[Hyogo, Minami Awaji] Limited to one group (1-3 people) per day! A one-day course where you can enjoy Awaji Ningyo Joruri, guided by a current member of the troupe! A tour of Ebisu Shrine in a chartered taxi

[Awaji Ningyo Za] An active member of the troupe will accompany you in a chartered taxi the entire trip, carrying the representative Awaji puppet "Ebisu-sama" as your personal guide. At the Awaji Ningyo Joruri Museum, you will learn about the history, its glamorous heyday, the props used on stage and the mechanisms of how they are handled, and tour the areas associated with Ebisu-sama, known for its signature performance, "Ebisu-mai." There will also be power spots, and you may receive blessings from Ebisu-sama. Being able to take photos in an area associated with Ebisu-sama is a rare experience that you would not normally be able to have. After that, you will return to the Ningyo Za and, at your leisure, you will watch the main performance, "Ebisu-mai." *Please take photos with your own camera. Lunch is not included in this experience, but if you wish, you can make a reservation at a restaurant recommended by a Ningyo Za member. (Please answer the questions for your reservation request. Please pay for your meal at the restaurant. There are other dining facilities in the surrounding area. *See below) [Tourism Ambassador Participation Plan] This plan is planned by the "Awaji Island Tourism Ambassador", who promotes the charms of Awaji Island. [Backstage Tour] You can see behind the scenes, which you cannot normally see, with commentary from the staff. It is an opportunity to see an authentic Bunraku puppet theater performance and interact with the performers of the Awaji Puppet Theater. (Commemorative photos with Awaji dolls will be taken with your own camera) ■ Experience Schedule ・ 10:30 Awaji Ningyo Za meeting (After meeting, travel by taxi with the guide) ・ 10:45 Visit to the Ningyo Joruri Museum (about 30 minutes) ・ 11:20 Visit to Sanjo Hachiman Shrine (Visit the monument of the birthplace of Awaji dolls, Ebisu Shrine) (about 10 minutes) ・ 12:00-12:45 Lunch on your own * If you wish, we will reserve and guide you to a restaurant recommended by the troupe (Sushi Restaurant Haruyoshi) (Please apply in the questions when booking the experience. Please pay for meals directly at the store) ・ 12:50 Nishihama Shrine (Daimyojin) ・ Visit to Myojin Cape (Shrine dedicated to Izanagi-no-Mikoto and Izanami-no-Mikoto, observation deck on the rocks, power spot on the rocks) (about 30 minutes) *In the event of rain, the tour of the rocks at Myojin Cape will be canceled. 13:30 Tour of Izanagi Shrine (Japan's oldest shrine dedicated to Izanagi and Izanami) (approx. 40 mins) 14:45 Awaji Puppet Theatre (15:00-15:50 Ebisu Dance and backstage tour) 16:00 Local disbandment *It is possible to eat lunch around Tsushi, Goshiki-cho, Sumoto City, but please make your own lunch reservation. We will pick you up and drop you off in the same taxi.

Awaji Island had many puppet theaters of various sizes from the early Edo period to the early Showa period, and they performed not only on the island but also throughout the country, spreading the appeal of Bunraku puppet theater. The Awaji Puppet Theater inherited the props of one of the major theaters, the Yoshida Denjiro Theater, and continues to perform here.

The museum opened in 1990 in the birthplace of Awaji puppets (Sanjo village in the Edo period) after acquiring all of the puppets and props from the prestigious Awaji Puppet Theatre Ichimura Rokunojoza troupe, which had ceased operations in the mid-1960s.

Ebisu-sama is now the god of business, but originally he was the god of the sea. On Awaji Island, beach plays have been held since ancient times at fishing village festivals, and the Ebisu dance was always performed as an interlude to pray for a good catch and safe voyages. The fishermen call out the names of fish one after another, asking for prayers for a good catch of the fish they are after, and the tayu responds by reciting the names of the fish caught in the fishing village. The performance retains the old form in which puppets were used in religious ceremonies, and instead of playing a thick-necked shamisen, the tayu narrates the story to the accompaniment of a drum. Ebisu-sama comes on with a fishing rod on his shoulder. The village headman serves sacred sake. After drinking the entire cup, Ebisu-sama begins to dance, talking about his origins and being the god of fortune. In front of the bounty of the sea and the mountains, he drinks the sacred sake to grant everyone's wishes and bring them happiness. The drunk Ebisu deity gets on a boat, goes out to sea, catches a large sea bream, and dances to celebrate. This ritual, in which the Ebisu deity dances joyfully to the rhythm of the drums, embodies the origin of happiness, which is to have a generous heart, a happy face, and live with a positive attitude.