Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Edo Marionette Theatre YOUKIZA
The Marionette Theater YOUKIZA was founded in 1635 by Youki Magosaburō I; to the present time of Youki Magosaburō XII, the company has enjoyed a history of 385 years.
Its main activities are classical productions drawn from its jōruri repertory and new plays, magic lantern shows, and intercultural productions. Their experimental productions include actor-puppet performance, in which the puppeteer both manipulates puppets and performs as a character himself; the application of premodern puppetry techniques; and the insertion of Edo magic lantern visuals. The Youkiza continually seeks to develop and combine new aspects to enhance their distinctive performance style.
In 2007, the Japan-France Theatre Collaboration of Jean Genet’s Les Paravents and two traditional plays by the Youkiza were invited to the Avignon Theatre Festival, one of the three major world theatre festivals, and received accolades. In 2008, for the 100th Anniversary of Japan-Brazil Exchange, Youkiza was dispatched by the Japan Foundation to four Brazilian cities to perform authentic traditional puppetry. In March 2010, Youkiza performed Kuo Pao Kun’s The Descendents of the Eunuch Admiral (dir. Frederik Fisbach) at the Setagaya Theatre Tram, Tokyo. This production was also invited to the Croatian Eurokaz Festival and the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleta, Italy, and received both effusive popular and critical acclaim.