LETTERS FROM
CHIRAN
Ne
"Letters from Chiran" is a mask storytelling played by Tomoya Kawamura, inspired freely by the story of a woman who arrived in World War II in Japan and the historical facts of it.
The play delicately unveils the difference of perspectives between the lives of ordinary people in the midst of a largely devastating war and those, who lightly make the decision of joining a conflict, compromising the lives of millions in the name of false ideals and personal satisfaction.
In the southern Japanese region of Kyūshū during WW2, the young pilots of the military base of Chiran, would always have their meals at the nearby "Shokudo".
This dining hall was owned by an old lady and she ran the Shokudo before and after the war.
This dining hall was owned by an old lady and she ran the Shokudo before and after the war.
In 1945 the pilots of the Japanese Special Attack Units, commonly known as “Kamikaze”, would share with her some of their stories and leave behind their last wishes and dreams, before beginning what was, for many of them, their last mission.
She tells us her story and the one of far too young “Kamikaze” pilots, in times where it seemed reasonable to somebody, to send the youngest generation of a nation to die in vain, in a completely senseless mission during an already lost war.
The question comes spontaneously: Is there any scenario where this sacrifice is acceptable?
Co-Creation with: Francesco Procopio
Credit
Performance and Concept by Tomoya Kawamura
Directed by Francesco Procopio
Co-Written by Tomoya Kawamura & Francesco Procopio
Masks by Richard Dent & Francesco Procopio
Premier
19. 20. December 2024 at 20:00
Neue Bühne Friedrichshain
PAST PERFORMANCES
・8th, 9th May 2025: Sakura Festival: Grotowski Institute.
Wroclaw. Poland
https://festiwalsakura.pl/program/listy-z-chiranu/
・29th to 31st May and 4th to 8th June 2025: Kulturelle Landpartie.
Wendland, Germany
https://www.kulturelle-landpartie.de/
・19th, 20th July 2025: Kultursommer Wien.
Vienna, Austria
https://www.kultursommer.wien/kalender?slot_id=1740168703567
https://www.esel.at/de/event/letters-from-chiran--030IVo9OlGsksDe8akXe3d
・18th, 19th, 20th Sep 2025: English Theater Berlin
Berlin, Germany
https://www.etberlin.de/production/letters-from-chiran/
・23rd Oct 2025: Tranzit Festival #6
Rijeka Croatia
https://krila.org/tranzit6-pisma-iz-chirana-letters-from-chiran-tomoya-kawamura/
・8th Nov 2025: Next Stop Festival (Dimore Creative)
Lomazzo, Italy
https://dimorecreative.it/biglietto/letters-from-chiran/
・21st March 2026: Seoul International Mono Drama Festival. Samilro Changgo Theater,
Seoul. Korea
Future festivals and peformances
・5th June 2026: Nippon Connection 2026;
Frankfurt, Germany
https://nipponconnection.com/de/start/
・9th June 2026: Babel F.A.S.T. – Festivalul Artelor Spectacolulu
Târgoviște, Romania
・11th - 14th June 2026: BTTF Festival. (Date is not fixed yet)
Milan, Italy
・25th - 29th October 2026: Bhullung-Bhuthur International Theatre Festival (BBITF) 2026
Assam, India
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