In 1948, shortly after the end of the Pacific War, a group of young people gathered at Kamakura Academia and began theatrical activities. Their activities included not only stage plays with actors but also puppet shows. Eventually, they established a specialized puppet theater company, "Hitomiza Puppet Theater," and have since expanded their activities to the present day.
Many of their stage productions have won awards such as the Tokyo Children's Theatre Competition Excellence Award and the NHK Award. In addition to works for children, they have created numerous Shakespearean works such as "King Lear" (at the Haiyuza Theatre and the New National Theatre), plays by Kobo Abe and Kyoka Izumi, and puppet shows for adults. Meanwhile, they also focus on the research and preservation of traditional puppetry, such as "Otome Bunraku."
Furthermore, with the advent of the film and television era, they produced works such as "Hyokkori Hyotan Island," "The 11 People of Nekojara City," "Kagemaru of Iga," "The Flute-Playing Boy," and "The Crimson Peacock." They also have major productions, such as the film "The Adventures of the Great Anamuchi," a co-production with Kyodo Eiga-sha. Their activities span all of Japan, but in recent years they have expanded overseas to the United States, Canada, China, and other countries. They also value activities that are closely tied to the local community, particularly Kawasaki, including the "Kawasaki Citizens' Plaza Puppet Show Festival," which has been running for 20 years.
