Date: Wed, 06 Aug 2003 11:00:27 -0400
Subject: PUPT: Bunraku
From: Christopher Hudert <heyhoot-AT-mindspring.com>


Okay, I tried to get to my bookshelf with the appropriate books but can not
right now, and I think the ones I wanted to consult are at the studio
anyway, so here goes from memory.

When I was in Japan about 12 years ago I was very fortunate to be able to
spend a fair amount of time with one of the Masters of the National Bunraku
Theater. (See article in PofA Journal, 1989) As best as I can recall, the
term Bunraku refers to the form, the theater, and the troupe. The National
Bunraku Theater is both a building and a troupe. I saw them both on their
tour in Tokyo and at their home theater. This would be somewhat akin to what
we have with the term "Muppets" if they also had a home theater. The word
"muppets" refers to the company and to the style. Often puppeteers and
others refer to muppet-style puppets and we know just what they are talking
about. I personally refer to some of my work as "a kind of modified Bunraku
style puppetry" as there is no closer term that gets the idea across as
well. I also use the term "direct manipulation" when appropriate.
The year I was in Japan happened to also be the year that the UNIMA fest was
there. I got to see a pretty fair amount of different forms of Japanese
puppetry, as well as some from other places around the world. Unlike
Andrew's experience, only rarely did I need to use the term Ningyo-joruri
but did find it useful on a few occasions. But then it was also a little
tough explaining what I did for a living. At the time I was a clown with the
circus. There was no real term for clown or circus in Japanese. Both were
new to the general Japanese public. Some times I would have to compare and
refer to the comic characters of the No theater, but this was as accurate as
referring to what many of us do as Bunraku-style. What we are comparing is
not the same in either case, but it gets the general idea across and that is
what is important. 

That's my two cents worth for now. Now my brain is going to sleep and so
must I. It is 2:30 a.m and I will send this tomorrow, perhaps modified,
perhaps not. 
must press send later button
must press send later bu  zzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Christopher



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