Events

Time and Location

March 21 
Doors at 6:30pm 
Performance at 7pm ET 
The Lohrfink Auditorium located in Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business (Washington, DC) 

About

Discover Bunraku (文楽), the traditional Japanese puppet theater, at our special lecture, performance, demonstration featuring the Seiwa Bunraku  and Dr. Jyana S. Browne. 

Dr. Browne will introduce the artistry and history of Bunraku, providing insight into its puppets and the roles of performers such as the tayū (太夫; narrator). This event will feature performances by Seiwa Bunraku of Kotobuki Shiki Sambasō, a celebratory piece traditionally performed on auspicious occasions, and Hidakagawa Iriai Zakura: The Act of the Ferry, a classic work first staged in 1759 that explores themes of imperial succession disputes. 

There will also be a demonstration showcasing the intricate craftsmanship and techniques behind Bunraku. 

Don’t miss this chance to experience the artistry and tradition of Bunraku up close! 

For FREE RSVP, please visit the Eventbrite page. 

About the Guests 

Seiwa Bunraku is the only remaining traditional puppetry organization in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. This puppet theater group originated about 170 years ago, toward the end of the Edo period, when local farmers in Seiwa Village (now part of Yamato Town, Kumamoto Prefecture) learned Bunraku techniques from visiting members of the Awaji Puppet Troupe. 

Despite periods of decline, the designation of Seiwa Bunraku as an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Kumamoto Prefecture in 1979 played a crucial role in revitalizing the tradition. Community efforts centered on traditional puppet theater helped revive this performing art, which continues to thrive today. Currently, Seiwa Bunraku performances feature a tayū (narrator), a shamisen player, and a group of skilled ningyō tsukai (puppeteers), totaling 15 members. In addition to performing classic works, the troupe also creates new productions that reflect contemporary themes. 

In 2021, amidst the global challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Seiwa Bunraku premiered Higo Amabie Koiuta Ibun (Strange Love Story of the Amabie of Higo Province), a new puppet play produced by Kumamoto Prefectural Theater. The story features Amabie, a legendary sea creature believed to ward off epidemics. 

Following the devastation of the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake, Seiwa Bunraku contributed to regional reconstruction efforts through the performing arts. In 2022, they collaborated with ONE PIECE, the globally popular manga by Kumamoto native Eiichiro Oda, to present Chopper, Embarking from the Winter Sakura. Now, for the first time, a highlight from this production will be performed abroad—at the Warner Theatre as part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. 

Jyana S. Browne (she/her) is Assistant Professor of Premodern Japanese Literary and Cultural Studies at the University of Maryland. Her areas of research include early modern Japanese performance; Japanese puppetry; the integration of new technology into traditional theatre; and the intersections of performance, sexuality, and embodiment on stage and in everyday life. While living in Japan for her dissertation research, she studied gidayū chanting (義太夫; a style of chanted narration for bunraku) with TAKEMOTO Koshikyō and performed as part of the 100th Greater Japan Amateur Chanting Association Performance at Torigoe Shrine in Tokyo. 

This event is co-presented by the Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan, The Japan Foundation, and the Department of East Asian Languages at Georgetown University.