[Hyogo, Minami Awaji] Limited to one group (4-8 people) per day! Guided by an active puppeteer of Awaji Puppet Theater! A 3-hour tour in a chartered taxi around the areas associated with the Awaji Puppet Theater

An active member of the troupe will accompany you on the entire trip in a chartered taxi, carrying the representative Awaji puppet "Ebisu-sama" as your personal guide. You will visit the museum to learn about the history of Awaji puppet theater and its glamorous heyday, the props used on stage and the mechanisms of how they are handled, and tour the birthplace of Awaji puppet theater. Taking photos in a place associated with Ebisu-sama is a rare experience that you would not normally be able to have. If you wish, we will take you to a sweets shop recommended by the puppet theater member. After learning the basics of Awaji puppet theater, you will return to the puppet theater and enjoy the long-awaited "Ebisu Dance" (with a backstage tour). * Shopping at the sweets shop is not included in the experience fee. Please pay directly to the store. We may not be able to guide you on holidays. * Please take photos with your own camera. [Tourism Ambassador Planning Participation Plan] This plan is a plan planned by the "Awaji Island Tourism Ambassador", who promotes the charm of Awaji Island. ■Experience Schedule・12:50 Meet at Awaji Ningyo Za (After meeting, travel by taxi with your guide)・12:55 Gokokuji Temple (The ancestors of Awaji Ningyo Joruri performers were under the patronage of Awaji's guardian, Hosokawa, and performed Shinto ritual arts) (approx. 15 min.)・13:25 Visit to the Ningyo Joruri Museum (approx. 35 min.)・14:05 Sanjo Hachiman Shrine (Visit the monument marking the birthplace of Awaji puppets, Ebisu Shrine) (approx. 10 min.)・14:20 If you wish, you can be taken to a Japanese and Western confectionery shop recommended by a current member of the troupe (takeout)・14:45 Awaji Ningyo Za (15:00-15:50 Ebisu dance and backstage tour)・16:00 Disband on site

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.