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SCRIPTFORJAMESR.BRANDONCELEBRATIONOFLIFE
[Materialinsquarebracketsisinformationalonly—donotreaditaloud.]
PARTI.
M.C.,R.KEVINDOYLE:AlohaandwelcometothiscelebrationoflifeforEmeritus
ProfessorJamesRodgerBrandon.MynameisR.KevinGarciaDoyle,andI
hadtheprivilegeofbeingDr.Brandon’sstudentinthe1990’s.I’llbeyour
M.C.fortoday,andwillbeginbyreading“ALookBackatJim’sLife”foryou.
[ALOOKBACKATJIM’SLIFE]
JamesRodgerBrandonwasabelovedhusband,atrailblazingscholar,and
aninspiringdirector,mentor,teacher,translator,actor,editor,andfriend.Hehas
leftaremarkablelegacyintheworldofAsiantheatrestudies,adisciplinehe
pioneeredandfertilizedwiththenumerousscholarsandartistshesograciously
andcarefullynurturedoverhalfacentury.BorninMinneapolisandraisedfrom
ageteninthesmalltownofMazomanie,Wisconsin,hejoinedtheState
DepartmentForeignServiceafterreceivinghisPhDfromtheUniversityof
Wisconsinin1955,andspentsixyearsinJavaandJapan.WhileinJapanasa
languageofficer,JimmetReikoMochinagaattheU.S.Embassy,whereshewas
oneofseveraluniversitystudentsteachingJapanesetothelanguageofficers.
Theydatedforawhile,andthenReikoleftonaFulbrightFellowshiptostudyat
theEastWestCenterinHonolulu.JimremainedinJapan,butafterayearof
separation,heproposedmarriage.Alreadyengagedtosomeoneelse,Reikodid
notsayyes!ButJimpersevered,wenttoReiko’sparents’homeinJapan,and
askedpermissiontomarrytheirdaughter.Reiko’smotherwasutterlyconfused
bythisobviouslyheartfeltrequestfromanunknown(toher)gaijin,and
demandedthatReikoreturntoJapanimmediatelyandsortthisout.She
returned,andJimwas,inReiko’swords,“absolutelydetermined.”Theywere
marriedsoonafterattheU.S.EmbassyinTokyo.
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JimandReikothenmovedtotheU.S.in1961,soJimcouldtakeupa
positionteachingAsiantheatre.ItwasintheDepartmentofSpeechand
ComparativeLiteratureatMichiganStateUniversity,wherehedirectedhisfirst
twoKabukiplaysinEnglish,KanjinchoandTheZenSubstitute.In1968Jimthen
joinedtheUniversityofHawai‘iDepartmentofDramaandTheatreasaFull
Professor,andremainedwithU.H.untilhisretirementin2000.Duringhis32
yearswithwhatbecametheDepartmentofTheatreandDance,hefirmly
establisheditsuniqueAsianTheatreProgram,co-foundedtheAsianTheatre
Journal,servedasDepartmentChairfrom1985to1988,andbrought
internationalrecognitiontothedepartmentthroughhisscholarshipandlargescaleEnglishlanguageKabukiproductions.Reiko,whobecameaninternationally
knownandrespectedtextileartistandcurator,washisartisticcollaboratoron
mostifnotalloftheseproductions—sometimesdesigningcostumesandwigsand
selectingappropriatematerialsandfabrics,othertimesoverseeingtheiruse,and
morethanoncedesigningthestagesetaswell.
