How to Make Japanese String Puppets

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Step 1

Gather all the materials that you will need and place them in a large work area. There will be various parts to your puppet that will need to be crafted at different times, so make sure that the space will be undisturbed until you are finished.
Step 2

Use clay to shape the head of the puppet. Be sure that you also create a neck on the head.
Step 3

Mix flour and water in a mixing bowl until it has a paste-like consistency. Cut up strips of newspaper. Dip the newspaper in the flour and water mixture, making sure to saturate the paper. Apply the newspaper to the clay head and neck form until all of the head is covered in approximately three coats. Allow the newspaper to completely dry on the clay form.
Step 4

Using a saw or sharp knife, cut the head into two halves and remove the clay. Place the two halves together again and use more of the paper mache glue mixture and newspaper to seal the seams on the head and let dry again.
Step 5

Paint the facial features on the head, add hair, eyes, a mouth; do not forget to paint the neck.

Step 1

Either purchase a ready-carved, wooden head at a local craft shop or carve your own: Use a wood block that will support your head design and shape the wood with a small saw.
Step 2

Add facial features with wood glue that can be purchased at your local craft store.
Step 3

Paint the head and add hair as desired.

Step 1

Use paper and pencil to design your body before you begin construction. Remember that the marionette must be able to move at the body joints and will need to be hinged at those joints.
Step 2

Measure out small pieces of wood for each body part, making sure that the measurements are identical for the arms, legs, feet and hands. Cut the pieces of wood according to your measurements.
Step 3

Apply small hinges to the joints, which you can locate at a local craft store.
Step 4

Use a block of wood that will support the arms and legs that you have created as the torso. Attach the arms and legs to the torso.

Step 1

Using the paper mache head, glue the neck to the body of your puppet using wood glue and let dry.
Step 2

Using the wood head, hinge the head to the body or attach to the body using wood glue.
Step 3

Let the glue dry thoroughly.

Step 1

Using four equally long pieces of wood, make two "X" controls with the wood and attach them in the middle with a screw and nut. Make sure the wood is tightly put together.
Step 2

Attach fishing line to the puppet's limbs, torso and head at the places where you want your puppet to move. Different people have different preferences in relation to moving parts on a puppet, but decide this before accomplishing any stringing. This may require you to place a small hook on the top of the head if you are using a wooden head for this project so that you have an eyelet to run the string through.
Step 3

Connect the other end of the fishing line to the pieces of wood on the "X" control that you have constructed. This can be accomplished easily by drilling a small hole in each piece of wood at the end, running the string through the hole and then tying off the string on the wood itself.

References