Learn More about the Hitachi San Puppet in BPL's Southern History Department
 |
| BPL's Paul Boncella with Hitachi San, 4-foot puppet on display in the Southern History Department. |
 |
| Hitachi San converted into a Japanese Samurai Warrior. |
Birmingham, Ala. - Ever wondered about the Japanese puppet – named Hitachi San – that is stored in the Southern History Department display case on the first floor of the Birmingham Public Library’s Research Building downtown?
This fascinating four-foot puppet appears as a beautiful, elegant Japanese woman holding an umbrella half of the year and is converted into a Japanese Samurai warrior with a sword the remaining six months. Mary Beth Newbill, head of the Southern History Department, says Hitachi San has been on display at BPL since 2004, when the Sister City Commission of Hitachi, Japan, presented the puppet to the City of Birmingham. Birmingham and Hitachi have been Sister Cities since 1982.
Shortly after giving a demonstration on how he flips the puppet from an elegant lady into a Samurai warrior, BPL Map Conservator Paul Boncella talked about the history of Hitachi San puppet in a Q&A with BPL’s PR Director Roy Williams.
As Boncella says, if you have not already done so, come see our Hitachi San on your next trip to BPL’s Central Library!
BPL: How is Hitachi San different from other puppets?
Boncella: String puppets suspend their moving parts, and rod puppets support them from below. Hitachi San’s components are partly supported by springs, and they are activated by pulling down on cords. This requires considerable physical exertion.
BPL: Are there any advantages to this?
Boncella: Yes. The mechanism of the puppet is invisible, and no enclosure or backdrop is necessary to conceal the operator. This arose from necessity because the Hitachi parade floats have five stages arranged like stairs. The puppets are free standing, and they thus appear to be automatons.
BPL: Where do puppets like Hitachi San come from?
Boncella: They are not produced commercially. Instead, they are made at home by people in the four communities of Hitachi who maintain and operate parade floats. They originated as objects created by ordinary people, and this tradition has been maintained for centuries.
BPL: What are they made of?
Boncella: The materials are quite humble, and only the shoulders and upper arms require expert woodworking. In fact, the hands display no great command of carving, and the female Hitachi San’s left arm is a twisted tree branch that could have come from someone’s back yard. They are held together and hinged by parts that can be found in any hardware store.
BPL: Can you describe the mechanism for us?
Boncella:
It consists of a series of cords that are threaded through eyelets along the arms, shoulders, and chest of each puppet. The cords are tied to handles, and they are sometimes grouped according to function. For example, the three cords that move the head right, left, and up are attached to one handle that can be operated by one hand.
BPL: Are these puppets operated by one person in performance?
Boncella:
Not normally. It is more usual to have two or more operators on one puppet to maintain fluid, continuous movement. It is easy to tell which puppet on a float has only one operator.
BPL: What can you tell us specifically about Hitachi San?
Boncella:
It appears to be a retired parade puppet. Its wear patterns, damage, and repairs suggest that it had been in use for quite some time. The costumes, however, are new.
BPL: Could it still be used in performance?
Boncella:
No. Some of its functions were disabled after its last performance to prepare it for permanent display. Indeed, one of its functions was eliminated at that time, and I discovered this only a few days ago. I certainly could restore it to working order, and I may yet do so.
BPL: Anything else to add?
Boncella: The longer I maintain Hitachi San the more I realize how special it is. Its mechanism is apparently without parallel in the world of puppetry, and it arose from a unique cultural tradition. If you have not already done so, come see our Hitachi San on your next trip to BPL Central!
By Roy L. Williams, PR Director, Birmingham Public Library
Comments