Sydney review- The Face of Jizo: a masterpiece of skilful writing and storytelling

By Paul Kiely             

The Face of Jizo

By Hisashi Inoue

Translated by Roger Pulvers

Directed by Shingo Usami and David Lynch

A Omusubi and Seymour Centre Production

Seymour Centre

City Road, Camperdown

Season: 21 August – 6 September 2025   

Bookings: https://seymourcentre.com

Duration: 80 minutes approx (No interval)

The atomic bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 stands as one of the worst horrific single events in human history. The Face of Jizo is built upon its aftermath and the effect on a father and daughter. The Face of Jizo is a masterpiece of skilful writing and storytelling that is rarely equalled.

Set in Hiroshima in 1948, it tells the story of a young woman Mitsue, who miraculously survives the bomb as she is shielded by her father Tazeko.

Tazeko’s presence in her life acts as the support mechanism she needs. Their conversations, often about the simplest of things—her work as a librarian, preparing meals, or coping with thunderstorms—reveal the depth of her pain and his enduring love. Mitsue’s fear of lightning, rooted in the memory of the explosion, is soothed by Takezo’s three-part remedy for fear: he is always with her; the cupboard is a safe place; and hugging a cushion brings comfort.

One day Mitsue tells her father that a co-worker is interested in her romantically. She struggles with her feelings about the man. How can she contemplate love, marriage and happiness when so many others have perished? Her understandable martyr-complex holds her back from seeking a better life, but her father’s voice is sensible and reasonable. He urges her not to delay and to take anything good and hopeful into her life.

Their conversations are interspersed with vivid images of that fateful day. How the B-29 bomber shimmered in the 8 am morning light; how, for a split second, the earth was scorched at 12,000 degrees; and how the sky was dominated by two huge suns.

Written by acclaimed Japanese playwright Hisashi Inoue, The Face of Jizo is enthralling from start to finish. With a duration of eighty minutes, the author entwines drama and humour with amazing word-pictures of the lead-up, moment and aftermath of the bomb drop on Hiroshima.

Roger Pulver’s translation into modern English will please the Australian audience.

By evoking ‘Jizo’ into the title of the play, Inoue makes a significant cultural connection with his traditional Japanese audience. ‘Jizo’ is a symbol of remembrance for those lost in tragedy. Tazeko is a manifestation of Jizo, acting as a source of hope and compassion for his daughter.

There is no political commentary or opinion on the rights or wrongs of this event. It is just a simple, heartwarming story that tugs at the emotional strings of the audience. There is no blame or rebuttal.

The two actors in The Face of Jizo were outstanding. Shingo Usami as Takezo was the perfect father-figure. His natural warmth, humour and actions made a real connection. Mayu Iwasaki captured the sensitive, lonely and grief-stricken nature of her character Mitsue.

Shingo Usami also co-directed this production with David Lynch. Together, with their creative team, they weaved a production that triggered all five senses of every audience member.

The Face of Jizo surpasses its original setting of a post-atomic bomb attack. The themes of traumatic stress, hopelessness, loneliness and resilience are part of every human experience. They are present day issues. That is what makes this play ‘great.’