Pop Japan

Dogugaeshi is back!

Dogugaeshi is a technique used in puppet theatre tradition which has started in Awaji, Japan. It is inspired by moments of screen opening-- an endless succession of screen with different paintings and tableaus of ancient and modern Japanese works. The term dogugaeshi literally means changing or exchange (gaeshi) of dogu, which in general term means ""tools"". It is also known as fusuma karakuri, where fusuma means sliding screens and karakuri means mechanism, trick or contrivance. 

During these days, Japan Society's 2003 commission and Bessie award-winning work by New York puppet artist Basil Twist adopt the idea in which he uses the traditional dogugaeshi technique with a collaboration of music of an authorized master of the traditional shamisen player and experimental musician, Yumiko Tanka. The production has toured Japan and even United States on several occassions.

Tags: tradition, dogugaeshi, puppet theatre tradition, awaji, fusuma karakuri, basil twist