A revival of Ebisu-kaki, the origin of puppetry

Ebisu-kaki was performed during the distribution of Nishinomiya Shrine talismans propagating the beliefs of Ebisu, the deity of good fortune. The puppeteer would take out an Ebisu puppet from a wooden box hanging from the neck and have the puppet pull up a large sea bream into the air as a symbol of blessing. This art died out once during the Meiji period, but in 2006, Ebisuza Puppet Theater formed as a symbol of community revitalization and has worked on its restoration as a regional cultural heritage.