More than a century after it began, the Japanese silent films get a renewed spotlight with the limited world tour of The Art of Benshi, coming to L.A. on April 19-21. It's part of a world tour traveling through Washington D.C., New York, Chicago and Tokyo.

Benshi, derived from "katsudō benshi" or "movie orator," were the narrators of Japan's silent film era. These artists introduced films and also provided live narration, portraying characters, and articulating the on-screen action, filling theaters and enthralling audiences. 

LAist's How to LA producer Victoria Alejandro digs into this old art form and its role on the early days of Los Angeles when Japanese immigrant farmers would travel into the city to watch these films and the Benshi. 

For more, read about it in LAist:

https://laist.com/news/how-to-la/japanese-silent-cinema-and-l-a-history-collide-this-weekend

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