AKUTAGAWA, Hachioji Kuruma Ningyo The Koryu Nishikawa Troupe, 2023 Photo: Richard Termine
AKUTAGAWA, Hachioji Kuruma Ningyo The Koryu Nishikawa Troupe, 2023 Photo: Richard Termine
AKUTAGAWA, Hachioji Kuruma Ningyo The Koryu Nishikawa Troupe, 2023 Photo: Richard Termine
This project was the creation and a five US-city tour of AKUTAGAWA, an experimental puppetry work developed by Koryu Nishikawa V, the headmaster of a 160-year puppet company Hachioji Kuruma Ningyo (cart puppet) in Japan, and Tom Lee, an American theater & puppet artist. AKUTAGAWA explored the trajectory of the life and works of Ryunosuke Akutagawa with cart and shadow puppetry, music, video projection, and English narration. Music for AKUTAGAWA was composed and performed by Yukio Tsuji, video projection was designed by Chris Carcione, and shadow puppet animation was created by Linda Wingerter.
Hachioji Kuruma Ningyo The Koryu Nishikawa Troupe
Kuruma Ningyo is a form of puppet theatre created by Koryu Nishikawa I in Japan 170 years ago. It is called “kuruma ningyo” because a puppeteer sits on a kuruma (a cart) and manipulates a ningyo (a puppet). Located in Hachioji, Tokyo, Hachioji Kuruma Ningyo The Koryu Nishikawa Troupe was established 150 years ago and is currently led by Headmaster Koryu Nishikawa V. In addition to annual performances in Hachioji, Koryu Nishikawa V and the troupe are frequently invited to performing engagements throughout Japan as well as around the world. In January 2022, the troupe was designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the Japanese government.
Anna Okuda
AKUTAGAWA Producer
A+K Management
apluskmngmnt@gmail.com
Chopin Theatre, Chicago, United States
Ball Theater of Wabash College, Crawfordsville, United Staes
CAPA Theater, Pittsburgh, United States
Moss Arts Center of Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, United States
Japan Society, New York City, United States
