From Nishinomiya Shrine, head north up Ebessan-suji, and just a little past the Hanshin railway tracks, you’ll find this statue beside Sekisui House ↓
The stone monument says “Site of the Kairaishi.”
“Kairaishi” can also be read as “kugutsushi” (the explanation here gives the reading as “kairaishi”), and simply put, it means “puppeteer.”
In Nishinomiya during the Muromachi period, there were puppeteers known as “Ebisu-kaki,” and they are said to have been the origin of later forms of puppet theater such as Bunraku and Joruri.
Detailed explanations are also written on this statue and the sign next to it.
Nishinomiya’s puppeteers disappeared for a time during the Meiji period, but today, with 人形芝居えびす座 leading the effort to revive “Ebisu-kaki,” they are carrying out various activities together with local residents.
Nishitsu has also covered this before in an article.
For more details, please visit the official website ↓
Official website of 人形芝居えびす座 (within the Tomomo official website)
