What we do

My FATHER, the Earless Musician

  • Organization : Public Interest Incorporated Foundation YOUKIZA
  • Section : International project
  • Type of Grant Program : Single
  • Art Forms : Theater

Outline

The Singaporean playwright/director Chong Tze Chien was invited to stage a modern-day adaptation of Lafcadio Hearn’s supernatural tale “The Story of Mimi-Nashi-Hoichi” (Hoichi the Earless). Hoichi is a down-on-his-luck yet gifted biwa player. Echoing the unrest in world affairs, his mad obsession with his art draws him into an encounter with the grudge-bearing spirit of a defeated Heike warlord, leading to a disastrous outcome for Hoichi. Featuring Noh actor Shimizu Kanji as the Heike warlord and a live Satsuma biwa performance by Arai Seisui, this contemporary production nevertheless incorporates a combination of traditional Japanese performing arts such as puppetry, Noh, and biwa.

Performance: “My FATHER, the Earless Musician”
Performers: Ryokawa Senyu, Youki Magosaburo, Youki Ikuko, Yumoto Aki, Onuki Yasuaki, Oura Emi, Ando Hikaru
Guest performers: Shimizu Kanji (Noh actor), Arai Seisui (biwa performer)
Original work: Lafcadio Hearn / The Story of Mimi-Nashi-Hoichi
Adaptation/direction: Chong Tze Chien
Translation: Sawada Keiji
Dramaturg: Mari Boyd
Puppetry design/costume: Max Tan
Set design: Kubota Yuto
Lighting: Yokohara Yu
Sound: Shima Takeshi
Video: Hamajima Masahiro
Interpreting/director’s assistant: Hara Keita
Stage manager: Aoki Norio

Profile

Public Interest Incorporated Foundation YOUKIZA
Founded by Magosaburo Youki I in 1635 in the Edo town of Fukiya-cho, this troupe can claim many classic masterpieces often performed today. Renowned works include “Meiboku Sendai Hagi (The Precious Incense and Autumn Flowers of Sendai),” “Date Musume Koi no Higanoko (A Maiden’s Flaming Love)” and “Shinpan Utazaimon: Nozaki Mura (Nozaki Village).” Since the Meiji period the company has actively taken on overseas theatrical works in translation as well as new contemporary plays. In particular, recent years have seen the troupe making assertive forays into overseas performance and international collaborative productions.
Designated a Tokyo Municipal Intangible Cultural Property in 1956.
Selected as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties of Japan in 1996.

Contact

Public Interest Incorporated Foundation YOUKIZA
3-18-2, Nukuikita-machi, Koganei-shi, Tokyo 1840015
Tel: +81-(0)42-322-9750
Fax: +81-(0)42-322-3976
info@youkiza.jp

Venues

Theatre SAMSA, Suginami City, Tokyo