The Face of Jizo

★★★★★ “Seamed with pathos and humour, tenderness and heart, this production has been a long time coming – and it was worth the wait."

ABOUT THE SHOW

A timeless tale of hope and love in post-war Hiroshima.

The Face of Jizo centres on a father and daughter in the aftermath of war. Tender, beautiful and seasoned with moments of familial humour, this acclaimed Japanese play made a sold-out season of its Australian premiere at the Old Fitz Theatre in Nov 2023.

Three years after the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on 6 August 1945, Mitsue, a young woman who works in the local library, arrives home to find her father Takezo there. Despite years of being apart, the pair share memories of the past, cook small fry miso and argue over the intentions of a young man who buys Mitsue a sweet bean jam bun and collects objects left over from the bombing. This is a tale of courage, first love, spirited fathers, and learning to embrace the ghosts of the past.

The talented creative team has created an authentic Japanese atmosphere. Many audience members who have visited or lived in Japan felt nostalgic and emotional as soon as they stepped into the space. While theatre often offers an escape, this play evokes strong emotions. Its themes of love, courage, and finding happiness in dark times are timeless. As the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing approaches next year, it underscores the importance of peace. The production was nominated in four categories at the Sydney Theatre Awards, including Best Independent Production.

IN REPERTOIRE TOURING OPPORTUNITY

Omusubi’s Little Bozu and Kon Kon is a delightful production for children aged 4-9 years which can tour with The Face of Jizo and be performed in repertoire at your Centre. Sharing the same stellar cast, this is a programming opportunity to showcase Japanese culture with two offerings targeted at different age groups whilst also being environmentally responsible and financially economical! 

"Breaking the bamboo ceiling."

from the DIRECTOR

Presenting The Face of Jizo doesn’t mean denying or ignoring the atrocities that Japan inflicted on so many people during the war. As the playwright Hisashi Inoue articulated in the prologue of this play, we Japanese people have an undeniable responsibility to keep facing and learning from past mistakes. At the same time, it’s also our duty to keep telling the untold stories of innocent people who tragically lost their lives because of the acts of warfare.

In this play, father Takezo rightly says, “It was so inhuman, what people did to people just like them”. That’s exactly the ridiculous nature of wars, and unfortunately, human beings have miserably failed to learn from it. Unless we start freeing ourselves from the blame game, justification, and denial at least in the world of storytelling, we will simply keep making the same mistakes over and over again as we are currently witnessing in so many parts of the world right now. We sincerely hope the message of love and resilience will be securely passed on to the audience.
- Shingo Usami, Director

about the company

Omusubi is a Japanese soul food that brings people together through good fortune. We aspire to produce theatrical productions that connect people through culturally rich stories that bypass language barriers and enrich the world's spirit.