Kamishibai

Kamishibai is a special kind of storytelling that comes from Japan.

Imagine a small wooden theater that has two sliding doors at the front. When you open the doors, you can see a picture. Then, you slide the picture aside to reveal another one behind it.

In Kamishibai shows, a storyteller sits behind the wooden theater and tells a story while showing pictures. The pictures are usually in a small stack behind the front picture, and the storyteller slides them out to show the next one as the story goes on.

The pictures are often brightly colored and have lots of detail. They can show characters, animals, landscapes, and other things that help the audience imagine the story.

Kamishibai storytellers often use special voices or sounds to bring the story to life. For example, they might use a deep voice for a scary character or a high-pitched voice for a small animal. They might also use props like hats or scarves to help create different characters in the story.

People in Japan have enjoyed Kamishibai shows for a long time. They used to be popular in the streets, where children would gather around to listen to the stories. Nowadays, you can still find Kamishibai shows in some places, like museums or art galleries.