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Mini theatre for

storytelling

Unfold your imagination

with a handcrafted tool

Mini theatre for

storytelling

 

Unfold your imagination

with a handcrafted tool

What is Kamishibai?

Kamishibai is an ancient art form of storytelling with pictures.

 

It began in the 12th century in Japanese temples and grew popular again in the 19th century. The narrators called ‘Gaito Kamishibaiya’ travelled by bike from village to village. They announced the story with ‘Hyoshigi’ wooden sticks and opened their Butai. The stories were free, but those who bought candy were able to sit in the front row.

Kamishibai is an ancient art form of storytelling with pictures.

ORIGINS

 It began in the 12th century in Japanese temples and grew popular again in the 19th century. The narrators called ‘Gaito Kamishibaiya’ travelled by bike from village to village. They announced the story with ‘Hyoshigi’ wooden sticks and opened their Butai. The stories were free, but those who bought candy were able to sit in the front row.

How does the magic work?

Storytellers use story cards and Butai – a wooden suitcase that opens into a stage.

 

The story cards are artistic templates normally created by the narrator. When the show begins, the stage opens, and the narrator pulls/slides out a sheet per sheet as the story grows.

Storytellers use story cards and Butai – a wooden suitcase that opens into a stage.

The story cards are artistic templates normally created by the narrator. When the show begins, the stage opens, and the narrator pulls/slides out a sheet per sheet as the story grows.

Didactic magic

Designed to stay curious while developing skills. A tool that gives a lesson, liberated from classical instructions.

Creative spark

Express ideas in a mix of storytelling, visual art and theater. Develop fine motor skills and artistic consciousness.

Fun time

Theatre is an exciting experience and who doesn’t love a good story? Now you can have it at home or in your classroom.

The advantages in the classroom:

SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL LEARNING

Kamishibai fosters social communication and social interaction.  Young children learn about collaboration through experience. They learn to recognize feelings through stories. To understand the emotions of others and express their own. This action grows their emotional intelligence.

PUBLIC SPEAKING & LEADERSHIP SKILLS

Performing in front of an audience can be scary. Storytelling is a pleasant practice for reducing fear and working on articulation. The performers acknowledge that they are worthy of attention as others listen to them. Interaction between classes, to go perform to different levels, to be heard.

MEMORISING & SEQUENCING

Kamishibai is about the sequence: read, express, perform. Because of personal experience, the maker remembers much more details – because ‘you did it’. It’s not just a rational type of learning, it’s physical. With smaller kids, it fosters the learning about the process – the concept of the sequence. For example, how things follow each other in the necessary order, as a daily routine.

ACTIVE LISTENING & MINDFULNESS

Kids focus and pay attention to the story without distraction. It is a teaching strategy that includes overcoming stress, creative thinking and innovation. It promotes developing a positive self-image in a mindful way. Kamishibai is a Montessori approved tool.

PARTICIPATION & DIVERSE USE

The performance engages the audience so that they are not just spectators. They react, become part of the show, even reflect some emotions as in a theatre. The diverse tool is suitable for various contents in schools. Applied in curriculums (language learning, history, literature, art, music, science presentations, analytical thinking).

The characteristics of a good toy:

OPEN-ENDED - A TOY THAT IS A TEACHER

Even in kids, there is an unconscious Need For Upskilling. The most simple tools can be the most complex. They support abstract thinking and adaptations to various outlines/layouts. Generally, toys provide one simple task that isolates a specific skill. Kamishibai challenges them on many levels.

TACTILE AND LESS DISTRACTING

Natural long-lasting materials, especially wood, are pleasant to handle with. Its texture is also attractive and brings craftsmanship touch to your home.  Crafty hobbies are one way to develop fine motor skills (precise hand moves). No electronic features mean the noises won’t interrupt a child’s thinking process.

GROWS WITH YOUR CHILD

As your child’s skills and mental abilities grow, the uses for Kamishibai also grow. From avid listener to confident performer. uses are so versatile that they can connect with a broad range of ages and ability levels – even adults 😉

ENCOURAGES IMAGINATION

Give children the ability to take control. The play is open to interpretation, so the child feels free to do what they want. The Montessori* approach seeks to encourage creativity, imagination, decision making, independence and collaboration. This means giving children the freedom to decide.