Inhisillustriouscareer,JimBrandonauthoredapproximately80articles,
bookchapters,andreviewsinadditionto20books,displayinganamazingdepth
aswellasbreadthingeographicandartisticrange.Hisbooksincludestandard
textsinthefieldofAsianTheatretoday,suchasTheatreinSoutheastAsia[1967],
OnThronesofGold:ThreeJavaneseShadowPlays[1970],andKabuki:FiveClassic
Plays[1975].GroundbreakingresearchinKabuki’sForgottenWar:1931-1945
[2008]forcedareexaminationoflong-held“truths”aboutthefossilizationof
Kabukiinthe19thcentury;itwasdesignatedanOutstandingAcademicTitlefor
2009bytheAmericanLibraryAssociation'sChoicemagazineforitsexcellencein
scholarshipandimportancetothefield.Hiscreativeendeavorsinclude22
productionsattheUniversityofHawai‘iastranslator,director,adaptorand/or
playwright,andincludenationalrecognitionfromtheAmericanCollegeTheatre
3
Festival,commendationsfromtheHawai’iStateHouseofRepresentativesand
Senate,andPo‘okelaawardsfromtheHawai‘iStateTheatreCouncil.His
dedicatedscholarshipandartisticworkbroughthiminternationalrecognitionand
accolades,includingtheImperialDecorationoftheOrderoftheRisingSunwith
GoldRayswithRosettefromtheGovernmentofJapan,theJohnD.Rockefeller3rd
AwardfromtheAsianCulturalCouncilforhisexemplarycontributionstothe
understandingandappreciationofAsianTheatre,aLifetimeAchievementAward
fromtheHawai‘iStateTheatreCouncilin1991,theUHRegents’Medalfor
OutstandingTeaching,andanationalawardasOutstandingTeacheroftheYear
fromtheAssociationforTheatreinHigherEducation.
Outsideofhisextraordinarycareer,JimBrandonalsolivedarichandfull
privatelife,withmanyfriendsandagreatvarietyofactivities.HeandReiko
lovedtotravel,anddidsooftenandwidely—theylivedforprolongedperiodsin
Germany,India,Indonesia,andJapan;theytraveledthroughoutSoutheastAsia
andEuropeonseveraloccasions,andtheycriss-crossedtheNorthAmerican
continentfromE-to-WandW-to-Eatleasttwiceeachway,withoutpreplanning,
stoppingwhenitfeltrighttostop,hikingandmountainclimbing.Jimrandaily
formostofhisadultlife,liftedweightswithagroupoffriendsforyears,andran
andfinishedmarathonswellintohis80s(althoughsomesayhecutcornersabit
ononeofthelastones…).Hewasaloverofmusic,fromgamelantooperatohis
belovedScottJoplin.HeandReikogavewonderfulcastpartiesforallhis
productions,andJimlovedtoassemblegroupsofcolleaguesandstudentsto
playRailroadBarons,oneofthesimplergamesofwhichhewasaconnoisseur.
JamesR.Brandonattainediconicstatusinhisownlifetime,yetremained
humbleindemeanor,genuinelyinterestedinandencouragingofyoungscholars.
Thoughheclaimedto“nevergiveadvice,”hisguidanceasmentor,teacher,
director,actor,rolemodel,scholarandgentlemancultivatedgenerationsofAsian
4
theatrescholars,artists,andaficionadosthroughouttheworld,whowillalways
rememberhimwithloveandgratitude.[byIezzi&Wichmann-Walczak]
********
PARTII.
M.C.,R.KEVIN:Thisafternoon,fourofuswillreadtributesandreminiscences
fromafewoftheseindividualsoverthenexthour.Youwillthenhavethe
opportunitytolookatmoreoftheseyourselvesduringthereceptionto
follow.
ALVINCHAN:Aloha.MynameisAlvinChan,andmyfondestmemoryofDoctor
B.datesfrom2004.ItwasthefinaldressrehearsalforNozakiVillage,and
withoursensei/directorabouttogivebirthtotwins,Iwasfeelingabitlost
&anxiousaboutperformingKabukiinfrontofanaudienceforthefirst
time.IaskedDr.B.foradvice,andhesaid:"Asafellowactor,Ifeelthe
needtotellyousomethingthatringstrueinallperformance—youarethe
oneperformingonstagetomorrow,anditisyourresponsibilitytoownit.
Notforme,oryourteachers,butforyourself."Ihavebeentryingtoownit
eversince.
