Kihachiro Kawamoto and His Connection with Iida
Kihachiro Kawamoto was a master of puppet animation best known for creating the puppets for the NHK television series Puppet Theater: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which was broadcast from 1982 to 1984, as well as Puppet Historical Spectacle: The Tale of the Heike.
Kawamoto first visited Iida in 1990, when his Three Kingdoms puppet production was performed at what was then known as the Iida Puppet Theater Carnival. Iida had a long-established tradition of puppetry, and Kawamoto was deeply impressed by the city’s enthusiasm for the art and by the passion of its people.
He gradually developed a strong affection for Iida and eventually donated many of the puppets he had created to the city, believing that Iida was the most suitable place for them. In response, the city sought to further develop its identity as a center of puppetry and opened the Iida City Kawamoto Kihachiro Puppet Museum on March 25, 2007.
Kawamoto himself served as the museum’s first director, helping establish the museum as a bridge between his artistic legacy and the traditional culture of Iida.
Meet the Puppets from The Three Kingdoms and The Tale of the Heike
The museum’s collection centers on puppets used in NHK’s Puppet Theater: Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Puppet Historical Spectacle: The Tale of the Heike. It also features puppets from Kawamoto’s acclaimed animation works, including House of Flame, Hanaori, and Winter Days.
Approximately 200 puppets are held in the museum’s collection, with around 60 to 80 figures representing characters from The Three Kingdoms. Each puppet demonstrates Kawamoto’s exceptional craftsmanship, from facial expressions and costumes to the carefully selected materials and intricate construction techniques.
Changing Exhibitions Offer Something New Each Time
The displays are periodically changed, allowing visitors to encounter different puppets and aspects of Kawamoto’s work on different visits. Special exhibitions have also explored themes such as Kawamoto’s artistic legacy and his 20-year relationship with Iida, providing deeper insight into both his creative career and his connection with the city.
Exploring the Museum
The museum occupies a three-story reinforced-concrete building adjoining the headquarters of Iida Shinkin Bank. Each floor serves a different purpose, creating a space where visitors can learn about, watch, and experience the world of puppetry.
First Floor: Collection Storage
The first floor contains storage facilities that are not normally open to the public. Here, Kawamoto’s puppets and related materials are carefully preserved as an important part of Japan’s puppetry heritage.
Second Floor: Entrance, Salon, and Screening Hall
The entrance hall welcomes visitors with an impressive figure of Zhuge Liang, one of the best-known characters from The Three Kingdoms.
The video hall screens Kawamoto’s animation works, allowing visitors to gain a deeper understanding of his distinctive artistic world. The salon is used for lectures, talks, and events related to puppetry, providing a space where local culture and artistic activities come together.
Third Floor: Exhibition Gallery and Studio
The main exhibition gallery introduces the world of puppet theater and puppet animation created by Kawamoto. Visitors can closely examine the detailed craftsmanship and expressive qualities of the puppets on display.
The studio hosts puppet-related workshops and demonstrations, giving visitors an opportunity to experience the techniques and creativity involved in making puppets. These activities offer a hands-on perspective that complements the museum’s exhibitions.
Planning Your Visit
The museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with last admission at 6:00 p.m. It is closed on Wednesdays and during the year-end and New Year holidays.
The museum is approximately a 12-minute walk from JR Iida Station or from the Iida Station bus terminal, including highway bus services. By car, it takes approximately 8 minutes from the Iida Interchange on the Chuo Expressway.
The museum is located in central Iida, where visitors can also explore the tourist information center, the famous Apple Tree-lined Street, and other attractions on foot. It is therefore easy to combine a visit to the museum with a walking tour of the city.
Iida Puppet Festa: A Celebration of Puppet Culture
One of the main reasons Iida is known as the “City of Puppetry” is the annual Iida Puppet Festa, held every August. The event began in 1979 as the Iida Puppet Theater Carnival and has grown into one of Japan’s largest puppet theater festivals, attracting hundreds of puppet theater groups from Japan and abroad.
The festival features a remarkable variety of performers, from professional companies and amateur groups to student troupes and traditional puppet groups performed by local junior high school students. During the festival, venues throughout the city come alive with performances, transforming Iida into a celebration of puppetry.
Parades, Night Performances, and More
Festival highlights include the lively Puppet Theater Parade and the Midnight Theater, a series of evening performances. The program offers entertainment for visitors of all ages and provides a rare opportunity to experience many different forms of puppetry in a single city.
Festival participants can purchase a special festival badge, known as a “wappen,” which serves as the symbol of participation and provides various benefits, including free admission to the Kawamoto Kihachiro Puppet Museum.
Iida’s Living Tradition of Traditional Puppetry
Iida has a long history of traditional puppet theater dating back to the Edo period. Traditional puppet theater remains an important part of the region’s cultural life, with groups such as the Kuroda Puppet Troupe and Imada Puppet Troupe preserving traditions that have continued for more than 300 years.
These traditional groups continue to perform puppet plays as part of local festivals and religious ceremonies. Iida’s distinctive character lies in the way it protects these centuries-old traditions while simultaneously embracing new forms of puppetry and contemporary artistic expression.
A City Filled with Puppetry Culture
Other facilities devoted to puppetry include the Takeda Sen’nosuke Memorial International String Puppet Theater and the Iida Puppet Theater. Performances and events take place throughout the year, making Iida an ideal destination for travelers interested in traditional Japanese performing arts.
With its historic traditions, international festival, museums, and year-round performances, Iida truly deserves its reputation as one of Japan’s most important centers of puppetry.
A Place Where Art and Community Come Together
Iida City Kawamoto Kihachiro Puppet Museum is much more than a museum displaying beautiful objects. It is a place where people, stories, art, and local culture come together through the medium of puppetry.
Kawamoto devoted his life to the idea of creating an art that could bring puppets to life. That spirit remains visible in the museum’s carefully crafted figures, many of which seem ready to move and speak at any moment.
Whether you are already fascinated by puppetry or are encountering this art form for the first time, the museum offers an engaging introduction to the stories and craftsmanship behind Japanese puppetry. A visit here is an opportunity to discover a unique cultural world that continues to thrive in the mountain city of Iida.