A Diary of Chuji’s Travels

A Diary of Chuji’s Travels
『忠次旅日記』

Silent Film and Live Performance

Thursday, December 12 at 7:30 pm—Followed by a Private Gathering for Artists and Members

One of the great masterworks of Japanese silent cinema, Daisuke Ito’s A Diary of Chuji’s Travels exists in incomplete form—a triptych missing its first segment with remnants of its second and third parts—yet stands out as a seminal jidaigeki (period drama), voted the greatest Japanese film of all time in a 1959 Kinema Junpo poll. Starring Ito’s frequent collaborator Denjiro Okochi, another great star of the silent era known for his portrayal of Tange Sazen, A Diary of Chuji’s Travels recounts the exploits of Chuji Kunisada (Okochi), the outlaw bakuto (gambler)—a real-life proto-yakuza figure who took on a romanticized Robin Hood reputation. A fragmented version of its once four-hour long runtime, A Diary of Chuji’s Travels is a kinetic dispersal of rapid-cut swordplay sequences, fluid camerawork (Ito was nicknamed Ido daisuki, a pun on his name meaning “big fan of camera movement”), expressionist techniques and political commentary—an embodiment of the modernized period drama that both Ito, “the father of jidaigeki,” and Okochi helped pioneer.

A pre-performance lecture on benshi begins before each screening at 6:30 pm.

Dir. Daisuke Ito, 111 min., 1927, DCP, b&w, silent with live benshi narration and English subtitles. With Denjiro Okochi.

Silent film with live benshi narration in Japanese with English subtitles.
(Seating: General Admission)

Part of the Ningyo! A Parade of Puppetry Series
September—December 2024

Save 20% when you purchase a ticket to any 3 programs in the Ningyo! A Parade of Puppetry Series (not including workshops). Offer only valid for tickets purchased in the same transaction.

Your ticket also includes complimentary, same-day admission for one person to Bunraku Backstage, on view at Japan Society Gallery through January 19, 2025. To view the exhibition please show your ticket/receipt to the Welcome Desk for free admission before the performance.

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Images: A Diary of Chuji’s Travels © The National Film Archive of Japan; Ningyo! A Parade of Puppetry Series: The Love Suicides at Sonezaki © Photo by Tomoko Ogawa.

The Ningyo! A Parade of Puppetry series is supported by The Jim Henson Foundation.

Screening materials for The Benshi Tradition and the Silver Screen: A Japanese Puppetry Spin-Off courtesy of the National Film Archive of Japan.

2024-25 Performing Arts Season Support

The season is made possible, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Additional, major support is generously provided by Doug and Teresa Peterson, Howard Gilman Foundation, and Jun Makihara and Megumi Oka. Endowment support is provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund, John and Miyoko Davey Foundation, and a leadership gift from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Program support is also generously provided by The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation; Hisamitsu America, Inc.; Akiko Mikumo; Hiroko Onoyama; Richard and Momona Royce; Dr. and Mrs. Carl F. Taeusch II; Dr. Jeanette C. Takamura; Nancy and Joe Walker; Estate of Alan M. Suhonen; and Performing Arts Circle members.

All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. is the official airline of the Japan Society Performing Arts Program. Yamaha is the official piano provider of Japan Society.

Japan Society programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.