Awaji Puppet Theatre

Living National Treasure TSURUZAWA tomoji (passed away in 2016)

Awaji Puppet Theatre There are many attractive women, but the world's best performer who is not only talented but also full of humanity is TSURUZAWA Tomoji He was my master. Late holder of Gidayubushi, a nationally designated important intangible cultural property (Living National Treasure) TSURUZAWA Tomoji The introductory text of the monument is as follows.

TSURUZAWA Tomoji Commendation monument inscription

His real name was Miyazaki Kimiko. He was born on December 9, 1913 in Fukura-cho, Mihara-gun. At the age of five, he aspired to become a Gidayu performer, and from the age of nine, he studied under Nozawa Kichido of the Bunraku Theater. He later became an apprentice under the sixth head of the shamisen school, Tsuruzawa Yujiro, and continued to study. He mastered the essence of this art, and his outstanding skills were highly praised, making him a leading figure in the field.

In my hometown Awaji Puppet Theatre We will continue to teach young people and students, and foster many talented people. AWAJI NINGYÔ JÔRURI contribute to the promotion of

With many disciples in the Hanshin area, Tomojikai is ranked at the highest level of Sogikai.

Participated in several overseas performances, received rave reviews in various countries, gained fame as Awaji dolls, and was certified as a holder of important intangible cultural property in Kuni in 1985.

On the anniversary of his death, we will erect a monument to commemorate the great achievements of those who have been blessed with the arts and to commemorate them and pass them down to future generations.

April 11, 1992

TSURUZAWA Tomoji Monument Construction Committee

When you read this book, you can see his efforts to become a Living National Treasure and his contributions through Gidayu-bushi, but his human charm is something we can all relate to. Awaji Puppet Theatre The staff members know best. He is my number one disciple, Awaji Puppet Theatre We present a message written by Master Takemoto Yukimi, who was a leading tayu (a performer in the entertainment industry) when the late Master Tomomichi was designated a Living National Treasure.

"I couldn't be happier"

There is no doubt that I am the person in the world who is most happy to be recognized as a Living National Treasure, and feels that it is the most deserved result. I have always felt gratitude and respect for my master, who has served me as a disciple since the time immediately after the end of the war when nothing was available, and who has given me warm guidance despite the harshness of the situation. When I was training in Ayuhara, I got so absorbed in playing at the riverbank where I went to fetch water that I was scolded, but when I woke up in the middle of the night in the middle of winter and heard the sound of my master's shamisen, I was reminded that I did everything with my utmost effort. Even as a child, I was moved by the fact that behind the words, ``There is nothing you can't do if you try.'' Behind the scenes, there was a hidden effort.

He is very strict with himself and says, ``The whole life of a human being is a study,'' and he never neglects to pursue his art.He has many rehearsal rooms and spends his days devoted to training. There were many times when I couldn't watch it without crying. The shamisen must express the situation and scene. In order to convey your heart, you don't just play with your hands, you play with your hips, putting pressure into your big toes. In addition, it is important to keep one's mind unified, which is called belly ga mae, and play with pushing breaths, and to unite one's heart with the tayu and constantly measure the breaths, pauses, and ``aun'' breaths. When you speak on the master's shamisen, you can perform on stage with a sense of security and satisfaction, knowing that the master will bring out something beyond your own abilities. As a disciple of a Living National Treasure, I will continue to work even harder.

Awaji Puppet Theatre The members of the group admire Master Tomoji's art and life, and are practicing in their respective fields, including shamisen, storytelling, and puppetry. Thank you for your support.

TSURUZAWA Tomoji Master's activities

Nurturing successors

TSURUZAWA Tomoji To date, the master has taught more than 1,000 disciples.

Awaji Puppet Theatre Disciples active in
Yukimi Takemoto, Yusho Takemoto, Yuyu Tsurusawa, Yuya Tsurusawa, Yuriki Takemoto

Successor training initiatives

1940～	Take an apprentice.
1972 - 2003	Instructs Nandancho Fukui Children's Association Puppet Joruri Club.
1972-2000	He directed the local culture club at Mihara Town Municipal Elementary School (now Minami Awaji Municipal Elementary School).
1975 - 2003	Instructs the local club of Hyogo Prefectural Mihara High School.
1981-2006	Awaji Puppet Theatre Guidance of young staff members.
1983 - 2003	Local club guidance at Mihara Municipal Mihara Junior High School (currently Minami-Awaji Municipal Mihara Junior High School).
1983 to 2013	Coached the local performing arts club at Minami Awaji Town Minami Awaji Junior High School (currently Minami Awaji City Minami Awaji Junior High School).

