PARCO GRAND BAZAR Features Screenwriter Koki Mitani’s Traditional Art, Bunraku: “Ningyo Girai”

by

Ever since PARCO in Ikebukuro debuted back in 1969, it has been a significant cultural hub spanning the Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa periods. This year, PARCO will be hosting its grand “GRAND BAZAR” event, a notable biannual celebration that coincides with the release of a creative work based on “Ningyo Girai,” a story penned by screenwriter and playwright Koki Mitani about a Bunraku puppet who despises dolls.

In simpler terms, Bunraku (or Ningyo Joruri) is an ancient Japanese art form that combines storytelling, music from the shamisen, and intricate puppetry. Mr. Mitani has modernized this tradition with “Mitani Bunraku,” a fresh interpretation of classical entertainment that maintains respect for the original while adding contemporary artistic vision.

In 2012, he unveiled his initial production titled “Sore Nari Shinchu,” a unique rendition of Chikamatsu Monzaemon’s classic “Sonezaki Shinju.” This captivating tale resonated with both long-time Bunraku enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Since then, it has been performed numerous times across the nation. Notably, “Ningyo Girai” is set to be Mitani Bunraku’s first new piece in approximately 13 years, which signifies an exciting development for the creative sphere as well as for PARCO.

The tale of “Ningyo Girai” is inspired by the play “Le Misanthrope ou l’Atrabilaire Amoureux,” penned in 1666 by Molière, one of the notable writers of the 17th-century classicism era. This story revolves around the main character, “Darasuke,” a Bunraku puppet who is frequently cast as a minor antagonist. In this play, Darasuke becomes frustrated with being confined to secondary or negative roles. A specific incident sets off the puppets’ rebellion, causing them to flee the theater and roam the city of Osaka. These same puppets will be showcased in PARCO GRAND BAZAR advertisements, social media platforms, and other promotional materials.

The advertisement mainly showcases the character, Darasuke, skillfully performing stunts on a skateboard as he races through the urban landscape. However, what’s unseen is the meticulous control by three puppeteers, including Mr. Yoshida, and the use of advanced 3D spatial reconstruction technology like 3D Gaussian Splatting in video processing. This results in each scene exuding a feeling of speed, giving the impression that Darasuke is moving independently. The journey ends at the “PARCO GRAND BAZAR” location. Starting from July 11, an exclusive TikTok filter will be introduced. A Darasuke model created using data from 3DGS technology will use common objects as ramps to perform tricks, traversing the city and bringing the story of Ningyo Girai to reality.

An exceptional team contributed to Mitani’s realization of his artistic concept. Puppeteer Ichisuke Yoshida provided creative guidance and oversight, while Tsuruzawa Seisuke, a skillful shamisen player, composed the music. The cast includes Takemoto Chitose-tayu, who boasts the highest qualification for a Tayu, “kiri-gatari.” The performances will be staged at the “PARCO Theater,” located on the 8th floor of “Shibuya PARCO,” from Saturday, August 16 to Thursday, August 28. Seats are reserved, and tickets are now available for purchase.

During the GRAND BAZAR period, several other activities will take place as well. Specifically, there will be a special “LUCKY CHANCE” lottery running throughout the event, offering no losing tickets and prizes worth up to ¥100,000 ($688 USD) in PARCO gift certificates and travel vouchers. To enter, you just need to make a purchase of ¥5,000 plus tax or more at any PARCO store across the country. For each qualifying transaction, you’ll get one entry. But if you show the Pokeparu Pay registration screen in the “POCKET PARCO” app or a PARCO card, you can double your chances by entering twice!

Every six months, the grand sale event known as “PARCO GRAND BAZAR” takes place, offering substantial discounts on not just clothing but also decorative items and more. This year, from July 11th to July 21st, you can find it at 15 PARCO stores across the country. To make your shopping experience even more enjoyable this summer, don’t forget to check out “Ningyo Girai,” a traditional Japanese performing arts event.

I’m excited to share some news! From July 11 (Friday) to July 21 (Monday, during the National Holiday), I’ll be joining forces with our branches in Sapporo, Sendai, Urawa, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Chofu, Hibarigaoka, Kinshicho, Kichijoji, Shizuoka, Nagoya, Shinsaibashi, Hiroshima, Fukuoka PARCO, and PARCO_ya Ueno!

Read More

2025-07-02 20:26