Written and directed by Koki Mitani
supervised and performed by Ichisuke Yoshida
Composer and performer: Seisuke Tsuruzawa
Cast: Chitosedayu Takemoto and others
Bunraku x Koki Mitani - ultra-classical entertainment!For the first time in 13 years, Mitani Bunraku's long-awaited new production will be born this summer.
Mitani Bunraku's "Sorenari Shinjuu" was created in 2012. While paying tribute to the traditions and craftsmanship of Bunraku, this classical entertainment, created with a new perspective and direction by Mitani Koki, conveys the charm of Bunraku to Bunraku fans as well as beginners, and has been well received since 2012, with performances held in various locations. And this summer, we will be delivering our long-awaited new works.
The main character is a doll that has always been the "hated character"!
A hilarious Bunraku puppet story drawn by Mitani Koki.
The title is "Ningyo Girai" The story is set in a Bunraku theater in modern times, and the main characters are the puppets themselves, who are playing the roles. Bunraku puppets, like actors, play a variety of roles depending on the show. Some puppets are leading roles, while others specialize in supporting roles. And just like people, each puppet has a name. The protagonist in this play is a puppet called "Darasuke," a great supporting actor who is also the best in the world at playing annoying villains.
"YarinoGonzaKasanekatabira" by Monzaemon Chikamatsu, a story about Gonza, a master spearman, and Osai, another man's wife, who are suspected of an adulterous affair. Genta plays Gonza, Ne-san plays Osai, and Darasuke always plays the supporting role. Darasuke explodes with frustration at always being made to play the villainous role. In the end, the dolls run out of the theater...
As Mitani takes on Bunraku once again, he will be joined by a luxurious cast of performers who are indispensable to Mitani Bunraku, including supervising and performing (puppeteer) Ichisuke Yoshida, the mastermind behind the performance of "Sorenari Shinjuu" 13 years ago and who was awarded the New Power Award at the 2023 Kansai Genki Cultural Area Awards in recognition of his work; composing and performing (shamisen) Tsuruzawa Seisuke, who also composed the music for "Sorenari Shinjuu," and performing Takemoto Chitosedayu, who also appeared in "Sorenari Shinjuu" and was promoted to "kirigatari," the highest qualification given to a tayu in 2022.
Mitani Bunraku, which produced famous scenes such as the underwater scene in "Sorenari Shinjuu" where puppets swim. There is nothing that a Bunraku puppet can't do. There is nothing that a human can do that we can't do!" Please look forward to the dolls' new challenges.
Written and directed by Koki Mitani
"Anything a human can do, a doll can do." That's what puppeteer Ichisuke Yoshida told me. I was touched by their confidence and determination, and wrote "Sorenari Shinjuu" Ichisuke's words were not wrong. The dolls really could do anything. It was an eye-opener.
This time, the motif is Molière's "The Misanthrope." The main character is a doll who hates dolls. In this Bunraku performance, a puppet will ride a skateboard.
Supervised and performed by Ichisuke YoshidaIt has been 13 years since the premiere of Mitani Bunraku, and this year's production features a long-awaited new work! aving met Mr. Mitani, I feel that the puppeteers of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's time must have been excited to see what story would come up next.
I hope that everyone will enjoy watching it, both as a piece of traditional Japanese Bunraku art and as a piece of theatre by Mitani. This story would not be possible without the love for puppets, so I will do my best as a puppeteer to make the Bunraku puppets smile with pride! Please come to the theater and laugh your head off.
Dates2025/8/16 (Sat)～2025/8/28 (Thu)
Venue
PARCO THEATER
https://stage.parco.jp/en/parcotheater/15-1 Udagawacho Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8377 SHIBUYA PARCO 8F
15 minute walk from SHIBUYA station
Ticket FeeReserved seats（weekend） :￥11,000
Reserved seats（weekdays） :￥10,000
（All prices include tax）
・Preschoolers not permitted to enter
・Tickets for this performance cannot be transferred for a fee without the consent of the organizers.
・English audio guides for scene descriptions will be available for rental to customers.（limited quantity／paid）
As soon as it is decided, it will be announced on the official PARCO STAGE website.
Sales DateSaturday, June 14th, 2025
Inquiry https://www.confetti-web.com/contacts
Ticket English Site
https://www.confetti-web.com/ningyogirai_ENG
For those living overseas and foreigners in Japan, please check the English website to purchase tickets.
Planned, produced and sponsored by Parco,
Co-sponsored by Sunrise Promotion Tokyo,
Supported by Arts Council Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture
