Kamishibai promoting peace will be performed daily in Minami during the World Expo period.

Namba Economic Newspaper

https://namba.keizai.biz/headline/5587/

A kamishibai (picture-story show) titled “The Cloud That Won’t Disappear By Kei” which deals with the theme of war, will be performed daily from April 13th in front of the Dotonbori Yatai Village Matsuri (Soemoncho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City), a building housing various food and drink establishments.

The initiator of this project is Daisaku Yoshimura, who runs “Local Tsushin,” a free paper that disseminates local information in Tsurumi Ward. Yoshimura says that as a child, his mother told him, “You’re a child who can be helpful to others,” and that the Great East Japan Earthquake prompted him to actively engage in social service activities. This kamishibai performance is also part of his social service activities. It will be held in Dotonbori, where an increase in foreign visitors is expected due to the upcoming World Expo.

Yoshimura says, “I want to show the kamishibai to foreign visitors, translate it into their native languages, and have them spread it in their own countries. I hope it will be an opportunity for them to think about nuclear disarmament.” The kamishibai will be narrated entirely in English, and the story unfolds with “Kei-chan” praying for peace in Hiroshima, the city where the atomic bomb was dropped. An official social media account for this project has also been launched, and the kamishibai data will be distributed via social media and email.

Yoshimura says, “We are currently recruiting student volunteers to upload videos of the performances to social media and help spread the kamishibai. As the number of people who can share their experiences of the atomic bombing decreases, I want the younger generation, who utilize social media, to have a strong voice in conveying this message.”

Performances are held daily at 3 PM until October 13th.