Event Details
Japanese Puppet Making Demo
Workshop

Japanese Puppet Making Demo

June 21, 2023
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Puppeteers from Tokushima, Japan will lead a one-hour demonstration on Japanese Ningyo Joruri puppet production.  Learn about the elaborate puppets used in Ningyo Joruri performances and assemble a puppet head made with a 3D printer.  The workshop is limited to 10 participants and will include:

  • Overview of Awa Ningyo Joruri: 5 minutes
  • Production demonstration and commentary by the puppeteer: 15 minutes
  • Kiyohime’s head assembly experience: 40 minutes

To register for the FREE workshop email: kemely.gomez@dca.nm.gov and include your name, and email if you wish to attend: June 25 from 11 am – 12 pm.  The puppet heads in the workshop will remain with the puppeteers (participants will not receive a puppet head to take home.)

Tokushima is the most popular place of Ningyo Joruri in Japan. Nearly 30 puppet makers are still active in Tokushima, and they receive orders for puppet repairs and new puppet from all over Japan. It is no exaggeration to say that Tokushima’s puppeteers support Japanese Ningyo Joruri.

The heads of the puppets used in Ningyo Joruri are extremely elaborate, which can change the facial expression for example, closing eyes or opening mouse etc. depending on the role. Please try to deepen your understanding of Japanese Ningyo Joruri puppet production by assembling a head (Kiyohime) made with a 3D printer, along with a demonstration and explanation of puppet production by a puppeteer.