Shadow puppet theater finds audience in Japan<\/p>\n
Kartika Bagus C., Contributor, Surakarta, Central Java<\/p>\n
In Javanese culture, the shadow puppet show depicts life in
\nthis world, where there is a dichotomy of black and white, good
\nand evil, sorrow and happiness. It is this depiction of life that
\nmakes the shadow puppet show really appeal to those well versed
\nin this traditional art.<\/p>\n
Through some of the witty characters like Semar, Gareng,
\nPetruk and Bagong, all known as punakawan, a shadow puppet show
\ndoes not only convey the noble qualities of life but also conveys
\nmoral messages valuable for our daily lives. It is this aspect of
\nthe show that makes shadow puppet lovers glued to the show the
\nwhole night through.<\/p>\n
One of the shadow puppet masters actively engaged in
\nconserving this traditional Javanese art is Ki Mantep Sudharsono.
\nHailing from Surakarta in Central Java, he is well known as one
\nof the pioneers of the art form.<\/p>\n
Between Nov. 8 and Nov. 13, Ki Mantep Sudharsono, seven
\ngamelan players and a traditional Javanese singer will perform
\nshadow puppet shows in Japan for the opening and closing of the
\nJapanese Arts Festival 2001, held in the city of Gunma. Ki Mantep
\nwill perform Dewa Ruci, a story taken from the Mahabarata epic.<\/p>\n
The puppet master said the shows would last for only for two
\nand half hours, a compact form of the normal show. \"For the
\nclosing of the festival, we are going to perform Sumantri Ngenger
\n(Sumantri Takes a Master), a story from the Ramayana,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Apart from performing at the festival, Ki Mantep will also
\nperform his shadow puppet shows at a number of hotels in Tokyo,
\nin a program arranged by the association of shadow leather puppet
\nshow lovers in Japan, Nihon Wayang Kyokai, headed by Matsumoto, a
\nlecturer and researcher of leather puppets.<\/p>\n
Ki Mantep said there are quite a lot of fans of Indonesian
\nleather puppet shows in Japan. \"Leather puppet shows held in
\nJapan - in Tokyo and some other cities - are always packed and
\nthe tickets are often sold out even before the shows are staged,\"
\nhe said, obviously very pleased with this situation.<\/p>\n
His performances for the Japan Arts Festival are unique in
\nthat he got assistance from eight female members of Nihon Wayang
\nKyokai, who will perform as gamelan players and also from Hiromi,
\na Japanese student at the Surakarta-based Indonesia Arts
\nInstitute. Hiromi will be the singer of traditional Javanese
\nsongs.<\/p>\n
\"The gamelan players from Nihon Wayang Kyokai rehearsed at my
\nhouse in August. They are already skillful at playing the
\nJavanese gamelan,\" Ki Mantep said, adding that he was sure the
\ncollaboration between Indonesian and Japanese gamelan players
\nwould prove a great success.<\/p>\n
The gamelan being used for these shows was also special as it
\nwas a set of Slendro gamelan provided by Nihon Wayang Kyokai. He
\nsaid that a set of leather puppets had also been made available
\nby this association and added that only a few puppets for certain
\ncharacters were brought from Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Unsurprisingly, Ki Mantep and his troupe were very
\nenthusiastic about their shows in Japan. He said that it was an
\nhonor for him to be invited to Japan for the third time. He had
\nperformed in Japan in 1997 and 2000.<\/p>\n
\"The Japanese are known to be very busy and have a high
\nstandard of living. However, they also accept and appreciate the
\nculture of other nations, particularly the leather puppet show
\nfrom Java.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/shadow-puppet-theater-finds-audience-in-japan-1447893297",
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