Traditional Puppet Drama Showcased in February Event

National Theatre Hosts February 2024 Bunraku Performances Including "Adanami Onna Maiogi"

Jan 15 (News On Japan) - The "Reiwa 6 February Bunraku Performance" will be staged from February 5th to 13th at the Japan Youth Hall in Tokyo.

The performance, which includes scenes from "Adanami Onna Maiogi" (The Beauty of the Dancing Courtesan), is organized by the National Theatre of Japan. This marks the first time that a Bunraku performance will be held at the Japan Youth Hall. The program is divided into three parts, with the first part featuring the dance "Futari Sanbaso," and the tragic story of Hayano Kanpei from "Kanadehon Chushingura," including the scenes "Yamazaki Kaido Deai no Dan," "Futatama no Dan," "Mibai no Dan," and "Hayano Kanpei Harakiri no Dan."

The second part includes the "Sakaya no Dan" (The Liquor Store Scene) from "Adanami Onna Maiogi," where the character Osato reminisces about her husband who has left her, and the glamorous dance "Modorikago Iroai Kata" from "Kuruwa Bunsho."

The third part features "Gojo Bridge," depicting the fateful encounter between Benkei and Ushiwakamaru, as well as scenes from "Sotoba Komachi" that portray the emotional and moral struggles of the sumo wrestler Nuregami and his family, including "Nanba Ura Kenka no Dan" and "Hachiman Sato Hikimado no Dan."

by Andrew Yang

Source: Natalie

Japan's Academics Demand Independence

Scholars affiliated with the Science Council of Japan formed a symbolic human chain in front of the National Diet building on May 8th, calling for revisions to the government’s proposed reform bill targeting the council’s structure, as deliberations enter their final phase in the Diet.

Inside Japan’s Failing Sewers

Across Japan, road collapses have been occurring with increasing frequency, often blamed on aging infrastructure. In one recent incident in Ashioshi, Saitama Prefecture, a truck was swallowed by a gaping sinkhole.

Two Men Arrested for Breaking Into Tokyo School

Two men who were arrested for forcibly entering an elementary school in Tachikawa City, Tokyo, and assaulting staff members have been identified as friends of a student's mother. One of the suspects denies the charges, claiming he was only brushing people off after being restrained.

Cherry Blossoms Reach Final Stage, Six Days Earlier Than Average

Cherry blossoms have begun to bloom in Wakkanai and Kushiro, marking the near completion of Japan's cherry blossom front for 2025.

Lack of Sleep After Golden Week May Signal Sleep Disorder, Experts Warn

As many in Japan returned to work or school on May 7th following the Golden Week holiday, a growing number are reporting post-holiday fatigue and sleep deprivation—conditions that experts warn may point to deeper sleep-related issues.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

Kyushu's Top-Ranked Roadside Station Gets Major Upgrade

The Ukiha roadside station, ranked No. 1 in the Kyushu and Okinawa region for nine consecutive years in a nationwide roadside station ranking, is set to reopen following large-scale renovations.

Meitetsu to Introduce New Trains on Toyota Line for First Time in 48 Years

Meitetsu has announced that it will introduce new train cars on its Toyota Line for the first time in 48 years. Starting next fiscal year, the new 500-series trains will operate on the sections shared by the Toyota Line, Inuyama Line, and the Nagoya City Subway's Tsurumai Line.

In Kobe, Climbing Mountains Is a Way of Life

Kobe is a city blessed by both the sea and the mountains. One of its most defining features is Mount Ichizan, part of the Rokko mountain range. Long known as the birthplace of modern mountaineering in Japan, this area is home to a variety of distinctive peaks. Nestled within one of them, in Kobe’s Chuo Ward, lies Juzenji Temple, a Zen temple with a history spanning over 950 years.