* Child-centred method of education based on scientific observations of children.

RESULTS IN REASONING AND PROBLEM SOLVING

Toys with more than one purpose, build a child’s reasoning skills. They are the ones who need to make a decision (of what to do or when to stop). Children will also have to problem-solve to figure out how to present the storyline.

We offer a stage because children need a mental playground.

Here below are some tips and ideas what you can do with Kamishibai Kai:

With timeless Japanese learning method, children are active and motivated. They like to express themselves when given a chance.

In good company

Sasha, primary school teacher, Germany

”Kids creativity is blooming with Kamishibai.”

It is fascinating to work with Kai in the classroom. We would read the story together and talk about it. Then we would work in groups to make illustrations before performing it. Suddenly, there would be all the different ideas bursting out of kids!

Claire, kindergarten teacher, France

”Children in kindergarten absolutely love it!”

As an educator in kindergarten, I noticed how useful Kamishibai can be. Little children are captivated by the stories in theatre ambient. They would constanly ask me, when is the next performance.

Max, Austria

”Kamishibai Kai was a real spice of our quarantine!”

The kids enjoyed putting on a show for me, their mom and grandparents who live in the same house. Even drawing illustrations on their own distracts them for hours. They have become very serious storytellers!

Karl, Switzerland

”Kamishibai Kai was the perfect gift for my nephew.”

Since I like to draw and tell stories myself, we always have fun together when I visit her or babysit.

Karen, U.S.

”More than I expected!”

As SAHM I was struggling with how to present certain ideas and concepts to my children. Moreover, how will they memorise it? With Kamishibai surely it takes more time, but it also stays in their brain.

Karmen, mother, Slovenia

”We started using Kamishibai to learn English.”

My son is currently in a stage where he wants to hear the same story every day. I started adding simple English words while storytelling. He is learning a new language without even being aware of it and still enjoys it very much.

We’ve been around for years

Our mission is to provide you with a framework, where children grow and evolve.

Our story

We’ve been introduced to Kamishibai by our friend years ago. She was a primary school teacher, excited by life and always smiling. Ideas were bubbling out of her all the time. She came to our workshop, showed me a picture and said: ”Hey, can you make me this?” I had no idea what it was, but I gave it a go. After that Kamishibai popularity boomed and with every butai made, the product got better.

We are still constantly developing our design. Working on the details, to make it better, lighter and more beautiful. We can proudly say that happy customers are our goal. Our product Butai Kai is used in kindergartens, primary schools and homes. It’s used by theatre aficionados, dedicated teachers and playful parents.’

Delivering around the world

Kamishibai Kai has been so far sent to: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Slovenia, Singapore, Switzerland, United Kingdom, U.S.A … and counting

Our story

‘’We’ve been introduced to Kamishibai by our friend years ago. She was a primary school teacher, excited by life and always smiling. Ideas were bubbling out of her all the time. She came to our workshop, showed me a picture and said: ”Hey, can you make me this?” I had no idea what it was, but I gave it a go. After that Kamishibai popularity boomed and with every butai made, the product got better.

We are still constantly developing our design. Working on the details, to make it better, lighter and more beautiful. We can proudly say that happy customers are our goal. Our product Butai Kai is used in kindergartens, primary schools and homes. It’s used by theatre aficionados, dedicated teachers and playful parents.’’

What you get?

Wooden suitcase Butai Kai

1   Ergonomic handle  wooden tactile grip for easy carrying around

2   Pivot pin  simple & elegant rotating mechanism for opening

3   The handmade product from linden wood and plywood

4   Natural wood  keep it raw or personalise it with a brush and paint

5   Convenient size suitable for standard A3 (42x30 cm), open back side

6   Adjustable side pins prevent content to fall out and store storyboars

7   Optional aperture additional opening from above for puppet masters

Kai Puppets: 46,6 x 33 x 10 cm + Handle 3 cm

Imagine a kid picking new skill without a hassle.

Now for €53

Kamishibai Kai 55,00 

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