Founded in 1635 by Youki Magosaburo I, Youkiza is the oldest marionette theater in Tokyo and the only remaining troupe among the five theaters from the Edo Period (1603-1867) — three kabuki and two marionette — that were officially recognized and financially supported by the Tokugawa Shogunate. Designated as an Important Cultural Asset by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 1956 and a recipient of national government recognition in 1995, Youkiza regularly presents programs led by Youki Magosaburo XII.
The 65-year-old Magosaburo XII, the theater's 12th director, has explored new possibilities for puppet theater throughout his career. Under his leadership, the Youkiza's repertoire has ranged from traditional Buddhist parables and kabuki pieces to new works based on Japanese and Western literature, including productions of Shakespeare's "Macbeth" at the 1986 Belgrade International Theater Festival and French writer Jean Genet's "Les Paravents" (2002) in France and Austria.
"Even though we always perform in Japanese and often without subtitles, puppets are easier to understand beyond languages," says Chie Youki, Magosaburo XII's sister and one of the puppet handlers, who has participated in several of the overseas performances.