ThisfirstreminiscenceisfromJim’soldestfriend,playwrightand
EmmyawardwinningwriterandfilmmakerLoringMandel.
[INVITEDTRIBUTEFROM:LoringMandel]
ImetJimBrandonintheSpringof1946.IwasafreshmanattheUniversity
ofWisconsin,andsoactiveinthetheaterclub,cleverlytitledTheWisconsin
Players,thatinthatfreshmanyearIhadsomerole,eitherbackstageoronstage,
inelevenproductions.Jim,alreadyasophomore,hadachievedrealstatusasthe
leadingcomicactorinthegroup.AndwhatfirsttriggeredJim’sfriendshipwith
mewashisloveofmusic,andmine.Iwastryingtoworkoutacomedypianoplayingroutine,andJim,thoughheplayedthetromboneatsomeearliertimebut
5
hadnopianisticexperience,joinedin.
JimwasasesotericacharacterinmyexperienceasIwasinhis.Ihadnever
knownapersonfromsuchasmall,insulatedcommunityasMazomanie,
Wisconsin.HehadneverknownaJewishpersonand,infact,thoughtthatJews
wereaChristiansect,likeBaptistsorSeventhDayAdventists.HewasasnaiveasI
was,butheknewitandIdidn’t.WhatIbroughttothefriendshipatthe
beginningwas,inmymind,anurbansophistication.Iwaswrongaboutmyself,of
course,buttooarrogantatthetimetoknowit.
Jimhadaneagernessabouthimthatneverfaded,andaboundlessenergy
topursuewhateverprickedhisinterest.Lookingbackatitnow,Ithinkhewas
tryingverysystematicallytobuildanewlifeforhimself.TheUniversitywasagetout-of-jail-freecardforhim.Hefoundahouseownedbyaspinsterandher
father,andtheyrentedhimaroom.HefoundworkinanOscarMeyermeat
processingplant,asortofstrangebutnottotallyinappropriatebackgroundfor
theTheater.Hefellinlovewithmusiche’dneverheardinMazomanie.I
rememberoncehecalledmetoaskifI’dheardthewaltzfromDerRosenkavalier.
Anothertimehecalledandtoldmetoturnonmyradiotothelocalstationat
once:theywereplayingtheColonelBogeyMarchandhewantedmetoloveitas
muchashedid.
WeperformedourpianoactinMadisonandtheninvariousplaces
throughoutWisconsin,earningsufficientmoneytopayourwayattheUniversity.
Wewroteplayscollaboratively,bothcomediesandpathos-filleddramas.Fora
year-and-a-half,inadditiontotheatricsandpiano-playing,weheadedthelighting
crewfortheplaysattheWisconsinUnionTheater.Wespentonesummer,witha
thirdfriend,hitch-hikingtoNewYork,workinginaCatskillshotelwhilewritinga
musicalcomedy.WhenmywifeandIweremarried,itwasJimwhodroveusto
NewYorktostartourhoneymoon.Yearslater,whenbothJimandIweresoldiers
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inKoreaandfarapart,wewerewritingaKoreanmusicaltogether,
communicatingbymail.Wespokeandmetfromtimetotimewhilehewas
workinginNewYork.AndcorrespondedwhenhewentbacktoAsia.
TherewastragedyaheadforJimandReiko,andjudgingfromhisletters,it
appearedasiflosingtheirsonKenmightdefeathim,butitdidn’t.Hehadacore
ofgreatstrength,andastheyearspassedheseemedtogrowstrongerinwisdom,
withoutlosinghisessentialhumorandkindness.Iwitnesseditwhenmywifeand
IvisitedhiminHawaii,whenIspoketohisclass,whenheandReikovisitedusin
Massachusetts,whenwesharedtheeveningwithhimashewontheAsiaSociety
honor.
