Kamishibai
Newsletter Vol.11
The International Kamishibai Association of Japan

紙芝居文化の会

From IKAJA in Tokyo
In Memoriam: Taruhi Furuta
Taruhi Furuta, known by many as a “giant of knowledge,” passed away in June 2014.
Both an author and a critic, Mr. Furuta marshaled deep understanding of and interest inchildren’s culture in all forms.
Because he believed kamishibai to be a vital form of children’s culture, he joined IKAJA.
He created six excellent kamishibai works—including the Kamii the Robot series—which
deserve continued performance as kamishibai treasures.
In memory of Mr. Furuta, we devote this issue to his kamishibai. Long may they delightchildren and adults everywhere.

- Contents From IKAJA in Tokyo
About Taruhi Furuta
Mr. Furuta’s Digging, by Seiichi Tabata
Kamii the Robot: Kamii and the Toy Elephant
How Mr. Furuta Distilled the Essence of This Work, by Kyoko Sakai
Kamii the Robot in Preschools and Daycare Centers, by Yoshiko Horikawa
Summaries of Mr. Furuta’s Other Kamishibai Works
1. Kamii the Robot: Kamii and the Class Play
2. Kamii the Robot: Kamii Plays Store
3. Kamii the Robot: Return to Robot Land
4. The World’s Biggest Cake
5. Robot Robo Climbs the Pole
Reports from IKAJA International Members
Two Books about Experiences with Kamishibai in Spain, by Carmen Aldama Jiménez
Performing Kamishibai in Malaysia, by Mazni Md Ramly
Kamishibai Supply Information
What is IKAJA?
Membership Application FormIKAJA’s International Members are from such countries and regions as:
Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Finland,France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Holland, NewZealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan*, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Singapore,Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia,
the United Kingdom, the United States, Vietnam. (220 international members in 40 countries
and regions in total as of September 2015)*New country in the past year1

Kamishibai Supply Information￼￼￼￼￼￼

< Kamishibai Sheet >*Standard dimensions of kamishibai sheets:
26.5 x 38.2 cm*Standard number of sheets in publishedkamishibai:
8, 12, 16, 24, etc.

< Kamishibai Stage >34.5cm*Dimensions of a kamishibai stage(in brown wood):
W 42.5 x H 34.5 x D 8.3 cm
ISBN 4-494-07300-8Japanese retail price (tax excluded): ¥ 9800

50cm

42.5cm24.7cm8.3cm

34.6cm
85.4cm* Dimensions of a kamishibai stand:W 63.5 x H 110 to 167 x D 41 cm
ISBN 4-494-07304-0
Japanese retail price (tax excluded): ¥ 42800

Back side view
with kamishibai sheets

If you would like to order kamishibai
supplies, please use the following links:
http://www.doshinsha.co.jp/kamishibai/translations/form.php< Kamishibai Stand >standcloth

110 to 167cm
Height adjustable

table

table

Librairie Japonaise Junku
www.junku.fr/fr/index.php

cloth

To read synopses in English of nearly 40
recommended Japanese kamishibai,
visit this link:
http://www.doshinsha.co.jp/kamishibai/tra
nslations/result.php?e_lang=L03(steel stand, black table and cloth)2What is IKAJA?
Activities

Becoming an International Member

The International Kamishibai Association ofJapan (IKAJA) is Japan’s largest kamishibai
association. The spokesperson is now Kyoko
Sakai, chair of the publishing company
Doshinsha. Noriko Matsui, creator of kamishibai
and picture books, remains as advisor.

If you wish to become an international
Individual Member, please send two (2)International Reply Coupons with yourapplication form to the contact address below.
Group Members, please send ten (10) or moreInternational Reply Coupons.

Since the establishment of IKAJA in 2001, we
have held 27 domestic kamishibai seminars
and issued 25 semiannual Japanese newsletters
as well as 11 annual English newsletters. We
have also sent delegations to many countries
to organize seminars and workshops. We
co-organized the first European Kamishibai
Meeting at UNESCO in Paris in cooperation
with la Petite Bibliothèque Ronde in 2012. For
more details, please kindly see our website.

In case the Coupons are not available at post
offices near you, please send us beautiful
postage stamps from your country instead(enough to send two airmails).
NEW: International members are nolonger obliged to pay annual dues. Thischange in 2015 stems from the digitalizationof Kamishibai Newsletter. But we always
welcome your donation.

We always welcome comments and opinionsfrom our members.

English-Language Website
Please visit IKAJA’s English-language website.
You can also download the IKAJA application
form and membership information here.
www.geocities.jp/kamishibai/index-e.html

Membership
Domestic individual members: 512
Domestic group members: 9
International individual members: 210
International group members: 10Total: 741

Doshinsha Publishing Co., Ltd. also has an
English-language page on its website :http://www.doshinsha.co.jp/kamishibai/translations/form.php

Contact Address
Etsuko Nozaka (Ms.)
International Project Manager
The International Kamishibai
Association of Japan (IKAJA)
3-32-15-1F, Inokashira, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo
181-0001 Japan
Tel/Fax: 81-422-49-8990
E-mail: kamishibai@ybb.ne.jp

Illustration © Noriko Matsui3

If you would like to become a member of IKAJA, please photocopy this page and fill in theform.
Send the form to our FAX number: 81-422-49-8990.
Or contact us by E-mail: kamishibai@ybb.ne.jp

Membership Application Form
I would like to be an Individual / Group Member of IKAJA. (Please choose.)
Date:
Mr. / Ms. / DrFirst Name:
Family Name:
Date of Birth (D/M/Y):
Nationality:
Home Address:
Home TEL/FAX:Home E-mail Address (if any):
Profession or Main Activities:
Office Address (if any):
Department/Position:
Office Tel/FAX
Office E-mail Address (if any):

Benefits of Becoming a Member
After we receive your Membership Application Form and International Reply Coupons or stamps,
you will receive Kamishibai Newsletter Vol. 10 in English as well as the book How to Perform
Kamishibai Q & A as a “welcome pack.” The latest issue of the Kamishibai Newsletter will be sent
to you via E-mail.
4Kamishibai Newsletter Vol.11

Limited Digital Version
Issue date: 30 October 2015

Edited by:

Etsuko Nozaka
Hina Nagase
Yumi Michiyama

Translations by:
Avery Udagawa and Etsuko Nozaka

Illustrations:
Cover art © Seiichi Tabata(from Kamii the Robot series published by Doshinsha)

Copyright © 2015 The International Kamishibai Association of Japan (IKAJA)
No part of this newsletter except the Membership Application Form may be reproduced in anyform, by print, photo print, microfilm or any other means, without written permission from TheInternational Kamishibai Association of Japan (IKAJA),
3-32-15-1F Inokashira, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo 181-0001 Japan.
E-mail: kamishibai@ybb.ne.jp

Website: www.geocities.jp/kamishibai/index-e.html

5IKAJA