Traditional Performing Arts × Immersive Theater — Hoichi the Earless
A story told by Hoichi, an actor, and The Tale of the Heike narrated by a Chikuzen biwa minstrel.
The Heart Sutra is rendered by a calligrapher while powerful imagery overwhelms the space.
Alongside the main Hoichi stage, three other stories unfold in each daytime and evening performance. By moving among simultaneous stages, audiences experience the space between reality and mystery, or the heart of an unidentified figure.
What will you see and feel here? Sharpen all five senses and experience seven stories.
Synopsis
Hoichi the Earless is a famous Japanese ghost story included in Kwaidan by Irish-born Japanese folklorist and writer Lafcadio Hearn, known in Japan as Yakumo Koizumi. Blind biwa minstrel Hoichi has sutras written over his body to escape the vengeful spirits of the Heike, but his ears are forgotten and torn away. The tale is set at Amidaji Temple near Dan-no-ura.
On a humid summer night, a voice visits Hoichi while he remains alone at the temple playing biwa. Who has called upon the renowned musician?
The story also conveys the sorrow of the Heike spirits beneath the sea at Dan-no-ura. Leading Chikuzen biwa performer Chomi Terada delivers a powerful live performance, calligrapher Yuan transforms feeling and prayer into original calligraphy, and locally active actors create an exceptional stage through drama, narration, and rakugo. Koji Harada, president of PeaksMind, brings color to the entertainment through video direction developed during a career in theme-park show media.
What Is Immersive Theater?
A new form of entertainment also described as experiential theater. Stories unfold simultaneously throughout the venue rather than on a single stage, and audiences move around to experience each one.
Schedule
Aug. 25 (Fri.), 26 (Sat.), and 27 (Sun.), 2023
Daytime: reception 2:00 p.m., performance 2:30 p.m.
Evening: reception 6:00 p.m., performance 6:30 p.m.
Six theatrical side stories
A, Tea House West Room and others: Illusion, Creation, Forgiveness
B, Tea House West Room and others: Insect, Festival, Monk
Chikuzen biwa × calligraphy × video × theater
C, main stage in Tea House tatami room: Hoichi the Earless
Scheduled endings: 4:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Visitor Information
Doors open 30 minutes before the performance. The entrance may become crowded shortly before showtime, so arrive with time to spare.
Follow staff instructions and venue rules.
Do not eat or drink inside.
Venue: Tea House, Ohori Park Japanese Garden
Cast: Chomi Terada / Yuan / Taketoshi Umeda / Tomoko Iwaki, and others
Admission
Ticket Pia P code 521057; event code 2327519
Same day: daytime ¥6,000; evening ¥6,000
Advance: daytime ¥5,000; evening ¥5,000
Students: advance or same day ¥1,000; show student ID at reception; junior and senior high school, university, vocational school, and equivalent
Full-day ticket: advance ¥8,000; same day ¥10,000
Admission includes the ¥250 Japanese Garden fee. Elementary-school-age children are free, but the ¥120 garden fee applies.
Children younger than elementary-school age may not attend.
Supporters
Riso Co., Ltd.
Ando Landscape and Civil Engineering Co., Ltd.
Field Japan Co., Ltd.
Nakahara Construction Co., Ltd.
President Co., Ltd.
Daiei Sangyo Co., Ltd.
Kitakyushu Propane Gas Co., Ltd.
Mitsuyasu Seikaen Tea Shop Co., Ltd.
Inquiries
Sou X Project Executive Committee Office, Ships Co., Ltd.
092-771-8901, weekdays 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
