Strange familiarities: Bunraku Plays and American Puppets

Learning about classical and modern Asian theatres has been a very insightful experience for me. And the exposures particularly valuable because it required me to consciously remind myself of my immersion in something completely foreign. I had to be aware of judgmental criticism (however silently contained within the parameters of my head it might have been). However, when we began our discussion on Japanese puppets, I lost track of my obligation to objectivity and allowed my thoughts to drift into a mental see of criticisms.

I was mostly taken away by the deceptive novelty of puppets as a theatrical element. So troubled by inability to understand how any audience can be so engaged by hand puppets, and mostly by my inability to remain in a state of objectivity, I was determined to find a way to help me understand. So as soon as this mission was declared, I immediately remembered my childhood being FILLED with puppets: The Muppets, Sesame Street, The Big Comfy Couch’s, and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and so many others.

I began comparing the elements of Japanese puppets and American puppets by watching the documentary called “On Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey”. This is a documentary about Kevin Clash’s life and his journey as a puppetter. His characters include Elmo, Hoots the Owl, and Baby Natasha. This documentary illuminates the emotional ties that puppeteers develop with their characters, and the connection to Bunraku was immiediately drawn.

Bunraku is one of Japan’s many traditional theatrical arts and is believed to be one of the most developed forms of puppeteering. One of the most important roles in these plays is the Joruri. The Joruri is the combined role of changing and playing the Shamsien. The Joruri is responsible for telling the story by chanting out the narration for the puppeteers. The Joruri, as we have learned, generally becomes very attached to the characters of the puppets. This emotional connection was difficult to understand and seemed like a strange concept, but watching Clash’s journey as a puppeteer helped put it into perspective.

There are so many more elements of Asian theatre that are also rooted in Western theatre. Understanding the different approaches to entertainment, theatre, and even just expression is so helpful for understanding our own Western perceptions on theatre. The exposure to Bunraku as a highly treasured and traditional form of entertainment in Japan helped me see how puppets are also important in American culture.