Awa Jurobe Yashiki, Puppet theatre museum in Kawauchicho, Japan.
Awa Jurobe Yashiki is a puppet theatre museum in Kawauchicho that houses exhibition rooms with antique puppet heads from the Meiji and Taisho periods alongside working performance spaces. The facility brings together the historical objects and live shows needed to experience this form of theatre in one place.
The venue opened in 1954 and later received recognition as a National Important Intangible Folk Culture Asset. This acknowledgement reflects the value placed on puppetry techniques that have been passed down since the Edo period.
Performances here showcase the traditional Awa Ningyo Joruri storytelling style, where three puppeteers move a single figure together while a narrator and shamisen musician bring the story to life. This way of performing is deeply rooted in local culture and continues to shape how people in the region understand puppet theatre.
Visitors should allow time for both the exhibition and the performances, as both are important parts of the experience. The location is accessible and offers a straightforward introduction to this traditional art form.
The collection includes approximately 40 different puppet troupes, demonstrating the rich diversity of this local art form. This variety allows visitors to see how differently puppet figures can be designed and moved.
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