Final Performance: NHK Coverage

This is a clip from the TV coverage of my final showcase at the Awa Jurobe Yashiki theatre. You can see sections of the three scenes I performed: Ebisu Mai, Yaoya Oshichi, and Keisei Awa No Naruto. 

Final Performance: Keisei Awa No Naruto

In this clip from my final showcase, I serve as the omo-zukai (main puppeteer) for Otsuru the pilgrim in the story of her reunion with her estranged mother. This was about the sixth time I performed this scene with my host troupe, Naruto-Za. 

Kojo: Hidakagawa Iriai Zakura

In this clip, I serve as the kojo (announcer) for a scene from Hidakagawa Iriai Zakura performed by the Seinen-Za troupe at the Tokushima summer festival. In this scene, dating back to 1759, a young woman turns into a snake in pursuit of the man she loves. 

Final Performance: Ebisu Mai

This scene, performed at the Jurobe Yashiki Theatre with the Jurobe-Za troupe, tells the story of a jovial god who goes fishing. I operated the hidari, or left hand. 

Final Performance: Yaoya Oshichi

In this story of a young maiden who risks her life for the man she loves, I operated the hidari (left hand) with Hureai-Za. 

Feature in Tokushima Shimbun

A clipping from a story about my time in Japan from the style section of the Tokushima Newspaper. 

Learning to Hold the Kashira (Head)

In this clip, Hattori-San, a member of Naruto-Za troupe, teaches me the proper way to hold the puppet’s head when serving as the omo-zukai (lead puppeteer). You can see how, thanks to her patience and expertise, we communicated with little common language. 

Learning to Play a Brigand

This clip shows Midori-San teaching me to sword fight for a scene from Keisei Awa No Naruto that I performed at the summer puppet festival.