Inthelastyearortwo,Jim’shealthwasdeclining,butwhenwespokeon
thephonehiswordswereaffirmative,hishumorfullyintact,hismemoryofthat
partofhislifewhereweworkedtogetherwasasdetailedasmyown.Iregardmy
friendasalessoninhowtogrow,howtolive,howtosurvivetragedy,howtobe
productive,howtoimprovetheworldimmeasurablybeforeleavingit.
Andinthosememorieswehaveofhim,heremainsaliveandcapableof
inspiringus.Wearethankfulforthatgift.AndReiko,ourwarmestwishesforyou
inthisunhappyseason.Itwouldbewonderfulifthefuturefoundamomentwe
couldspendtogether.
LoringMandel
********
M.C.,R.KEVIN:Atthistime,wewillpresentaslideshowcoveringsomeofthe
highlightsofJim’searlylifeinMazomaniethroughhistimeatMichigan
StateUniversity.
FIRSTSLIDESHOW—JIM’SEARLYLIFE
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PARTIII.
M.C.,R.KEVIN:Wewillnowreadexcerptsfromselectedtributesand
remembranceswrittenbysomeofDr.Brandon’speers.
NICOLETESSIER:Aloha!MynameisNicoleTessier,andIhadthehonorof
performinginDr.Brandon'slastKabukiproduction.
ThisreminiscenceisfromSamuelL.Leiter,ProfessorEmeritusof
BrooklynCollegeandTheGraduateCenter,CityUniversityofNewYork.
[TRIBUTEFROM:SamuelL.Leiter]
WithJimBrandon’spassing,I’velostaclosefriend,colleague,collaborator,
andinspiration,whomI’veknownfornearlyfiftyyears.Jimwasnotonlythe
MountFujiofAsiantheatrescholarsoverthepasthalfcentury,hewasalsoa
wonderfulguy,withamarvelouslyupbeat,ever-curious,youthfuldispositionthat
hemaintainedintohismid-80s.HislossisanenormousoneforthefieldofAsian
theatre,butespeciallyforkabukischolarship,inwhichhewasindisputablythe
Westernleader.Hisaccomplishmentsinthisfieldasateacher,director,
researcherandwriterwereawesome,andIcannotconceiveofanyoneever
equalingthem.
IlookforwardtothememoriesthatwillnowsurelystartfloodingbackasI
thinkoverourmanytimestogether,andwhenIgazeatthespinesofthosemany
marvelousbookssittingonmyshelves.Sayonara,Jim,andmaythecherry
blossomsalwaysbeinbloomforyou.
SamuelL.Leiter
SAMMIECHOY:Aloha,mynameisSammieChoy.WhetherIsawJamesBrandon
inthehallsofKennedyTheatreorintheoccasionalyogaclass,hewas
intenseandfocused,butalwaysapproachable.
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Thesetwoshortbutheartfeltaccoladesarefromcolleaguesatthe
UniversityofHawai‘iatMānoa.EmeritusProfessorofTheatreDennis
Carrollwrites:
[TRIBUTEFROM:DennisCarroll]
JamesBrandonwasaworld-renownedteacher,director,andscholar,with
anenthusiasmforlifeandartthatremainsindelibleandinspiring.Iamforever
gratefulforalltheyearsofsupport,adviceandexemplaryadministrative
leadership.
[DennisCarroll]
SAMMIE:EmeritusProfessorofPsychologyandformerDeanoftheCollegeof
SocialSciences,RichardDubanoski,writes:
[TRIBUTEFROM:DickandJoanDubanoski]
Jim'spresenceandwitbrightenedeveryroomheentered;hislaughterand
chortlebroughtsmilestothosearoundhim;hisintellectandcuriosityenriched
eachconversationofwhichhewasapart.Hewasthebest;hewillbemissed.
Aloha,Friend.
