ticket purchase for Weiwuying Unlimited member
- For details, please see Weiwuying Members Benefit
(Program cancelled) Hitomiza Otome Bunraku
| ※The program has been cancelled. For more information, please contact +886-7-262-6666. |
Women's Power in Traditional Puppet Theater
Delicacy and Persistence Captured In-between Movement and Silence
Bunraku—traditional puppet theater, captures the essence of Japanese classical arts and requires the combined talents of tayu (chanters/narrators), shamisen musicians, and puppeteers. Originating back to 400 years ago, Bunraku has experienced several setbacks and stagnant periods over the years, but has since regained its popularity and is today regarded as one of the three major Japanese traditional arts together with Kabuki and Noh.
Based off of traditional Bunraku, Maiden's Bunraku diverges from having puppets operated by three male puppeteers, instead using a single female puppeteer who operates puppets whose sizes surpass that of the half-length of her body. Onstage, the puppeteers and puppets synchronize with one another, demonstrating elegant movements and delicate emotions reminiscent of Japanese buyo. When viewing Maiden's Bunraku, audiences will first be amazed by the extremely smooth movements of the puppets. Next, they will be touched by the intricate emotions contained in the shamisen's music. And finally, they will be astonished by the exceptional synchronization between the tayu, music, and the movements of the puppets.
The upcoming performance will introduce to the Taiwanese audience how Maiden's Bunraku managed to break free from the male-dominant Bunraku of one hundred years past and how this charming and interesting art form has been able to attract tens of millions of dedicated fans.
Section I begins with a Sanbasou, a dance that prays for world peace and bumper harvests, thus adopting a classic opening section to lead the audience into the aesthetic world of Japanese traditional theater. Section II "Keisei Awa no Naruto" is a famous tragedy in Bunraku lore. The 8th part in this section—Junrei-uta no Dan, depicts a daughter's desperate longing for her parents and the parents' love and struggle in protecting her, thereby enacting the suppressed emotions and lamentable fate characteristic of the feudal period. In Section III "Added Oeyama Shuten-doji", the most brilliant showing of Bunraku puppetry is demonstrated through various aspects, such as dance of the enchanting woman, the thrilling fighting scenes, and the unpredictable contests between the human and monster. Featuring ancient and splendid ceremonial music, poems that lament fate, and the dual between righteous and evil, these three classic sections will surely present the diverse faces of Maiden's Bunraku. (By LU Chung-Wei)
Related Activitie
Bunraku Puppeteer Workshop
2022/5/26(Thu)19:00-21:00 (Limited availability, visit the website for more information)
Creative and Production Team
Company｜Hitomiza Otome Bunraku
Puppeteer｜MATSUMOTO Sachiko, YAMASHITA Junko, SUZUKI Aya, MURAMATSU Yuki, ANDO Mai, TAGAWA Haruka
Narrator｜TAKEMOTO Koshikou, TAKEMOTO Koshikyo
Shamisen player｜TSURUZAWA Kanya, TSURUZAWA Tsugahana
Stage Manager｜AOKI Takashi
Light Design｜MATSUMOTO Ei （eimatsumoto Co.Ltd）
Company Manager｜TSUKADA Chiemi, FUJIWARA Natsu
Production Company｜Foundation Modern Puppet Center
Team Introduction
Hitomiza Otome Bunraku
In 1967, the members of theater group Hitomiza studied with KILITAKE Chieko, a working Otome Bunraku puppeteer who, in the following year, founded Hitomiza Otome Bunraku and organized its debut performance. The group has performed in Japan, Europe, Asia, and the United States. They are also committed to promoting this traditional art form among youngsters in their home base, Kawasaki City.
Hitomiza Otome Bunraku has given annual performances since 2010. In 2018, they were categorized as a cultural property of Kawasaki City, and in 2019 they received the Matsuo Performing Arts Awards Special Prize.
Learn More
Otome Bunraku was derived from traditional Japanese Bunraku puppet performances around 90 years ago.
In traditional Bunraku, a single puppet is operated by three male puppeteers working together, but in Otome Bunraku, a single female puppeteer performs on her own; thus, the puppets have some added features for easier manipulation.
The most unique feature of the art form is that the puppeteers are all female. This tradition was inaugurated by the fifth generation of traditional Bunraku puppeteers the KILITAKE Monzo clan.
