Kuroda Puppet Troupe
Encyclopedia
The Kuroda Puppet Troupe (黒田人形座) is a traditional Japanese puppet troupe in the style commonly known as ningyō jōruri or bunraku
based in the city of Iida
in Nagano Prefecture
. Founded in 1688, the Troupe has performed continuously to the present.
Kuroda focuses on preserving the traditional style of puppet operation originally introduced to them by itinerant puppeteers from Awaji Island
. The Troupe's current performance hall was constructed in the 1990s by the government of Iida and is built in a traditional style. The Troupe also performs several times a year at Suwa Shrine (located next to their current hall) and the Iida Puppetry Festival. Until the construction of their new puppetry hall, the Kuroda Troupe performed in a traditional theater originally built in the late Edo period. Now designated as a national treasure, the theater stands on the grounds of the Suwa Shrine.
The Kuroda Puppet Troupe also hosted a summer puppetry training program in 2006 for American
students at the Kuroda Puppetry Hall in conjunction with the University of Missouri
and the American-based Japanese theater group, Bunraku Bay Puppet Troupe
.
Bunraku
, also known as Ningyō jōruri , is a form of traditional Japanese puppet theater, founded in Osaka in 1684.Three kinds of performers take part in a bunraku performance:* Ningyōtsukai or Ningyōzukai—puppeteers* Tayū—the chanters* Shamisen players...
based in the city of Iida
Iida
-People:*Kaori Iida , a Japanese singer and artist*Iida Umanosuke , director of the anime series Hellsing -Other:...
in Nagano Prefecture
Nagano Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...
. Founded in 1688, the Troupe has performed continuously to the present.
History
Awaji Island
is an island in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, in the eastern part of the Seto Inland Sea between the islands of Honshū and Shikoku. The island has an area of 592.17 km²...
. The Troupe's current performance hall was constructed in the 1990s by the government of Iida and is built in a traditional style. The Troupe also performs several times a year at Suwa Shrine (located next to their current hall) and the Iida Puppetry Festival. Until the construction of their new puppetry hall, the Kuroda Troupe performed in a traditional theater originally built in the late Edo period. Now designated as a national treasure, the theater stands on the grounds of the Suwa Shrine.
The Kuroda Puppet Troupe also hosted a summer puppetry training program in 2006 for American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
students at the Kuroda Puppetry Hall in conjunction with the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
and the American-based Japanese theater group, Bunraku Bay Puppet Troupe
Bunraku Bay Puppet Troupe
Bunraku Bay Puppet Troupe is an American puppet troupe that performs the traditional Japanese puppet drama commonly known as ningyō jōruri or Bunraku. Based in Columbia, Missouri, the Troupe is directed by J...
.