Performances overseas

Overseas performance history	11 times in total, 16 countries
1972	united states of america
1978	France/Spain
1978	united states of america
1980	Hong Kong (2 times)
1981	Netherlands and Belgium
1986	Australia and New Zealand
1987	Sweden/Denmark
1992	Spain, Germany, Poland
1994	Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland
1997	France

TSURUZAWA Tomoji Teacher's background

profile

Real name Kimiko Miyazaki
Date of birth: December 9, 1919
Born at 280-3 Fukura Otsu, Nandan-cho, as the fifth daughter of her father, Zenkichi, and mother, Katsu.

At the age of four, he studied under the master Yoshio Nozawa and spoke about ``Kanjo Awa's Naruto Junreika Dan''.
From the age of five, she studied under master Tokuhachi Toyosawa, and became a poster child for her family's theater productions, appearing on stages all over the country touring with the Uemura Gennojo-za, Ichimura Rokunojo-za, and Yoshida Fujiro-za.
Studied under Yoshido Nozawa, Higashihiro Takemoto, and Hirosuke Toyosawa.

Career chronology

1933	Appeared on Radio Tokushima Broadcasting. Since then, has appeared on various radio and television programs.
1933	He received instruction from such masters as Tsurusawa Yujiro, Nozawa Yoshiya, Takemoto Someto, Tsurusawa Kanji, and Takemoto Tsunadayu, all of whom would later become Living National Treasures.
1940～	Takes apprentices and strives to train successors.
1945	From the Soke TSURUZAWA Tomoji I got the stage name.
1945	A public performance was held in Fukura.
1951	He served as soizami for Takemoto Mitscho and Someto at the Yotsubashi Bunraku-za, and later served as the leading soizami at the time at Takarazuka Grand Theater, Kyoto Minamiza, Osaka Asahiza, Osaka Mitsukoshi Theater, Tokyo National Theater, etc. serve.
1953	Formed a group of disciples called Tomoji-kai. Since then, they have won team championships at the Awaji Motoyoshi Judging Committee and the Japan Motoyoshi Promotion Association Judging Committee, and have produced many yokozuna.
1968	Received the Hyogo Prefecture Governor's Award.
1972	The play will be viewed by Emperor and Empress Heisei.
1974	Received the Japan Honor Society Award.
same year	Participated in American performances including Carnegie Hall. Performed in 16 countries around the world. Dedicated to international exchange and goodwill.
1984	Received an award from the entertainment group "Handon no Kai".
1985	Received the Hyogo Prefecture Culture Award.
same year	Awarded the wooden cup (No. 5).
1986	He is recognized as a holder of the Important Intangible Cultural Property of Gidayubushi (comprehensive designation).
From 1986	Serves as a shami for Living National Treasure Master Sahiro Takemotoji.
1992	Volunteers erected a commemorative monument next to the Onaruto Bridge Memorial Hall.
1995	Received the Commendation from the Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
1996	Received the Pola Traditional Culture Award Grand Prize.
1998	Recognized as an Important Intangible Cultural Property Gidayubushi shamisen holder.
December 2016	He passed away at the age of 103.

episode

The opportunity for talent to blossom

When he was four years old, he surprised adults by reciting the Naruto Junrei-ka section of Keisei Awa.
His home was a practice room for Joruri, so he memorized the stories like a Buddhist monk and performed them well, which led to the development of his talent.

naughty childhood

When she was little, she was mischievous and only played with boys. While playing with neighborhood children, he started following new friends one after another, and by the evening, he lost track of where he was, and was found by a neighbor in a gathering.After he was brought back, he was given a lost tag. Also, because he was scolded by his father, he hid the ladder while his father climbed onto the roof and got hit with a big eyeball.
He was climbing a tree and crashed, and when he opened his eyes he saw his mother crying and realized that he shouldn't make his parents cry.

Memories of my training days

While training in Osaka, Master Tomoji was worried about the smell and people eating Kaiten-yaki whenever he went out to run errands. He couldn't resist buying it, and when he brought it home, he couldn't find a place to eat it, so he went into the bathroom and ate it.