Shittaka Puppet Theater Regular Performance

About this event

Shittaka Puppet Theater, handed down in Takayama Village, Gunma Prefecture, is a Nationally Selected and Prefecturally Designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property. Its major highlight is a unique method called 'sashigane puppet' (sashigane ningyo), which enables complex movements with a wide range of motion by a single puppeteer comparable to three-person puppetry (bunraku). Accompanied by gidayu-bushi chanting and shamisen music, visitors can enjoy this rich traditional performing art woven together in three-part harmony. Using a small puppet around 50 cm in height, the puppeteer stands and inserts their left hand into the back of the puppet's costume to manipulate the sashi (central support stick) that holds the head, moving the eyebrows, eyes, and mouth. With the right hand, two 'sashigane' (bamboo rods about 40 cm long) are used to operate both of the puppet's hands. Because of the use of these sashigane aids, it has been called 'sashigane puppet.' Currently, the Shittaka Ningyo Kinshokai holds 31 puppet heads and approximately 200 costumes, and can perform 11 plays, including 'Shoutsushi Asagao Banashi: The Scene from the Inn to the Oi River.' The regular performance of the Shittaka Ningyo Kinshokai is held every year on November 23 on a permanent stage attached to the West Plaza Indoor Gateball Court.

Venue

Takayama Fureai Park

Nakayama, Takayama, Agatsuma District, Gunma 377-0702