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2. 1. Izanagi/hachiko- Yong
2. Izanami/hanako- Yvonne
3. Priest-Kuro/Samurai- Arvind
4. Emperor Kommu- Canisius
5. Shogun (a.k.a. militarygeneral)- Ze Zheng
6. Sugawara Michizane- Oscar
7. Fujiwara- Max
8. Murasaki Shikibu- Jin
9. Shishimai/Samura- Eu Xuan
10. Geisha/Narrator- Irynna

3. ACT 1 – CREATION OF JAPAN
ACT 1 - INTRO
[Kuro, Hanako and Hachiko enter the stage]
NARRATOR: One fine summer’s day, Grandfather Kuro and his two grandchildren,
Hachiko and Hanako, enter a theatre where a play is about to be conducted.
KURO: Good luck, Ganbatte Hachiko and Hanako on your play!
HACHIKO & HANAKO: Thank you Oji-san!
NARRATOR: As the family sits down, the play on the Creation of Japan begins.
[The three take their seats in front at the audience. The stage is set up to a heavenly
setting]
NARRATOR: In the Land of the Gods, Izanami and Izanagi are seated across each other.
Suddenly, the voice of Amenominakanushi blares throughout the land.
AME: IZANAGI, IZANAMI.
IZANAMI & IZAMAGI: (stutters) Yes?
AME: IS THIS HOW YOU ADDRESS YOUR GODS (THUNDER STARTS BLARING). IS THIS
HOW YOU ADDRESS YOUR “HEAVENLY ANCESTRAL GOD OF THE ORIGINATING HEART
OF THE UNIVERSE”? (say this part at a fast pace)
IZANAGI: No great Kami no, we ask for your forgiveness.
AME: GOOD,KUNITOKOTACHI AND AND I, AMENOMINAKANUSHI HAVE CHARGE BOTH
OF YOU IN CREATING THE FIRST LANDS. YOU WILL GO TO THE FLOATING BRIDGE OF
HEAVEN AND HERE IS THE HEAVENLY SPEAR (AME-NO NUBOKO) TO HELP YOU WITH
YOUR TASK. (a heavenly spear falls from the sky. Izanagi catches it)
IZANAGI: Let’s go then
NARRATOR: Izanami and Izanagi take the heavenly spear, Ame-No Nuboko, and head to
the bridge.
[IZANAMI and IZANAGI head to the bridge]
IZANAGI: What do we do with this? (waves the spear around)

4. [some sort of mist starts forming]
IZANAMI: Look! Something’s happening! Wave it at the sea.
[The sea moves a little]
IZANAGI: Let’s build some islands.
[Music starts blaring and islands form]
ACT 1 - SCENE1
NARRATOR: The two are on one of the islands when Izanagi turns to Izanagi with a
question in mind.
IZANAGI: I have something to ask you.
IZANAMI: What is it?
IZANAGI: Uhmmmmmmm
IZANAMI: Go on?
IZANAGI: Uhmmmmmmmm
IZANAMI: OK WHAT.
IZANAGI: “Do you... Do you..want to lie in the same grave with me?”
IZANAMI: Are you asking what I think you’re asking?
IZANAGI: I think you’re asking what you think I’m asking
IZANAMI: So are you thinking what I’m thinking, Izanagi?
IZANAGI: I am, Izanami. Marry me!
NARRATOR: An indirect proposal is a tradition in Japan. Instead of saying “Will you
marry me?” then male says “Do you want to lie in the same grave with me?”
[IZANAMI & IZANAGI scurry off]
[LIGHTS OFF]

