Japanese Kamishibai Exhibition : Home
Description & Poster
Exhibit Description
Kamishibai, which means "Paper Theater," or "Paper Play" in Japanese, is a traditional form of storytelling that emerged in Japan during the 1920s. This unique performance art combines oral narration with a set of illustrated boards that the storyteller slides through a miniature wooden stage, as the tale progresses.
Originating as a form of street theater, Kamishibai was performed by traveling storytellers who used it to captivate audiences, often composed of children, in public spaces such as parks or temple grounds. The vibrant, hand-painted boards are integral to the storytelling, enhancing the narrative with visual and textual elements that bring the stories to life, making Kamishibai a precursor to modern manga and anime. This exhibit presents Memorial Library's collection on Kamishibai from World World II and later period.