DickandJoanDubanoski
ALVIN:ProfessorEmeritusofTheatreandEnglishatBrownUniversity,John
Emigh,writes:
[TRIBUTEFROM:JohnEmigh]
MyfirstmemoryofJimisofhimsurroundedbyasmallandwonderfulband
ofAsiantheatrescholars—allnewtome,manyofwhomaresadlynolongerwith
us—atGalatoire'srestaurantinNewOrleans.Itwasduringabreakinan
AmericanTheatreAssociationconference;IwasrecentlyreturnedfromBaliand
hadbeeninvitedtoperform,thoughIhadn'tevenstartedtowriteupmy
research.TherewasJimattheheadofthetable,marvelingatthenewfound
richnessofOystersRockefeller,andwonderingthattheacademicworldthought
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"AsianTheatre"wassuchanarrowfieldofspecializationwhenthoseofus
assembledhadtheremarkablehistories,cultures,andperformedlivesofover2
billionpeopleandtheirancestorstokeepusbusy,engaged,andinaperpetual
stateofdiscovery.“Andmeanwhileourfellow'specialists,'"hewenton,with
growingdelight,"havetocontentthemselveswithteachingMiltonyearafter
year,findingwhatpleasuretheymayinanunexplorednuancehere,anew
readingorunexploredhistoricalfactthere."Hewasbeaming.Apictureofjoy.
ThatmeetingandJim'sjoyfulembraceofanemergentacademic"field"andits
artisticandhumansignificancechangedmylife.
JimandIwentontocollaborateonseveralprojects,includingthefounding
oftheAssociationforAsianPerformance.Hewasthemostrigorouscritic,the
mostsupportivecolleague,andremainsajoyfulexampleoflifewelllived!
JohnEmigh
********
PARTIV.
M.C.,R.KEVIN:Atthistimewewillpresentoursecondslideshow,ofimages
fromDr.Brandon’slifesincecomingtoHawaii.
SECONDSLIDESHOW—JIM’SLIFESINCECOMINGTOHAWAI‘I
********
PARTV.
M.C.,R.KEVIN:Iwastheactorwhohadlaryngitisinthatslideearlier.Dr.
Brandonprovidedmyvoice.Idon’tthinkIwilleversoundascharmingand
intelligentagain.
Wewillnowreadexcerptsfromselectedtributesandreminiscences
writtenbyDr.Brandon’syoungercolleaguesandstudents.
NICOLE:FromKentDevereaux:
10
ItwasJim’sgiftforsupportingtheworkofyoungerscholarsthatIwill
alwaysremember.
Ihadjustfinishedgraduateschoolandonlyrecentlyreturnedfromlivingin
JavaonaFulbrightwhenImetJimforthefirsttimeatwhatIbelievewasthe
secondAssociationforAsianPerformanceconference.Itoldhimhowhisbook
hadsparkedmyinterestinwayangkulit.Heexpressedmoreinterestinhearing
aboutmylatestworkthaninbeingonthereceivingendofayoung,idealistic
student’spraise.WhenItoldhimaboutmyresearch,heinsistedthatIjoinhim
onapanelandpresentmyworklaterthatday.ThatishowIpresentedmyvery
firstacademicpaper.Irememberitwell.FirstJim,thenLeonardPronko,then
me.IwasterrifiedasIsattherelisteningtotwoiconsinthefield,superb
presenters,bothofthem.Howdoyoufollowthat?
IthinkJimknewhowterrifiedIwas,butheneverleton.Instead,inhis
introductionheshoweredmewithpraise.Hetoldtheaudiencehowexcitedhe
wastohearaboutmylatestwork,andthathewassuretheytoowouldbethrilled
tohearaboutit.Heputmeateaseandthencededthepodiumtome;“teacher"
to“pupil,”onegenerationtothenext.Itrytoliveuptohisexampleeveryday.
KentDevereaux
ALVIN:FromDavidJortner:
JamesBrandonwasoneofthelionsofthefield,amanversednotonlyin
therichwealthofJapanesetheatrebutalsointhetheatreofSoutheastAsiaand
Europe.Hewasanactor,directorandscholarofthehighestorder.
