Tomoya Kawamura LETTERS FROM CHIRAN

“Letters from Chiran” is a mask storytelling played by Tomoya Kawamura, inspired freely by the
historical facts of the last world war and the stories left behind by young Japanese soldiers at the
local “Shokudo” (canteen) just outside the military airbase of Chiran in southern Japan.
The play delicately unveils the difference of perspectives between the lives of ordinary people in the
midst of a largely devastating war and those, who lightly make the decision of joining a conflict,
compromising the lives of millions in the name of false ideals and personal satisfaction.
In 1945 the pilots of the Japanese Special Attack Units, commonly known as “Kamikaze”, while
having a meal or a green tea, would share with the owner of the “Shokudo” some of their stories,
their doubts, their last wishes and dreams, before beginning what was, for many of them, their last
mission.
Thanks to the owner of the “Shokudo” some of their last letters were hidden from the military
censorship. She secretly delivered them to pilots’ families once the war was over.
Through this character, the play tells us her story and the one of the far too young “Kamikaze” pilots,
in times where it seemed reasonable to somebody, to send the youngest generation of a nation to
die in vain, in a completely senseless mission during an already lost war.
The question comes spontaneously: Is there any scenario where this sacrifice is acceptable?

Performance, Concept, Creation: Tomoya Kawamura
Direction, Co-Creation: Francesco Procopio
Co-Written: Tomoya Kawamura & Francesco Procopio
Mask Creation: Richard Dent & Francesco Procopio
Language: English with subtitles