The International Kamishibai Association of Japan | IKAJA

The International Kamishibai Association of Japan (IKAJA)

Kamishibai is a part of Japan's unique cultural heritage that is moving forward into a new era. It is important now to create good kamishibai works which shall be performed by skilled performers, in order to enlarge the circle of the sharing of feelings (Kyokan) between audience, performers and among the people not only in Japan, but throughout the world. The aim of The International Kamishibai Association of Japan (IKAJA) is to foster communication throughout the world between people who are already enthusiasts, those express an interest in the subject and those who wish to perform kamishibai. It will simultaneously aim to promote the study of the subject from a cultural perspective, learning from each other and establishing kamishibai as a world-wide art. (The words of introduction when IKAJA was founded)

What's New

IKAJA Kamishibai Seminar in Tokyo, 2025 - NEW -

We are glad to inform you of IKAJA’s annual seminar in Japan in November 2025, themed: “Let’s Spread Kamishibai More and Let’s Perform Kamishibai More”. In this seminar, we will think about what kamishibai can do for peace. Let’s see if fun kamishibai also leads to peace and how we can communicate through peace kamishibai.
The IKAJA Kamishibai Seminar in Tokyo, 2025
Date: 15-16 November (Sat. & Sun.)
Place: Shuppan Club Building, Tokyo
Theme: “Let’s Spread Kamishibai More and Let’s Perform Kamishibai More”
Participation Fee: Domestic members: 4,600 Japanese yen for two days
IKAJA Friends: the same amount as above
Overseas Members (living outside of Japan): free of charge

If International Members who live outside of Japan want to attend this seminar, we heartily welcome you as our honored guests. Although the seminar will be in Japanese, UD Talk powered by Google translate may assist you. We can send you more details concerning accessibility and accommodation upon request. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

KAMISHIBAI Newsletter Vol.21 has been issued - NEW -

Dear IKAJA International Members,
We are pleased to offer you Kamishibai Newsletter Volume 21. Please use the following link, user ID and password to access it on our members-only page:
…members-only page
User ID, password, and PDF document’s password were informed to IKAJA’ｓ members by e-mail. If you didn't receive our e-mail or you can't use the link, please contact our office.

Kamishibai Workshop and Performance at Gulali Festival, Indonesia

Gulali Festival will be held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from July 26 till August 3.
Etsuko Nozaka, International Project Manager of IKAJA, will participate in the festival together with Eriko Tanabe of Chihiro Art Museum. She will give a workshop on kamishibai in English and performances in Japanese.
Website

Annual fees from Overseas Members (Reminder)

IKAJA collects annual fees from Overseas Members due to a change of the Rules. This change is applied from the fiscal year 2020 (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 2020).
In case your annual fee is not paid, your membership will expire in March 2021. If you have some questions, please don’t hesitate to contact IKAJA secretary.
The new annual fees are as follows:
* Overseas Members from North America, Europe, Oceania countries and China: Individual 1000yen; Group/Organization 5000yen.
* Overseas Members of countries and regions other than the above: Individual 500yen; Group/Organization 2500yen.
Since you became a member between Nov. 16 and Dec. 31, 2019, or you have already paid for this year, we would appreciate your payment of the annual fee from 2021. This year’s fee is exempted.
We appreciate your kind understanding and your warm support for IKAJA.

Video Message from IKAJA: Eiko explains about kamishibai.(approx. 10 min.)

English, Chinese , Spanish
Eiko Matsui talks about the culture of kamishibai and how kamishibai creates peace.
She also explains the unique format and the key features of kamishibai, which bring kyokan (shared feelings) to the audience and the performer, with assistance of the performance by Hina Nagase in Englisn, and Sakiko Yokoo in Spanish.
If you would like to know more about Kamishibai, please see "What's Kamishibai"

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