Puppet show and me

Nice to meet you all.
My name is Baba Haruka and I am a graduate of the 4th class of Monosasu Juku and in my second year at the company.
I work as a coder at Monosus. I used to work at a florist, so when I have the time, I take care of the plants in the office.

I usually work sitting in front of my computer with my back hunched, but I've always loved things that are soothing, so I try to make time every once in a while to get in touch with the things I like.

Speaking of things I like, besides plants, there is one other thing that is essential to me.
That's a puppet show.

When I was a child, I loved watching TV and many different programs, but my favorite was puppet shows.
Everything on the screen was made for the puppet show, and upon closer inspection, it was made from familiar items such as tissues and colored cellophane that you may have used in craft classes. In this world where everything is handmade, the cute puppets talk to each other happily.
I found such a world so endearing and exciting.

Just when I was starting to realize that I might like puppet shows, a show called "Purin Purin Monogatari" started being rebroadcast. It was the first time I had seen a full-length puppet show with a solid storyline.
I was truly moved by the sight of the unique puppets, making lively and quirky movements and telling funny jokes, yet working hard towards their goal.

A few years later, the puppet show "The New Three Musketeers," written by Mitani Koki and designed by Inoue Bunta, began airing.
"The New Three Musketeers" was like an even more powerful version of previous puppet shows.
Comical dolls and an artistic and beautiful world.
This is where I fell in love with puppetry.

When I was a university student, I wanted to see such a puppet show in person, so I went to the Iida Puppet Festival, which is held every year in Iida City, Nagano Prefecture.

The first time I saw a live puppet show was when I was in kindergarten: a small table covered with a cloth, on which three large goats walked.
That's wonderful in itself, but I couldn't help but notice the people controlling it, and it was hard to get into the world of the story.
However, the puppet show I saw at the festival was entirely centered around the puppets and was filled with the world of the story.
The puppeteers and puppeteers are in perfect sync, making it a very pleasant experience to watch.
It was a very kind world.

I also have some stuffed animals and puppets at home that I've had since I was little.
They are made of cloth and cotton and cannot move, but the way they are placed makes them feel uncomfortable, or lonely. They seem to have some kind of emotion.
I believe that puppetry is all about understanding the puppet's feelings and performing together with the puppet in a state that is most comfortable for it.

As I watched the puppet show, I gradually began to feel a strong desire to try operating one of the puppets myself, so I started looking for stores that sold puppets.
Then I found a store that sold marionettes. It was Puppet House in Iidabashi, Tokyo.
Since then, I've been checking out the dolls sold at Puppet House every now and then.

One day, I casually mentioned to someone at work that I wanted to be able to move a marionette. They encouraged me to give it a try. Since I had the chance, I decided to write an article about my encounter with a marionette and how I was able to move it.

Hello Marionette

I had been longing for a marionette. I had decided that if I was going to buy one, I would buy it from Puppet House. As soon as I decided to go ahead with the project, I started looking on their website for a marionette.
I also asked other people for their opinions, but they were all so cute that it was very difficult to choose.

The day we finally met has arrived.
I opened the door nervously and was greeted by a very kind owner.
The store is filled with a variety of dolls, including four-legged dolls, palm-sized dolls, and ventriloquist dolls.

As I was looking around with emotion, thinking that today was the long-awaited day to take it home, the owner showed me how to move a small marionette.
The doll, which had been motionless until a moment ago, suddenly wakes up and starts dancing. It's like magic.
We also had four-legged dogs and cats move around, and they were just like pets!

They rub their face under their owner's (operator's) feet, or act reluctant to move forward.
Of all the different dolls, the one I chose was the slightly rustic brown teddy bear "Teddy Bear Brown" by marionette artist Orangeparfait.

I like his droopy eyes and his slightly hunched back. And best of all, his mouth opens and closes.

First, we ask the owner to move it.
It moves very cheerfully.
Then the way it moves is incredibly cute.
He dances cheerfully with his eyes full of dazed eyes, and looks a little clumsy, which makes me like him even more.

Finally, it's my turn to move it. It's my first time using a marionette. I grip it with excitement.
You'd think he would skillfully move the many threads, but he first tilts his grip from side to side.
Then the doll's legs moved left and right.
As I repeatedly tilted my grip from side to side, the doll's feet also lifted up and down and began to stomp their feet in place.
Just that and he's already walking.
If you tilt your grip forcefully, your leg will rise forcefully, and if you tilt it gently, your leg will rise gently.

Next, pull the string underneath the grip with your middle finger.
The mouth closed. When I relaxed my finger, the mouth opened. When I repeatedly extended and folded my middle finger, the mouth started to open and close!
Look into the eyes of someone nearby and open and close your mouth to start talking.
If the string is not pulled, the mouth will be wide open, so it is probably a good idea to always keep the mouth string hooked onto your middle finger.
If you don't do this, you could develop temporomandibular joint disorder.

And finally, to move your arm, use your other hand.
If you pull the string that is hanging above the grip to the right, your left hand will rise. If you pull the string straight up, both hands will rise.
By repeatedly pulling straight up, you will be able to make a 'banzai' sound.

When you twist your grip from side to side or tug wildly on the string that raises your hand, it starts to dance.

If I've made it this far then I'll be very satisfied.
However, since he has come to our home, we have to practice more from now on so that he can do more things.
The owner of the puppet house kindly taught us everything from how to operate the puppets to how to carry and maintain them, and even showed us some helpful videos.
They wrapped up the doll and I took it home feeling warm and cozy.

Since the marionette came to our house, we've been making it dance whenever we get the chance.
I'm thinking of making a video of the results of my practice, but I'm so focused on it that I'm not making much progress. I've tried algorithm exercises, dancing to a popular song recently, and getting people to nod while listening to me. If you have any requests, please let me know.