Many Hatsune Miku fans will be happy to learn that the twice-postponed Hatsune Miku x BUNRAKU-beyond Ningyō Jōruri performance taking place on October 25th, 2020, will be streamed live.

For those unfamiliar with Ningyō Jōruri 人形浄瑠璃 otherwise known as bunraku 文楽, it is a traditional Japanese form of puppet theater, originating in 17th century Osaka, in which puppeteers clad in black operate puppets ranging in size from two to four feet, to the accompaniment of shamisen and chanting.

Although the performance, an unprecedented collaboration between Hatsune Miku and Ningyō Jōruri, was originally announced by Crypton Future Media in August 2019 and scheduled to take place at the Kamakura-gū Shrine on October 13th, 2019, it was first postponed to March 2020 due to a typhoon and postponed a second time due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The performance on October 25th, entitled 恋娘紬迷宮 Koimusume Tsumugi no Rabirinsu (Girl in Love and the Labyrinth of Silk), will be held at the Tomioka Silk Mill in Gunma Prefecture. A World Heritage Site since 2014, the factory was established in 1872 to mass-produce and export silk and played a crucial role in Japan's path towards modernization.

Yoshizumi Endo, SA by CC 2.0 | © Flickr.com

Many Hatsune Miku fans had probably resigned themselves to the fact that they would be missing the performance. However, in what is surely a happy surprise, the SAP Corporation coordinating the performance announced in a press release today that it would be streamed online through the Streaming+ service.

Performance Details

The performance will include special elements only possible at the Tomioka Silk Mill and will feature an event-limited Hatsune Miku module. Moreover, Kaito dayō will make a special appearance.

Hatsune Miku will be projected on a screen and perform together with the celebrated puppeteer Tamasuke Yoshida, with an ensemble performance by the Gunma Symphony Orchestra.

  • Full Title: Gunma Prefecture Strategic Cultural Performing Arts Project’s 40th World Heritage Theater ~Tomioka Silk Mill~: BUNRAKU-beyond Ningyō Jōruri x Hatsune Miku “Koimusume Tsumugi no Labirinsu”
  • Date: October 25th, 2020 (Sun.)
  • Schedule: Doors open 17:00 / Begins 18:00 / Ends 19:30
  • Place: Tomioka Silk Mill (outdoors)
  • Cancelation: No cancelation in event of rain, cancelation in event of storm

Credits

  • Key visuals: まおう (Maou)
  • Performers: Tamasuke Yoshida, Monyoshi Kiritake, Tamahiko Yoshida, Seinosuke Toyomatsu, Hatsune Miku, Gunma Symphony Orchestra Ensemble, Mikunano, others
  • Sponsors: Gunma Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture Strategic Cultural Performing Arts Project Executive Committee, World Heritage Theater in Japan Executive Committee
  • Production: SNOW CRASH, Crypton Future Media
  • Music: 黒うさP (KurousaP) / WhiteFlame, Otomania
  • Gidayubushi: Mutsumidayu Toyotake, Tsurusawa Tomonosuke
  • Costumes: PARABOX
  • Collaborators: Tomioka City, The Bunraku Association, Digital Hollywood University, Kiryu Onkyo
  • Planning: SAP

Ticket Information

  • In-person ticket information here
  • Streaming ticket information here
  • Price: 3,000 JPY (incl. tax)
  • On sale from October 7th, 2020

Goods

Fans can also purchase a broad range of special commemorative goods, such as these beautiful T-shirts and pin badges:

Hatsune Miku Full Graphic T-shirt: 6,000 JPY

Hatsune Miku pin badges (set of 6, Kamakura & Tomioka): 1,800 JPY

You can see the complete list of available goods here.


By - Ben K.