Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai (闇芝居)

Will today be a ghost story? A romance?

Or the adventures of a brave hero?

You'll have to watch to find out.

Gather 'round, folks,

Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai

because it's time for Yamishibai.

Burden Giving

This is the story of a young couple that has moved to a rural community...

We had great timing, moving here just in time for a festival.

We sure did.

We'd love for you to attend.

Oh, Mr. Mayor.

Hello there. Everyone is going to gather at the meeting hall tonight.

It'll be a perfect opportunity to make introductions, so please come by.

Sure.

Thank you so much.

We'd better hurry moving stuff inside.

Hello there.

What was her deal?

This is quite the festival.

Yes, we call it the Burden Giving.

Burden Giving?

Well, to simplify it...

There is a sacred object called the Burden, and the festival is for deciding

which house will host it for a year.

Hey, here comes last year's host.

The family chosen to hold on to the Burden becomes the host,

and a proxy that absorbs all the misfortune

that would have otherwise affected the entire town.

By doing that, they ensure that the rest of us can live in peace.

Who are those people behind him?