Event Overview
What is kamishibai (paper theater)?
Kamishibai comes out of a long tradition of etoki ( picture-narration) in Japan. It began as a street performance art and is a precursor of anime and manga. Kamishibai is still a popular form of entertainment in Japan today.
About the performance
In this performance and workshop, Tara will tell kamishibai folktales relating to oni (demons) and other shape-shifters in Japanese folklore. She will also introduce participants to the history of kamishibai and teach them how to make an early form of kamishibai, called tachi-e (standing pictures), which are based on visual techniques from magic-lantern shows. After the interactive performance, participants will make their own tachi-e puppets inspired by the stories they have heard.
Related Events
Gallery
About the Performer
Tara McGowan
Tara McGowan is a visual artist and storyteller, who has lived in Japan for many years. She has studied kamishibai (Japanese Paper Theater) for over a decade and has performed at festivals in Japan and in the US. Her book "The Kamishibai Classroom: Engaging Multiple Literacies through the Art of 'Paper Theater'" (2010) is based on her workshops, teaching children of all ages to create and perform their own kamishibai stories. Her programs bring Japan to life through story, song, and image, and the artwork and artifacts she creates help students visualize the objects and landscape of everyday life. For more information,
