MI
SHI
BAI
FOR KIDS
Cathedral Station
P.O. Box 629
New York NY 10025
(212) 663-2471
(800) 772-1228
(212) 662-5836 fax
kamishi@cybernex.net
Today's kamishibai
have evolved from a form of street-storytelling which was popular
throughout Japan from the 1920's into the 1950's.The kamishibai storyteller was also a candy seller. Riding a bicycle equipped with a small stage for showing the story cards, he would enter a village or neighborhood, dismount and loudly strike together two wooden clappers or allow a lucky child to do so. The sound was a signal for children to run from their homes and gather around him for story time. Those who bought candy got to stand nearest to the stage. Then, in a dramatic manner, he would start to tell 2-3 kamishibai episodes. He would not tell the whole story! The stories were told as continuing serials, that is, he would always stop at an exciting moment, leaving the children impatient for his next visit.
Children
absorbed in the kamishibai story (right)
I first used kamishibai in the classroom this year. I
work with 7th and 8th grade at-risk readers. When we began our folk tale
unit, I told a story using the kamishibai cards. As I began, a hush fell
over the room of normally rambunctious kids. They listened with total
attention and applauded when the story was finished! Later, groups of
students had the opportunity to use the kamishibai to tell the stories to
the class. They were able to do this very well using the cards. Although
they rehearsed the story, the fact that it was printed on the backs of the
cards meant that they wouldn't forget their lines. In addition, having the
"prop" of the cards diminished their anxiety about speaking in front of
their classmates, and also helped focus the attention of the listeners.
The discussions of the stories were lively and prompted the students to
think about things in new ways. I am so happy to have discovered
kamishibai - thank you for making this resource available in the United
States!
