The atomic bombings of Hiroshima in 1945 is widely known as the act that ended World War II. It had led to tens of thousands of deaths from the explosion alone, with many more succumbing to radiation poisoning afterwards. The Face of Jizo explores the aftermath of the bombing through the eyes of father and daughter Takezo and Mitsue Fukuyoshi. Three years later, they continue to grapple with the trauma inflicted by the incident.
The Face of Jizo was written by Hisashi Inoue in 1994, and the play received a film adaptation in 2004. This year's production is directed by Alin Mosbit, a recipient of the Young Artist Award for Theatre in 2008, and the roles of Takezo and Mitsue Fukuyoshi will be played by Theatre Boleh’s Koji Miyoshi and We Colour People’s Joanne Ng respectively.
The production is a collaboration between the non-profit theatre company We Colour People and Theatre Boleh, a company that promotes cultural exchange between Japan and other countries. The Face of Jizo perfectly encapsulates the visions of both companies: Theatre Boleh brings forth stories by Japanese individuals, while We Colour People sheds light on social issues stemming from the aftermath of war.
Be sure to catch this captivating and heartfelt production while you can. You can find out more about the play and purchase tickets here.
