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Ningyô Jôruri 2001 Ôishi Shrine Bishamonten with Amanojaku In addition to Urikohime to Amanjaku, Kanroku and company will perform their rousing rendition of the traditional Sanbasô, and there is rumor of some other interesting characters possibly appearing as well . . . It's hard to believe, but this year represents the eighth annual free performance of Japan's traditional puppet theater bunraku (Ningyô Jôruri) by Yoshida Kanroku and other members of the Osaka National Bunraku Theater. The occasion for these performances was Kanroku's discovery of the Ôishi Shrine with its Edo-period revolving stage, and his efforts to resurrect the tradition of bunraku in the Sagami area. Once again, the time will be 6:30 P.M., on August 18, 2001 , and the place is the Ôishi Shrine, in the Shinobara district of Fujino Township. These performances are put on rain or shine, so if weather looks at all inclement, dress appropriately. The Ôishi Shrine is located in the Shinobara community of Fujino, about fifteen minutes' drive from Fujino Station. Prominent signs are posted to Shinobara and the shrine. Entry to performance is free, and food and drinks are sold by various community groups in the vicinity of the shrine. The performances are an outstanding example of new means of preserving traditional Japanese culture, but in a way meaningful to modern sensibilities and not merely antiquarian interests. For a bit more background information about the performances, please see my pages on Fujino Bunraku 1999 and Fujino Bunraku 2000. If you have other questions, e-mail me (nhavens@gol.com) or call the Town Planning Department (Kikaku-ka) at Fujino Town Offices (0426-87-2111, inquiries in Japanese only). You might also take a look at Kato's Shinobara site for a few photos and descriptions of the performance in Japanese. Access: From Fujino station area: take Highway 20 to the Hizure Iriguchi intersection, cross the Sagami River and head south on Highway 76 for about three minutes. Just two-hundred meters before you reach the Workshop for Art, a small road leads off to the left for Shinobara; it should be marked on this day. Take this road about ten minutes until it comes out onto the main Shinobara road; turn left onto the main road, drive one kilometer to the large intersection; turn right into Shinobara and follow the signs to the Ôishi Shrine.

Ningyô Jôruri (Bunraku) Puppet Theater: August 18, 2001 (ADMISSION FREE) There are those among us who are different. They could be your parent, your child, or your lover, but in reality they are changelings, known in Japanese folklore as amanojaku. This year's Fujino Bunraku will feature a performance of Urikohime to Amanjaku ("Little Miss Melon and the Changeling"). Unusual by bunraku standards for its script written in modern colloquial Japanese, Urikohime to Amanjaku was originally written for human actors in the postwar period by playwright Kinoshita Junji, who intended it as one of his cycle of minwageki ("folktale plays"). Based on a folktale dating at least from the 16th century, the story tells of how Urikohime is tricked by the mysterious Amanojaku, but the Amanojaku is in turn put on the spot by the old man and woman who have raised Urikohime as their child. That may not be the end, either; all is not as it seems . . . What is the amanojaku? The amanojaku ("demonic deva") is apparently first found in a demon face molded into the chest armor worn by Bishamonten, one of the four deva kings and tutelaries of Buddhism. Associated with water, this minor demon was called "Lord of the River" (Kahaku or Kawanu), the same title, interestingly enough, given to the god of the Yellow River in China (see Chuang Tzu, chapter 17 "Autumn Floods"). In the context of Bishamonten, the Lord of the River came to be written with characters that identified it as Amanojaku, a young sprite (jaku) of the ocean (ama). In time, the demon migrated from Bishamon's armor to one or two small demons serving as Bishamon's footstool, as seen in the accompanying illustration. In folk parlance, the term amanojaku came to be applied to anyone who is "contrary," constantly taking actions in opposition to whatever others say or intend. That trait is a reflection of the mystical amanojaku's paranormal ability to read minds. Knowing what it is you want to say or do, the spiteful Amanojaku immediately comes up with a contrary statement or action, thus frustrating your purposes. Other facets of the amanojaku's "trickster" nature are suggested by its reputed ability to mimic shapes and sounds at will, and to fly. Most frightenly, it likes to insinuate itself within human society, to foil the good intentions of its human neighbors. Fujino Bunraku 2000 Fujino Bunraku '99 (Sanbasô) A Fox is Transformed (rehearsal, 2000) To return to your previous location, use your browser's "BACK" button, or click your heels together three times while saying, "there's no place like home" . . .

Green Gables: A Contemplative Companion to Fujino Township
by Norman Havens nhavens@gol.com
Updated: April 20, 2002

URL: http://www2.gol.com/users/nhavens/htmlfile/joru2-e.html