Figure 1.-- Kamishibai is a traditional little theater. It is a wood box. In this box there is some pictures that illustrate a story. A narrator tells the story showing the pictures. I'm not sure when it first appeared. We note it still existed after World War II. A photograph from Mimase, a coatal village shows a "kamishibai" in process during the 1950s. The children were naked or wearing at the most loincloths. That was common in Japan fisher villages during summer, because children jump in and out of the sea. .

We notice a number of intersting traditional activities in Jaspan. One such tradition is a children's theater somewhat similar to Punch and Judy in the West. This is called "kamishibai", kind of theater in a box. Punch and Judy shows were a Western theatrical tradition. They did not appear in Japan. There was, however, a similar tradition in Japan. One such tradition was "kamishibai". Kamishibai is a traditional little theater. It is a wood box. In this box there is some pictures that illustrate a story. A narrator tells the story showing the pictures. I'm not sure when it first appeared. We note it still existed after World War II. A photograph from Mimase, a coatal village shows a "kamishibai" in process during the 1950s. The children were naked or wearing at the most loincloths. That was common in Japan fisher villages during summer, because children jump in and out of the sea.

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Created: 4:43 AM 3/14/2005
Last updated: 4:43 AM 3/14/2005