The Old Puppet Joruri: The Tale of High Priest Kochi

Old Joruri, a form of traditional Japanese puppet theatre which originated in the 17th century, is rarely performed outside Japan. However the rediscovery of a 300 year old text at the British Library has inspired a very special performance.

It is with great pleasure that the Japan Foundation, in collaboration with the British Library, present The Tale of High Priest Kochi. Featuring realistic puppets with lifelike features and beautifully embroidered Japanese costumes, this unique production tells the story of Buddhist monk Kochi Hoin.

The performance will be accompanied by a complementary talk on the play and the remarkable tale of its discovery.

This work was specially commissioned by The Japan Foundation to The London Performance Implementation Committee at the British Library.  

Photo by Eiji Shimakura