On Saturday, September 6th and Sunday, September 9th, 14, the traditional performing art "Anori Puppet Theater," designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, will be performed at the Anori Puppet Theater Stage (within the grounds of Anori Shrine).

History of Anori Puppet Show

　Shima City's "Anori Puppet Show" is a traditional folk performing art that has been passed down as a sacred puppet show dedicated to the festivals of Anori Shrine, and was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan in 55.

　The origin of puppet theater is said to be as follows.

　``In the first year of the Bunroku era, when Yoshitaka Kuki, the ruler of Shima Province, was participating in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's invasion of Korea (Bunroku no Eki), when he approached the coast of Anori, a sudden headwind blew and his ship stopped. .When Yoshitaka visited Anori Shrine and prayed for victory, the direction of the wind changed and the ship was able to set sail safely on the tailwind.Then, Yoshitaka, who had achieved military exploits in the war, visited Anori Shrine again to pray. When I visited there, the villagers warmly welcomed me with hand dances and various other performing arts.

　The performing arts permitted by Yoshitaka at this time went through many changes and have been handed down as Anori's puppet shows.

　The festival was temporarily suspended due to the economic depression at the end of the Taisho period and the war in the Showa period, but was revived in 26 thanks to the wishes and cooperation of the villagers and has continued to this day.

Details

Anori puppet show

Saturday, September 9th, 14pm: Sanbaso performance dedicated to Anori Shrine

September 9th, 14:6pm start
*There will be a dance during the intermission.

September 9th (Sunday) 15:5pm Sanbaso performance dedicated to Anori Shrine

Show starts at 9:15pm on September 6th
*There will be a dance during the intermission.

January 9st

　Miuranosuke was injured on the battlefield, and when he returned to see his sick mother, Tokihime, the daughter of the enemy general Tokimasa Hojo, had come to take care of her. Miuranosuke regains his senses through Tokihime's care and tries to meet his mother at first sight, but upon learning that Miuranosuke has returned from the battlefield, his mother says, ``I taught my child to value loyalty. "I'm not the kind of girl who would do anything regrettable," he says without looking at her. Miuranosuke realizes his mother's feelings and decides to go to the battlefield again.

　Tokihime tells Miuranosuke, who is prepared to die, the depth of her love for him and asks him to watch over her mother's final moments. Miuranosuke was confused between his mother and Tokihime.

Aso Jiro saves Miyuki, a daughter of a samurai family, from a thug and they fall in love at first sight. At Miyuki's request, Jiro writes a poem about morning glories on a fan, and Miyuki also gives Jiro a waka poem. However, Aso Jiro hurries back to his hometown of Suo to prevent a family dispute. Meanwhile, Miyuki, sad about their separation, also returns to Aki with her parents. Miyuki, who has become blind while crying all day for her lover, becomes an entertainer called Asagao and tells her life story to the accompaniment of a koto in front of her lover. The next morning, Miyuki sees the fan left behind by the man who calls himself Komazawa and realizes that it is her lover (Aso Jiro). She follows him to the Oi River. Komazawa has already crossed the river, but the river is blocked by heavy rain. In despair, Miyuki tries to throw herself into the river, but the innkeeper catches up to her and stops her. The owner of the inn is actually Miyuki's wet nurse's father, who used to serve Miyuki at home. He kills himself, saying that he can cure Miyuki's eyes with his own blood, which was born in the year of the Koshi. Thanks to that, Miyuki's eyes are cured.

　Sawaichi, a blind man living in Tsubosaka, Yamato Province, was living a meager living with the help of his wife Orisato's side job. Sawaichi notices that Oro-sato leaves the house every night recently, and suspects that Oro-sato is committing adultery. However, he learns that he actually went to Tsubosaka-dera Temple to pray for Sawaichi's eyes to be healed. Sawaichi apologizes for doubting his wife, and he decides to follow Orisato's advice and visit Tsubosaka Temple, but she despairs that Orisato won't be happy even if she lives with him, and goes to Tani. I throw myself into it. Sato throws herself after him, but thanks to the blessings of Kannon, their lives are saved and Sawaichi is able to see.

September XNUMX

　Wakadono Samonnosuke of the Takashima clan in Omi Province lost the Sword of Heaven to offer to Kinri, so his guardian, Genjibei Yasumori, committed seppuku.

　Kichisaburo, Ichiko Yasumori, who works as a temple page at Edo Kisshoin Temple and searches for a sword, is in love with Oshichi, the daughter of Kyubei, a greengrocer who was burned down due to housework. Oshichi is in a hurry to let her know the whereabouts of the Sword of Heaven, which caused her lover Kichisaburo to commit seppuku, by tonight.

　In desperation, in order to open the gates of the towns, they rang the forbidden fire watchtower bell, prepared to be burned at the stake.

　Jurobei and Oyumi are a married couple who live in Osaka in search of the heirloom sword of the Tamaki family in Tokushima, and Jurobei has joined a group of thieves. While Oyumi is at home alone, she receives a letter from a group of thieves, saying that pursuers are closing in. While Oyumi is praying to the gods and Buddha for her husband's safety and for the discovery of the sword, a pilgrim girl comes to visit. She is about the same age as her daughter, whom she left behind in her hometown, so she listens to her story and tells him that she has traveled all the way from Tokushima in search of her parents. When she hears the names of her parents, she realizes that it is definitely her daughter. She wants to hug her and call herself her mother right away, but she suppresses her urge to return to her country, fearing that the crime of thieving will befall her daughter. Oyumi begs her to stay there, but Oyumi tearfully sends her away. As the song of pilgrimage sung by Oyumi fades away, Oyumi cannot contain herself and breaks down in tears. However, she realizes that if they part ways, they will never see each other again, so she quickly follows Oyumi.

　Jurobei comes back with Otsuru. Not knowing that she is my girlfriend's daughter, she notices the money that Otsuru has and asks him to lend it to her. When she tries to stop the frightened Otsuru from making noise, she accidentally suffocates him. Oyumi, who had lost track of her and returned home, burst into tears when he found out about this, and Jurobei, who had killed her child, was also choked by her tears of regret. Even as he was grieving, Jurobei braced himself for the catcher's approach, chased them away, and set fire to his house, along with Otsuru's corpse, and fled.

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