for which that island is noted among the Japanese. The
Awaji puppeteer whom she married met his bride when
he was touring in her home district; this in itself is an in-
teresting fact which indicates how far afield the rural pup-
pet shows used to tavel in the old days. Kyushu is several
hundred miles by sea and land from Awaji. On her mar-
riage Ichimura Rokunojo set about learning her husband's
craft in order to be of assistance to him in his profession;
when he died she assumed his stage name and carried on
his troupe until today she is the leader of the Awaji puppet-
eers. The sincerity and staunchness of purpose of this coun-
trywoman command respect, but the men of Awaji have
always used their wives and daughters as general assistants
behind the stage, so that it has not been too difficult for
the women to make the transition as actual performers.
There are now several island women besides Ichimura
Rokunojo who work as puppeteers or musicians in the local
theatre.

The medical profession is singularly important in the
Awaji puppet world. The son of Ichimura Rokunojo is a
doctor and acts as her business manager; a doctor leads
one of the other three troupes; and yet another doctor is the
principal administrator for cultural activities on the island,
and this naturally means puppetry. There is a fourth medi-
cal man to whom Awaji will always be in debt. He is Dr.
Matsutani Tatsutsuku, an ear, nose, and throat specialist
who runs his own hospital in Sumoto and has been a life-
long devotee of the puppet theatre. He has as complete a
knowledge of his subject as any man in the country and
his erudition is backed up by first-hand practical experience
ence and a warm human interest. Besides being the chief
patron of the Awaji theatre, he is a skilful amateur puppet-
eer, and among the many services he has rendered to local

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