Met a couple from Germany staying in Kamiyama for a month as bed and studio artists.
Photographer and teacher.  They appear to be enjoying the fragrant countryside atmosphere and I.T. / insect heaven that is Kamiyama.  Perhaps they might write a post for the In Kamiyama English website?  Stranger things have happened.
Anyway, the other night, Saturday in fact, Peter visited our joruri practice session.  I can’t imagine what he really thought of it all but I believe it inspired him somewhat.

Tonight it was a practice for the big event in Awagin Hall, in Tokushima Shity from the 19th to the 21st.  It’s a huge ningyo joruri fest. with groups from all over Japan performing – and it’s FREE or at least very very cheap.
I’m playing the part of a blue, three-eyed God/diety which may or may not have something to do with Shiva.  It’s a simple operation really; when the time comes a high-powered light is switched on and I pop up and stand there with my arm up looking around.  I find that being tall helps my performance.  I feel God-like power channeling through me into the doll.

 

The story also concerns two pilgrims and an old man with a a huge tattoo on his back.  On the whole, it’s a fairly serene, morbid play which is leavened by a little jolly dance at the end.  I feel mild panic from the other members of the group because everyone has forgotten the exact movements of the dolls.  This is one of the problems facing joruri at the moment; performances are learned without being documented so as people get older or pass away details get lost.

It’s an important peformance for Yoriiza on the 21st but I’m sure it’ll work out well.  It always does, somehow.  

A stag beetle watched the practice also.