5. ACT 1 - SCENE 2
[LIGHTS ON]
NARRATOR: Izanami and Izanagi are getting ready for their marriage. They put the final
touched to the heavenly pillar.
[They put the last touch to the heavenly pillar]
IZANAGI: We’ll circle the pillar in opposite directions and when we meet on the other
side, we’ll be, well, married.
IZANAMI: (nods in excitement)
[IZANAMI AND IZANAGI CIRCLE AROUND THE PILLAR AND DRAMATIC ROMANTIC MUSIC
PLAYS]
IZANAMI: Konichiwa Goshujin, ah, I like the sound of that.
IZANAGI: I was supposed to greet first, but nevermind. Konichiwa Okusan.
NARRATOR: They head behind the Japanese screen to mate. Some time later, Izanami
bore two children but they was something wrong witht them.
[IZANAMI screams from childbirth and Izanagi sees all these devil children]
IZANAGI: What are these… these DEVILS?
IZANAMI: (wailing) I don’t know I don’t know.
IZANAGI: Put them on the boat and sail them out to the gods for an answer.
[ADD MIST FROM DRY ICE]
[THUNDER BLARING]
DISTORTED VOICE: I HEAR YOUR ENQUIRY IZANAGI AND IZANAMI. IZANAGI YOU
SHOULD HAVE SPOKEN FIRST DURING THE GREETING AT THE MARRIAGE AS A FEMALE
SHAN’T SPEAK FIRST. IF SUCH DISRESPECT WASN’T SHOWN, YOUR CHILDREN
WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN DEVILS.
[IZANAMI and IZANAGI look at each other]
DISTORTED: DON’T JUST STAND THERE ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO MARRY AGAIN OR
WHAT? *Thunders blare more* Creation deities can’t even mate properly.

6. [WHEN THUNDERS BLARE, IZANAMI AND IZANAGI QUICKLY CIRCLE AROUND THE
PILLAR]
IZANAGI: KONICHIWA OKUSAN [everything becomes calm in an instant]
[Both exhale]
IZANAMI: Konichiwa Goshujin
[LIGHTS OFF]
[Then a sharp pain hits her]
IZANAMI: I’m going into labour!
IZANAGI: Ok, breathe.
[LIGHTS ON]
[IZANAMI throws out great eight islands of Japan, labelled and in order]
NARRATOR: Thus the 8 ancient Islands of Japan are born; Awaji, Iyo, Oki, Tsukusi, Iki,
Tsushima, Sado and Yamado.
DISTORTED VOICE: YOU HAVE CREATED THE 8 ANCIENT ISLANDS OF JAPAN. YOUR TASK
IS COMPLETE.
[LIGHTS OFF]
ACT 2 : HEIAN PERIOD
NARRATOR: And that ladies and gentleman, is the play of The Creation of Japan. Our
next play, The Heian period of Japan will be starting in a few minutes!
KURO: Good job on your play! Come let’s watch the next play on the Heian period
HANAKO: Thank you for support Oji-san. The play is starting already!
[Scene on stage changes to Heian period]
--
SCENE 2
NARRATOR: The second play, The Heian Period of Japan, begins. Emperor Kammu was at

7. the Heian castle when his general walked into the room.
OTOMO [walks in the room and bows]: Tenno (heavenly sovereign, used to address the
emperor), I am here at your service.
EMPEROR KANMU: My general, do you know what the land of the rising sun needs
now?
OTOMO: No, I do not know. Tell me, wise Tenno.
EMPEROR KANMU: We need to expand our rule up the Honshu region [refers to the
map of Japan] but the armies that I sent to conquer the Emishi people failed me. There
is no discipline! [Bangs the table]
OTOMO: What would you propose then, Tenno?
EMPEROR KANMU: Shhhh, I am trying to think. [pauses and strokes beard] Ah! We need
a Seii Taishogun (Commander-in-Chief of the expeditionary force against the Babarians)
to set up regional clan warriors to stop all this resistance from the Emishi people.
OTOMO: That is an excellent idea.
EMPEROR KANMU: Now I want you to do the job. On your knees.
OTOMO: (kneels)
EMPEROR KANMU: I hearby appoint you to be our first ever Shogun. Pick your best
warriors to be under you and they shall be called Samurais. Don’t disappoint me.
SCENE 3
NARRATOR: Years passed and the Fujiwara clan completely took over the court. The
Heian Period is known flourishing culture of the court aristocracy, which actively
engaged in the pursuit of aesthetic refinement, leading to new developments in art and
literature. During that period of time, there are two well known noble novelists and
poets around Heian Kyo, which are Murasaki Shikibu and Sugawara Michizane.
EMPRESS FUJIWARA NO SHISHO: Send me our very well known novelist, Murasaki
Shikibu.
NARRATOR: Murasaki Shikibu was well known especially in literature and novel writing.
She was the one who wrote The Tale of Genji which still lives up until today.

