The Benshi Tradition and the Silver Screen: A Japanese Puppetry Spin-off

Silent Film and Live Performance

A Diary of Chuji’s Travels
Thursday, December 12 at 7:30 pm—Followed by a Private Gathering for Artists and Members

Chushingura
Friday, December 13 at 7:30 pm

Benshi, Japan’s riveting “movie talkers” of the silent film era, drew in audiences with their live film narration and dramatic character portrayals, often with musicians providing accompaniment. This rich period of early Japanese cinema has a direct structural connection to the Japanese puppet theater tradition, in which chanters narrated stories and gave voice to silent puppets alongside theatrical shamisen music. In this two-night program, modern benshi star Ichiro Kataoka and NY-based shamisen player Sumie Kaneko come together for two screenings of stories set in the samurai era.

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

Thursday, December 12, 7:30 pm: A Diary of Chuji’s Travels 『忠次旅日記』
Dir. Daisuke Ito, 1927, 111 min., DCP, b&w. With Denjiro Okochi.

Directed by Daisuke Ito, the “father of jidaigeki (samurai period drama),” and starring silent-era legend Denjiro Okochi, this film recounts the rise and fall of the real-life, popular “Japanese Robin Hood” outlaw Chuji Kunisada (1810-1851).

Friday, December 13, 7:30 pm: Chushingura『忠臣蔵』
Dir. Shozo Makino, 1910-17, 90 min., DCP, b&w.With Matsunosuke Onoe, Ichinojo Kataoka, Kiraku Arashi.

One of the representative works of Shozo Makino, a founder of the Japanese film industry, and Matsunosuke Onoe, plucked from the kabuki stage as Japan’s first film superstar, Chushingura adapts the classic tale of the 47 ronin who enact vengeance upon those who orchestrated the unjust death of their master.

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.

---

Images: The Benshi Tradition and the Silver Screen: A Japanese Puppetry Spin-off © Masami Suzuki; A Diary of Chuji’s Travels © The National Film Archive of Japan; Chushingura © The National Film Archive of Japan; Sumie Kaneko © Tokio Kuniyoshi; 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.