Partner：
 |
 |
(Program cancelled) Hitomiza Otome Bunraku
| ※The program has been cancelled. For more information, please contact +886-7-262-6666. |
Women's Power in Traditional Puppet Theater
Delicacy and Persistence Captured In-between Movement and Silence
Bunraku—traditional puppet theater, captures the essence of Japanese classical arts and requires the combined talents of tayu (chanters/narrators), shamisen musicians, and puppeteers. Originating back to 400 years ago, Bunraku has experienced several setbacks and stagnant periods over the years, but has since regained its popularity and is today regarded as one of the three major Japanese traditional arts together with Kabuki and Noh.
Based off of traditional Bunraku, Maiden's Bunraku diverges from having puppets operated by three male puppeteers, instead using a single female puppeteer who operates puppets whose sizes surpass that of the half-length of her body. Onstage, the puppeteers and puppets synchronize with one another, demonstrating elegant movements and delicate emotions reminiscent of Japanese buyo. When viewing Maiden's Bunraku, audiences will first be amazed by the extremely smooth movements of the puppets. Next, they will be touched by the intricate emotions contained in the shamisen's music. And finally, they will be astonished by the exceptional synchronization between the tayu, music, and the movements of the puppets.
The upcoming performance will introduce to the Taiwanese audience how Maiden's Bunraku managed to break free from the male-dominant Bunraku of one hundred years past and how this charming and interesting art form has been able to attract tens of millions of dedicated fans.
Section I begins with a Sanbasou, a dance that prays for world peace and bumper harvests, thus adopting a classic opening section to lead the audience into the aesthetic world of Japanese traditional theater. Section II "Keisei Awa no Naruto" is a famous tragedy in Bunraku lore. The 8th part in this section—Junrei-uta no Dan, depicts a daughter's desperate longing for her parents and the parents' love and struggle in protecting her, thereby enacting the suppressed emotions and lamentable fate characteristic of the feudal period. In Section III "Added Oeyama Shuten-doji", the most brilliant showing of Bunraku puppetry is demonstrated through various aspects, such as dance of the enchanting woman, the thrilling fighting scenes, and the unpredictable contests between the human and monster. Featuring ancient and splendid ceremonial music, poems that lament fate, and the dual between righteous and evil, these three classic sections will surely present the diverse faces of Maiden's Bunraku. (By LU Chung-Wei)
Related Activitie
Bunraku Puppeteer Workshop
2022/5/26(Thu)19:00-21:00 (Limited availability, visit the website for more information)
Creative and Production Team
Company｜Hitomiza Otome Bunraku
Puppeteer｜MATSUMOTO Sachiko, YAMASHITA Junko, SUZUKI Aya, MURAMATSU Yuki, ANDO Mai, TAGAWA Haruka
Narrator｜TAKEMOTO Koshikou, TAKEMOTO Koshikyo
Shamisen player｜TSURUZAWA Kanya, TSURUZAWA Tsugahana
Stage Manager｜AOKI Takashi
Light Design｜MATSUMOTO Ei （eimatsumoto Co.Ltd）
Company Manager｜TSUKADA Chiemi, FUJIWARA Natsu
Production Company｜Foundation Modern Puppet Center
Team Introduction
Hitomiza Otome Bunraku
In 1967, the members of theater group Hitomiza studied with KILITAKE Chieko, a working Otome Bunraku puppeteer who, in the following year, founded Hitomiza Otome Bunraku and organized its debut performance. The group has performed in Japan, Europe, Asia, and the United States. They are also committed to promoting this traditional art form among youngsters in their home base, Kawasaki City.
Hitomiza Otome Bunraku has given annual performances since 2010. In 2018, they were categorized as a cultural property of Kawasaki City, and in 2019 they received the Matsuo Performing Arts Awards Special Prize.
Learn More
Otome Bunraku was derived from traditional Japanese Bunraku puppet performances around 90 years ago.
In traditional Bunraku, a single puppet is operated by three male puppeteers working together, but in Otome Bunraku, a single female puppeteer performs on her own; thus, the puppets have some added features for easier manipulation.
The most unique feature of the art form is that the puppeteers are all female. This tradition was inaugurated by the fifth generation of traditional Bunraku puppeteers the KILITAKE Monzo clan.
Partner：
|
|
- Presenter: Weiwuying
- Duration is 140 minutes with a 20-minute intermission.
Performed in Japanese with Mandarin and English surtitles.
- Age guidance 12+
- Latecomers must follow staff instructions for entry and re-entry.
- For Group Purchase Discounts, please contact 07-262-6666.
- More Offers
※Discounts are not applicable for tickets tier at NT$300 and lower.
- 10% off for Weiwuying Lifestyle member
- 25% off for Weiwuying Youth member
- 10% off additional ticket purchase for Weiwuying Unlimited member
- For details, please see Weiwuying Members Benefit