8. [GUARDS INVITED HER IN]
MURASAKI: yes my lord?
EMPRESS FUJIWARA NO SHISHO: I heard so much about you and your reputation as a
noble writer. I would like to invite you to serve as a lady-in-waiting at the Imperial
Court.
MURASAKI: Yes I will serve you as far as the
NARRATOR: And not forgetting, it was also rumoured that Murasaki Shikibu and a few
other poets are the ones who wrote the national athem of Japan, Kimigayo. [NATIONAL
ATHEM PLAYS WHILE NARRATOR SPEAKS]
[JAM SESSION]
NARRATOR: Now, let me talk about real roots of Tenjin festival. It all started from a very
well known poet, named Sugawara, who unfortunately died. This was what happened.
FUJIWARA NO TOKIHIRA: EMPEROR EMPEROR
EMPEROR DAIGO: WHAT IS IT YOU CRAZY PEASANT
FUJIWARA: I have something to announce. It’s about our country’s very well knowed
poet, Sugawara Michizane.
EMPEPOR DAIGO: What is it that made you so excited? Make it quick. I have no time for
your pesky peasanty requests.
FUJIWARA: He has been trying to plot against you.
EMPEROR: You can’t just barge in and make all these presumptuous claims. Show me
what he has been doing. This better be good bitch
FUJIWARA: Tenno, I’ve seen his work several times and he’s been working out with
something fishy.
EMPEROR: UNACCEPTABLE. Bring Michizane to me immediately.
………….
MICHIZANE: yes, Tenno?
EMPEROR: YOU ARE HEREBY DEMOTED TO DAZAIFU.

9. MICHIZANE: what? But why, Tenno? I can explain everything blablabla
EMPEROR: I’ve heard about your acts of treason in writing and I’m showing no mercy for
you whom have brought down the name of the country and the royals.
MICHIZANE: (says the poem) WHERE’S THE JUSTICE?!
POEM: 東風吹かば にほひをこせよ 梅花
主なしとて 春を忘るな
kochi fukaba /nioi okose yo / ume no hana / aruji nashi tote / haru o wasuru na
loosely:When the eastwind blows,flourish in full bloom,you, plum blossoms!Even though you lose your
master,don'tbe oblivious to spring.
(MICHIZANE DIES)
NARRATOR: Such tragedy did take place. And so, to solve Suguwara’s angry spirits, the
imperial court decided to build a Shinto shrine. 70 years later, Sugawara was deified as
Tenjin-sama, GOD OF SCHOLARASHIP AND LEARNING.
[LIGHTS OUT]
ACT 3 – THE TENJIN FESTIVAL
[LIGHTS ON]
NARRATOR: And that is our series of plays but go on ahead and enjoy the rest of the
Tenjin festival!
KURO: Today, many Shinto shrines are dedicated to Michizane. Even the one I work in
too.
HANAKO: Oji-san! Oji-san! Can we go into the Tenjin parade now please?
KURO: : Okay kids, let’s go.
[They walk off the stage and the scene on stage changes to the festival parade.
Musicians begin playing on pots and bowls and shishimai begin to dance]
NARRATOR: The family walk around the Tenjin Festival, amazed at the sights before
them. Hachiko approaches a Shishimai.
HACHIKO: Is this the equivalent of the Chinese Lion dance?
LION WOMAN: The roots of the Shishimai are said to be from China but if you watch my
style of dancing, it’s different!But my purpose is the same, it is to bless business and
houses.

10. HANAKO: The parade is starting! [runs to the people that are carrying the shinto shrine]
[BUNCH OF PEOPLE CARRYING THE SHINTO SHRINE]
HANAKO: Suguwara at the back!
HACHIKO: This whole festival for him. That’s so cool! Oh look its a pretty geisha!
GEISHA: Konichiwa. I am a member of a professional class of women in Japan
whose traditional occupation is entertainment. Here have some kuzumochi, a cool
sweet summer dessert. Go on, it’s a type of mocha cake.
HANAKO: It’s so good
HACHIKO: I know, can you guys smell it? [to the audience] Come, come try it, join us!
[SLIDES : COME JOIN US GET YOUR TAKOYAKI AND EXPERIENCE THIS TENJIN FESTIVAL
SHIT RIGHT HERE]
[THE TENJIN FESTIVAL HAS THE BIGGEST FIREWORKS HANABI DISPLAY IN JAPAN]
And all this while extras would be on the stage acting, as the crowd making a lot of noise
with Kagura instruments or simply clapping. The children invite the audience down to
the festival.
HANAKO: Why do we celebrate Tenji festival again?
KUDO: Because, dearest Hanako and Hachiko, it is to celebrate our unity and identity of
Japan.