Prayer for world peace and health, and thanksgiving to the Buddha of medicine
~ Prayer and Thanksgiving ~ Hori Hiroshi Yakushiji Dedication Memorial 2024.
Doll artist and puppet dance founder Hori Hiroshi will dedicate his originally created doll and puppet dance performance to Yakushiji Temple, the head temple of the Hosso sect of Buddhism.
This dedication is made with the hope of bringing joy and pleasure to as many people as possible, even if it is not a big puppet dance performance or an exhibition with many puppets, in these times of hardship in life and in mind. I had been creating dolls with the hope of bringing joy and pleasure to as many people as possible, even if it is not a big performance or an exhibition with many works, when I was suddenly requested by Mr. Tetsujo Otani, the chief monk of Yakushiji Temple, the head temple of the Hosso sect in Nara, if I could dedicate Hori’s dolls and Ningyo-Mai (puppet dance)1
In Hori Hiroshi’s puppet dance, Hori makes a life-size puppet, designs, tailors, and dresses it with his own hands, and then uses it to perform the dance alone by himself. The puppet will then presented to Yakushiji Temple. ↩︎
As I celebrate the 45th anniversary of my career as a puppet artist, I have decided to accept the dedication of the doll to Yakushiji Temple in the hope that it will contribute to the temple’s prayers for peace and health in the world. I have made up my mind to accept the dedication.
It is a great honor and at the same time a sobering experience to receive such an offer from Mr. Tetsujo Otani, the head monk of Yakushiji Temple, who has been praying for world peace and the healing of illnesses since the Hakuho period (710-794).
The dedication of the puppet and the puppet dance will be held on May 5, 2024 at Yakushiji Temple’s Genjo Sanzoin temple complex at a Buddhist memorial service to honor Genjo Sanzo, the founder of the Hosso sect of Buddhism known as “Sanzo Hoshi”, and the puppet will be dedicated to Yakushiji Temple. Last year, we visited Yakushiji Temple, listened to the story of Monk Tetsujo Otani, and conveyed the thoughts of Hori, put together the concept, and from this spring, Hori will start the production with the wishes and prayers.
The doll to dedicate is Genjo Sanzo Hoshi. We are very much looking forward to seeing what kind of doll world Hori will create for Sanzo Hoshi, a doll by Hori, who has created mostly female dolls, including those for the Tale of Genji.
In 2024, we will present another new world of Hori Hiroshi as “Hori Hiroshi Yakushiji Temple Dedication Commemoration 2024.”
The outline of activities are as follows. We will announce the details of each of them as they become available.
Summary of activities for Hori Hiroshi’s “Yakushiji Temple Dedication Commemoration 2024”:
Period: January 2024 – March 2025
- Yakushiji Dedication Genjo Sanzo Kai Grand Festival on May 5, 2024 at Yakushiji Temple Genjo Sanzoin Temple Complex
- Puppet Dance & Talk Show at Yakushiji Mahoroba Kaikan, etc.
- Hori Hiroshi Doll Exhibition and Sale at Kita-Kamakura Old Folk Museum Shop in department stores throughout Japan
Doll Artist Hori Hiroshi Exhibition “Dolls of the great writers” at Kitakamakura Museum of Old Folk Houses Sept.2024 – Jan.2025
As of 2024.2.8.
Profile:
Hori Hiroshi: Puppet Artist Puppet Artist, Puppet Dance Founder, Costume Designer
Born on January 1, 1958 in Kanagawa Prefecture
Hori began making dolls at an early age, and while a student at Aoyama Gakuin School, “Yang Kwei” was selected for a creative doll competition.
The following year, “Fukusuke Monkey” won the Excellence Award at the Japan Creative Dolls Association, and he began his career as a doll maker in earnest.
He is also the founder of “Ningyo Mai,” a one-man Bunraku (puppet dance) performance in which he creates life-size dolls and performs the dance himself. For this theatrical art form, “Ningyo Mai”, he was awarded the Tokyo Metropolitan Cultural Honor Award in 1991.
In 1991, he became the youngest person to receive the Tokyo Metropolitan Cultural Honor Award. He is also the Natori of the Azuma school.
In addition to being invited to the International Biennale of Sydney, he has performed puppet dances and exhibited puppets and designed costumes in 50 cities in 15 countries overseas.
Received the Kimono Culture Award in 1987. He has worked on the designs of costumes for stage and film, and is also active as a kimono designer. In 1991, he was awarded the Tokyo Metropolitan Cultural Honor Award for pioneering a unique artistic field by incorporating modern sensibilities into the traditional beauty of Japan.
His life’s work, puppet works and puppet dances of The Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari) were performed at the Konpon Chudo Hall of Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hie and at Hikone Castle, a national treasure, and were later made into a film of The Tale of Genji directed by the be known film director Masahiro Shinoda. The Tale of Genji film has been shown at the “Uji City Tale of Genji Museum” in Kyoto since 2002.
Hiroshi Hori has created more than 200 life-size dolls.
In recent years, he has begun creating puppet dance performances using cutting-edge video technology and in the field of digital art.
