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A Comic Journey and Tragic Love Come Alive Through Puppetry and Song

For Immediate Release

Contact: Maiko Behr (mbehr@shinnai-usa.org)

A Comic Journey and Tragic Love Come Alive Through Puppetry and Song

presented by The Williams College Department of Asian Studies

featuring

Living National Treasure Shinnai master Tsuruga Waksanojo XI and

Kuruma Ningyo puppetry master Nishikawa Koryu V

at the ’62 Center CenterStage

Monday October 1, 2007, 8:00 pm

Williamstown, MA: 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 1, The Williams College Department of Asian Studies 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 18^th century. Kuruma Ningyo is a unique style of puppetry that developed in the 19^th 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 Edo popular drama from the premier performers of the Shinnai and Kuruma Ningyo traditions. Carrying on the name of the 18^th century performer who created the art form of Shinnai more than 250 years ago, Tsuruga Wakasanojo XI was designated a Living National Treasure by the Japanese government in 2001, an honor accorded to fewer than 70 performing artists in all of Japan. Born into the world of traditional puppetry, Nishikawa Koryu V is the fifth generation headmaster to bear this name since the first Nishikawa Koryu developed this innovative style of puppetry in the mid-19^th century. He is the head of the Hachioji Kuruma Ningyo troupe, a group that was designated an Intangible Folk Custom Cultural Asset by the Japanese government in 1996. The two masters will be joined by associates Tsuruga Isejiro and Tsuruga Isetsuwa playing the shamisen, and a second puppeteer, Nishikawa Ryuei, on this North American tour, which will also include Amherst, MA, Hanford, CA, and St. Louis, MO.

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.

A free Shinnai singing and Kuruma Ningyo puppetry workshop will be presented at 4:30 pm in the Directing Studio prior to the performance. This performance tour is made possible in part by support from the Japan Foundation Performing Arts JAPAN program and the Toshiba International Foundation. The performance at Williams is supported by the Joseph G. Tompkins, Jr. '62 Fund for Asian Studies.

The performance will be held on the CenterStage of the Williams College ’62 Center at 1000 Main Street, Williamstown, MA (http://62center.williams.edu). Admission is $5 ($3 for students), with tickets available at the '62 Center box office (413-597-2425) or at the door. For additional information about the performance or workshop, please see the tour website at http://www.shinnai-usa.org or email Maiko Behr at mbehr@shinnai-usa.org.