
Mochinosha, Book of Shadowz
Mochinosha, Book of Shadowz is a shadow puppetry company comprised of Japanese artist Seri Yanai and Canadian artist Daniel Wishes. Founded in the UK in 2012, with Japanese operations beginning in 2016. To date, the company has performed in over 50 cities across 10 countries.
In February 2016, their shadow puppet show DEBRIS. about objects washed away after the Great East Japan Earthquake, won the New Puppetry Award "P Newcomer Prize 2015."
In July of the same year, they created the sci-fi shadow puppet show Space Hippo, earning a five-star review from Canadian national broadcaster CBC and winning four awards at the Victoria International Fringe Festival, including Best Overall Show.
In 2017–2018, as part of a Japan Foundation programme, the company performed and held workshops in Canada, Armenia, and Indonesia.
In 2019, they were invited to perform in Brazil and China, successfully presenting shows in Portuguese and Mandarin.
In 2021, they presented a shadow art exhibition at Toramaru Puppet Land in Kagawa Prefecture.
In 2022, they were featured on TV Saitama's programme Iro Tama Bito.
In 2025, they performed at Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai; gave an invited performance at the V&A, the UK's national museum; performed a special Best of Fringe selection at Underbelly Boulevard theatre in Soho, London, selling out a 200-seat venue; and were featured in the Japan Times.
From 2024 to the present, the company has been organising shadow art festivals centred in Saitama and the wider Kanto region, with the aim of bringing shadow puppetry to local audiences. They are members of the National Association of Professional Puppet Theatre Companies.
Awards
BEST NEW PUPPETRY (Aichi Puppetry Centre, Japan / DEBRIS / 2016)
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION (Suginami Theatre Festival, Japan / DEBRIS / 2016)
BEST OVERALL SHOW, BEST VISUAL THEATRE, BEST DESIGN, BEST UNDER-REPRESENTED ARTIST (Victoria Fringe, Canada / Space Hippo / 2016)
PATRON'S PICK (Toronto Fringe, Canada / Shadow Kingdom / 2018)
OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY, OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION (NOW Magazine Award, Canada / Shadow Kingdom / 2019)
CRITIC'S CHOICE (Orlando Fringe, US / Space Hippo / 2019)
21 CENTURY BEST PRODUCTION (Osaka Fringe, Japan / Shadow Kingdom / 2019)

Selected Media Coverage
2015 Aug 5 STAR REVIEW - Edmonton Sun (ONI)
2016 Jul 5 STAR REVIEW - CBC (Space Hippo)
2018 Mar Mochinosha Canada Tour Report - "Theatre Yearbook: Theatre in Japan" published by Japanese Centre of International Theatre Institute
2018 Jul "LIFE IN SHADOWS" Featured article of Mochinosha - NOW Magazine
5 START REVIEW - NOW Magazine (Shadow Kingdom)
Our Members
DANIEL WISHES (Writer / Director / Puppeteer / Glove puppet designer)
SERI YANAI (Director / Puppeteer / Shadow puppet designer)
RYOKO KISHIDA (Concept art / Promotional designer)
We were featured in a news program of TV Saitama, Japan.
