Hitomiza Children's Theater

In 1948, shortly after the end of the Pacific War, a group of young people gathered at Kamakura Academia and began to take part in theatrical activities. These activities included not only stage plays with actors but also puppet shows. Eventually, they established a specialized puppet theater company, the Hitomi Puppet Theater, and have continued to develop a wide range of activities to this day.

Many of his stage productions have won the Tokyo Children's Drama Competition Excellence Award and the NHK Award. In addition to works aimed at children, he has also created numerous Shakespearean works such as "King Lear" (Haiyuza Theatre, New National Theatre), plays by Abe Kobo and Izumi Kyoka, and puppet shows aimed at adults. At the same time, he has also focused on researching and passing on traditional puppetry such as "Otome Bunraku."

With the advent of the age of film and television, they have produced works such as "Hyokkori Hyoutanjima," "The Eleven People of Nekojara City," "Kagemaru of Iga," "Fuefuki Doji," and "The Red Peacock." They have also produced major works such as the film "The Adventures of Oanamuchi," which was co-produced with Kyodo Film Company. Their activities span the whole of Japan, but in recent years they have expanded overseas to the United States, Canada, China, and other countries. They also place great importance on activities linked to the local community, particularly in Kawasaki, including the "Kawasaki Civic Plaza Puppet Festival," which has been running for 20 years.