Noh Puppets

It never occurred to me that Puppets might be utilized in Noh drama. Class discussion and the readings never approached the topic. I was very surprised to find references to it as I began to compile research for a journal entry assigned by my professor. The decision was easy, something had to be written about this obscurity. If puppetry had not made it’s way into any of my class work the topic must be addressed. As I began my work it became clear that the relationship of puppetry and Noh is a mystery to most theater historians.

Karen Brazell - Traditional Japanese Theater

Brazell devotes one paragraph to puppets in his book. He takes the time to note the use of the puppets in the drama. He makes the connection between the ritual use of puppets and the transfer of puppets to the Noh drama and eventually to a dramatic theater tradition solely consisting of puppets.

Late medieval records mention Noh plays staged with puppets…[they] served as mediums in Shinto rituals to express the words and perform the actions of the gods…puppeteers (ebis

Sado was used as a penal colony. Many important figures in Japanese history were exiled there…the island is famous for its mines, where prisoners were forced to work, sometimes to death. Another feature distinguishing this island is the prevalence of ritual and dramatic performances using puppetry. (Law 39-40)

Kuritz fails to make any note or reference to the use of puppets in Noh drama. This may either be because there is no actual primary texts that exist. Maybe he was uncomfortable with the lack of research on the topic. It is quite possible that he omitted it because it seemed obscure and unnecessary for his aims in the text (giving students an over view of theater history), which would be quite contradictory. It is unclear why he does not approach this issue.

Seima Takanashi -- Japanese Mechanical Dolls

Some topics in this essay:
Puppetry Sado, Era… Japanese, , Theater Brazell, Puppets Nostalgia, Noh Takashani’s, Puppet Theater, History Kuritz, Shrine Nishinomiya, Mechanical Dolls, noh drama, puppets noh, puppets noh drama, primary sources, law’s text, theater brazell, japanese puppets, mask noh, puppetry noh, relationship puppetry, japanese puppet,