Nezemi no Yomeiri [English title: The Mouse's Marriage]

Tokyo, Japan: Japan Educational Kamishibai Association, 1943. Very Good -. Tokyo, Japan: Japan Educational Kamishibai Association, ca. 1943. Series of 16 illustrated storyboards (27x38cm) telling the Japanese folk legend of "The Mouse's Marriage." Includes one illustrated title card, each accompanying board depicting a scene from the play printed on recto with printed title, dialogue, and small illustration to verso; final panel with bibliographic data. First five panels with chipping along bottom edge, the rest with just mild edgewear and occasional, slight chipping; about Very Good.

A popular form of street theater in Great Depression and WWII-era Japan, Kimishibai was performed by a narrator displaying a series of panels in a stage-like device. We locate only one incomplete set of this work, at the British Museum; similar Kamishibai titles in OCLC from this period show only one or two holdings for each with very few in North America. A well-used but charming set. .