Puppet Theater Musubiza

Puppet Theater Musubiza (人形劇団むすび座) is a professional Japanese puppetry troupe based in Midori-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. It was founded in January 1967 by Susumu Tange and Kanji Tanaka and describes itself as the first professional puppet theatre company in the Tokai region. The troupe's guiding motto is "We connect children with children. We connect people with people," reflecting its aim of bringing puppet theatre close to children's everyday lives. Musubiza performs a wide repertoire, ranging from works for young children to productions aimed at junior and senior high school students, as well as pieces for adult audiences. Its productions include adaptations of classic stories such as "Nils' Wonderful Journey" (ニルスのふしぎな旅), "The Wizard of Oz" (オズのまほうつかい), "Pinocchio" (ピノキオ), "Arabian Nights" (アラビアンナイト), and "Journey to the West" (西遊記), alongside original works like "Chito, the Boy with Green Fingers" (チト みどりのゆびをもつ少年) and "The Great Adventure of Kakure Mountain" (かくれ山の大冒険). The company also engages in creating puppet theatre for adults, international exchange, and teaching puppet performance and puppet-making, including lecturing at junior colleges. The troupe is led by representative Masao Ono (大野正雄). It has received numerous awards, including the Agency for Cultural Affairs' National Council for Children's Theatre awards, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's special recommendation for children's welfare cultural properties, the Nagoya City Arts Encouragement Prize, and the first Japan Green Thumb Stage Arts Award (Selection Committee Prize) in 2024. In 2022 the company marked its 55th anniversary. Musubiza has also performed abroad, notably in South Korea, with multiple performances of "Pinocchio" at venues such as the Seoul Arts Center and the Gyeonggi Puppet Festival. The troupe maintains an active schedule of commissioned performances, workshops, and community outreach, and operates an online shop and blog alongside its main stage activities.

Puppet Theater Musubiza was founded in January 1967 in Nagoya by Susumu Tange and Kanji Tanaka, becoming the first professional puppet theatre troupe in the Tokai region. From its inception, the company adopted the motto "We connect children with children. We connect people with people," and committed itself to performing puppet theatre close to where children live, as a form of spiritual nourishment. Over the decades, Musubiza built a diverse repertoire. It produced adaptations of classic literature and fairy tales, including "Journey to the West" (西遊記), "The Wizard of Oz" (オズのまほうつかい), "Pinocchio" (ピノキオ), "Arabian Nights" (アラビアンナイト), and "Nils' Wonderful Journey" (ニルスのふしぎな旅), as well as original works such as "Chito, the Boy with Green Fingers" (チト みどりのゆびをもつ少年) and "The Great Adventure of Kakure Mountain" (かくれ山の大冒険). The troupe also created puppet theatre for adults and engaged in international exchange, teaching, and puppet-making instruction. The company's work has been recognized with numerous awards. In 1984 it received the Children's Culture Award from the Children's Culture Research Institute and the Ministry of Health and Welfare Children's Welfare Culture Award for "Journey to the West." In 1988 it received the Nagoya City Arts Encouragement Prize. In 1994 it won the 9th Pachinko Popular Culture Award. In 2009 it received the Aichi Prefecture Arts and Culture Encouragement Award (Culture Prize). In 2014 "Pinocchio" received the Children's Welfare Culture Award. In 2022 "Chito, the Boy with Green Fingers" was selected as a specially recommended children's welfare cultural property by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's Social Security Council. In 2024 the troupe was awarded the Selection Committee Prize at the first Japan Green Thumb Stage Arts Award. Musubiza has also performed abroad, particularly in South Korea. In 2016 it performed "Pinocchio" at the Henan Culture and Arts Center, the Bucheon Cultural Foundation Children's Theatre Festival, the Gyeonggi Puppet Festival in Suwon, and the ASSITEJ International Summer Festival. In 2018 it gave 14 performances over 11 days at the Seoul Arts Center and a total of 19 performances at three other venues in South Korea. In 2022 the troupe celebrated its 55th anniversary. It continues to stage commissioned performances for young children and older students, run workshops, and maintain an online shop and blog. The company is currently led by representative Masao Ono.

• 2024

  Awarded the Selection Committee Prize at the first Japan Green Thumb Stage Arts Award.

• 2022

  Celebrated its 55th anniversary; 'Chito, the Boy with Green Fingers' selected as a specially recommended children's welfare cultural property.

• 2018

  Performed 14 shows over 11 days at the Seoul Arts Center and 19 shows total in South Korea.

• 2016

  Performed 'Pinocchio' at multiple venues in South Korea, including the ASSITEJ International Summer Festival.

• 2014

  'Pinocchio' received the Children's Welfare Culture Award.

• 2009

  Received the Aichi Prefecture Arts and Culture Encouragement Award (Culture Prize).

• 1994

  Won the 9th Pachinko Popular Culture Award.

• 1988

  Received the Nagoya City Arts Encouragement Prize.

• 1984

  Received the Children's Culture Award and the Ministry of Health and Welfare Children's Welfare Culture Award for 'Journey to the West'.

• 1967

  Founded in January in Nagoya by Susumu Tange and Kanji Tanaka as the first professional puppet theatre troupe in the Tokai region.

A professional puppetry troupe dedicated to children's cultural enrichment and the art of puppet theatre, with a motto of connecting children and people.

• Nils' Wonderful Journey (ニルスのふしぎな旅)

• Chito, the Boy with Green Fingers (チト みどりのゆびをもつ少年)

• The Wizard of Oz (オズのまほうつかい)

• Pinocchio (ピノキオ)

• The Great Adventure of Kakure Mountain (かくれ山の大冒険)

• Journey to the West (西遊記)

• Arabian Nights (アラビアンナイト)

1. 1人形劇団むすび座 公式サイトmusubiza.co.jp
2. 2むすび座についてmusubiza.co.jp
3. 3Puppet Theater Musubiza - Wikidatawikidata.org