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The Mainichi

Japan puppetry troupe led by former US professor to debut comedic adaptation in Tokushima

TOKUSHIMA -- A puppetry troupe led by a former U.S. university professor who relocated to west Japan's Tokushima Prefecture, the home of traditional "ningyo joruri" puppetry, will perform on July 19 at the Tokushima Prefectural Folk Culture Hall in this prefectural capital. The Tokubei-za theater troupe, headed by 67-year-old Martin Holman, plans to debut its puppet adaptation of the "kyogen" traditional comedic play "Kaminari" (thunder) at the 79th Awa Ningyo Joruri Summer Festival. "I want it to be a show the entire family can enjoy, filled with laughter," Holman said enthusiastically. "Kaminari" is a comedy that begins as the Thunder God falls from the sky to earth with a thunderclap. After sustaining a back injury, the deity encounters a quack doctor who treats him with acupuncture and is demanded to pay. The god, having no money, promises to provide 800 years of perfect weather without droughts or floods instead. Holman's passion for puppetry began in childhood, and he first encountered "Kaminari" as a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, in a Japanese literature class. Deeply moved by the story's appeal "to all family members, from children to the elderly," he had dreamed of turning it into a puppet show ever since. In 2017, Holman retired from his position at the University of Missouri and relocated to the city of Tokushima in September 2019. The following month, he founded the Tokubei-za troupe, crafting his own puppets to perform traditional pieces such as "Sanbaso" and Japanese lion dances in puppet form. Just as he was preparing to adapt "Kaminari" into a puppet show in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe. Tokubei-za's activities were suddenly halted, and the troupe, which once had 11 members, eventually disbanded due to individual circumstances, leaving Holman as the sole remaining member. As the pandemic eased, Holman started recruitment efforts for new members. Inspired by his enthusiasm for "Kaminari," new members, including several non-Japanese performers, gradually joined. In February 2024, Holman attended a performance by Warotena! Kyogen Club in the Tokushima Prefecture town of Aizumi, and recruited two members to serve as narrators for the puppet show. By spring, the troupe had finally resumed joint rehearsals with the new lineup. Holman himself handcrafted some of the puppets for "Kaminari," sculpting the heads from clay and sewing the costumes with a sewing machine. The Thunder God puppet, with its large round eyes, has a cute design reminiscent of characters from the American children's educational show "Sesame Street." Holman wrote the script in English, which was then translated into Japanese by other troupe members. The narrators from the kyogen club apparently further adjusted it to better suit their performing styles. Yoko Hashimoto, a 71-year-old resident of the city of Tokushima who manipulates the puppets, said, "I operate them (the puppets) while thinking about how to make the movements expressive and fun. I want the audience to enjoy it." Tokubei-za is currently recruiting new members, and welcomes beginners. For inquiries, please contact Holman at 080-4562-8319.