Activity Reports

Main Activities

Human Exchange and Cultural Cooperation

Community Leaders and Youth Exchange

Visual Arts

• International Exhibition Participation Program
• Exhibitions Abroad Program
• Exhibitions in Japan Program
• Sharing Information
• Venice Biennale
• YOKOHAMA TRIENNALE

Performing Arts

• Performances Abroad
• Invitational Performances in Japan
• Sharing Information

Audio-Visual and Publication Exchange

• Publishing
• Film and TV
• Japanese Film Screenings Overseas
• Film Festivals in Japan
• Sharing Information

The Japan Foundation China Center

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  The Face of Jizo

The world of the performing arts appears glamorous and borderless – but what about contemporary theatre? Is it as internationally accessible as dance, opera or music? Theatre productions, which rely on physical and visual effects, wherever they are from, are widely enjoyed throughout the world. What about text-based theatre, however? Because of the language barrier, we do not seem to be given enough opportunity to appreciate new plays, particularly ones written in languages other than English. As we become increasingly aware of the importance of verbal communication, a number of prominent playwrights focusing on language are emerging in various corners of the globe. Their backgrounds differ, but the ‘present age’ that they describe can be shared and appreciated by everyone. Japanese writers are no exception.

In 2003 The Japan Foundation launched a project of to translate contemporary Japanese plays by leading writers into English. Among those plays that have been premiered during the last decade, several works were selected upon the recommendation of theatre professionals and translation is now underway. We do not necessarily aim to publish the translations in book form – we will send the English versions to other countries, in the hope that they are performed in local theatres as part of their repertoire, or directed and read by their own actors to local audiences. Through such staging, theatrical exchange between Japan and other countries will be further strengthened.

Translation and promotion of plays is a hard and unobtrusive work, but here is some good news. ‘Chichi to Kuraseba – The Face of Jizo’. by Hisashi Inoue, one of the plays in the above project, was recently published by the Komatsu-za company as a bilingual book, containing both the original text and the English translation. Roger Pulvers, professor at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, who also works actively as a writer, playwright and director and who is an old friend of Inoue, translated the play. Following on form this, this summer, the Komatsuza production of ‘Chichi to Kuraseba and a film version of this play directed by Kazuo Kuroki, are being shown simultaneously with the publication of this book – in time for the 59th Anniversary of the Atomic Bomb.

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  Komatsuza production of
  ‘Chichi to Kuraseba’

‘Chichi to Kuraseba’ was premiered in 1994 and has been revived almost every year since then, with excellent actors cast each time. It was performed in France in 1997 with a French cast, and the Komatsuza company toured to Russia in 2001 with this production, partly funded by the Japan Foundation. The story is about a father and his daughter, separated by the atomic bomb in Hiroshima but later ‘reunited’. The play is lined with sad but humorous dialogue between the two characters. The production has been touring Japan this year since April(until 1 August), starring Kazunaga Tsuji and Mari Nishio. It has won enormous acclaim.

The film version of ‘Chichito Kuraseba’ opens on 31 July. Renowned actors Rie Miyazawa, Yoshio Harada and Tadanobu Asano are appearing in it, and they successfully create a world that is unique to motion pictures. It is expected that the film will also be distributed in the rest of the world, with subtitles based on Roger Pulvers’ translation. The playwright does not intend an argument of the political relation between the country who dropped the bomb and the country which was bombed – the play simply depicts the bomb’s formidable destructive power that lingers even now as a great tragedy for people. Hisashi Inoue hopes that the play or film will be seen ‘possibly in the all countries possessing nuclear weapons’. In fact, at the preview of the film at FCCJ, Inoue and Kuroki were deluged with questions from the audience.

The play is written in authentic Hiroshima dialect and Roger Pulvers who is versed in various dialects of Japan, translated every line without ignoring its subtle nuances. In this respect, the bilingual book can be enjoyed not only by theatre/film lovers but also by those interested in translation. But how did ‘Chichi to Kuraseba’ literally means ‘Living with Father’ , become ‘The Face of Jizo’? There was actually a TV drama of the same title in America long time ago - but you will find out the answer to this question by reading the script or seeing the play or film.

The Japan Foundation will continue to introduce and promote contemporary plays as much as possible in the future, so please feel free to contact us for further information. As for the book of ‘Chichi to Kuraseba – the Face of Jizo’. please contact Komatsuza company at 81-3-3851-6180(tel), 81-3-3865-9196(fax).

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