Staged Reading on Hiroshima Bombing
THE FACE OF JIZO 父と暮せば Project
Tuesday, July 22 and Wednesday, July 23 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Downtown Art – 70 E. 4th Street (between Bowery and 2nd Avenue)
Admission: Free
This year, we commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In recognition of this event having impacted not only Japan, but the world over, New York-based actor Yuriko Miyake is presenting the play The Face of Jizo by Hisashi Inoue. The play specifically revolves around the Hiroshima atomic bombing. Subtitles will be provided by Roger Pulvers, the translator and filmmaker who worked on the translation of this piece. This production is unique as Miyake will read alongside her father; they are both descendants of survivors of Hiroshima's atomic bombing. Together they will share a staged reading of this masterfully crafted work.
Admission is free, but registration is required. RSVP through Eventbrite. Children under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
An Extraordinary Reading in NYC: “The Face of Jizo” by Hisashi Inoue—Performed by a Real Parent and Child from Hiroshima
This summer in New York City, witness a rare and deeply moving staged reading of The Face of Jizo (Chichi to Kuraseba), a powerful play written by acclaimed Japanese playwright Hisashi Inoue.
What makes this performance extraordinary?
It is brought to life not by actors alone—but by a real-life father and daughter from Hiroshima, the very city where the story is set.
Performed in the heart of a nuclear-armed nation, this reading offers a poignant reflection on memory, grief, love, and resilience across generations. Despite its harrowing context—the aftermath of the atomic bombing—the story gently unfolds as a beautiful portrayal of a father’s quiet love and a daughter’s quiet sorrow.
Whether you are drawn to literature, history, peace activism, or simply human stories told with grace—this is a rare opportunity to experience a masterpiece of postwar Japanese theater in an intimate and powerful way.
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