Onapersonalnote,Jimwaskind,graciousandencouraging.Wemet
frequentlyatconferencesbecausewesharedthesamescholarlyinterest—the
theatreoftheOccupationofJapan—andratherthanbeingthreatened,he
activelyencouragedmeasagraduatestudentandlaterasajuniorfaculty
membertopursuetheworkhefelthehadleftundone.Thoseofuswhohadthe
11
pleasuretoknowJimwillrememberwithgreatfondnesshisinfectiouslaugh,
inquisitivespirit,andgraciousnature.IwasthrilledtoknowJim,andwillfeelhis
absencedeeply.
DaveJortner
SAMMIE:FromKevinJ.Wetmore:
OneofmyfirstmajorconferencesasagraduatestudentwastheTheatre
Symposium,onthetopicof"TheatreEastandWest,"andJimwasoneofthe
keynoters.IwaspresentingonChristianity'sinfluenceonshingeki,oneofa
handfulofgraduatestudentsinvitedtopresent.Ifeltoverwhelmed,andafraud,
andwassittingaloneatatableatlunchonthefirstday.Jimcameover,askedif
hecouldsitdown,anddidjustthat,askingmewhoIwasandwhatIwas
presentingthere.Whatfollowedwasanhourofconversationthathasstayed
withmeeversince.Iknewwhohewas,ofcourse,asIownedallofthebookshe
hadpublisheduptothatpoint.Hisinterestwasgenuine,notjustpolite.Thetalk
turnedtoacademicpublishers.Imentionedsendingabookproposaltoone,and
hefeignedindignation:"Whenyouhaveagreattopic,whywouldyoushootso
low?"Hisencouragementmeantalot,andeverytimeIsawJimafterthat,2-3
timesayearatconferences,healwayscamerightoverandstartedtalkingasifwe
hadneverleftoff.Hewasamodelforscholars,teachersandartistsandIfearwe
shallnotseehislikeagain.Ishallmisshisvoice.
KevinJ.Wetmore
R.KEVIN:FromCarolFisherSorgenfrei:
Wehavelostnotonlyatrulybrilliantmindandincrediblescholarandartist,
butakind,generous,joyousspirit.Weareall,really,hisstudents,forhewasone
ofthefirstandforemost.Hewillliveforeverinourheartsaswellasinhismany
wonderfulpublications.Thoseofuswhoknewandlovedhim,andallofuswho
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wereprivilegedtoseehisshows(andthoseofyouwhowereprivilegedtobein
them),willneverforgethim.
CarolFisherSorgenfrei
NICOLE:FromAaronDavidAnderson
Dr.JamesBrandonwasagiantinhisfield(thoughsmallandmischievousin
person).HisrecommendationgotmeintothedoctoralprogramatNorthwestern,
andhislessonsinclasstaughtmemoreaboutprofessionalismthananyonehas
beforeorsince.Heusedtosaythatteachingwaslikepushingastringfromthe
back—unlessthestudentpullsontheotherendofthestring,allyougetisabig
mess.Hislessonswerenevermessy.Everyonewhoevermethimbecamea
betterpersonforit.Hewillbemournedbythousands.Thisisnoexaggeration.
RestinPeace,Dr.Brandon.Andthankyou.
AaronDavidAnderson
ALVIN:FromColleenLanki:
Dr.Brandonwasaninspirationandtheepitomeof"agentlemananda
scholar."Hewillberememberedbyeveryoneinthefield,andthatmemorywill
urgeusto"dowhatwearedoing."
[ColleenLanki]
SAMMIE:FromKathyWelch
Jim'steachingandencouragementhasguidedmycareer.Ihopeevery
showIdirectreflectsinsomesmallwaytheartistryandhumanityhetaught.
Trulyagiant.
[KathyWelch]
R.KEVIN:FromPennyBergman
Fromcarrying“Brandon’sGuidetoTheaterinAsia”backpackingthrough
Asiainthemid-70’s,tofinallymeetinghimattheUniversityofHawai’i,(wherehe
offeredmeascholarshiptogradschool,ajob,theunparalleledopportunityto
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studywithNakamuraMatagoroandbeinthecastofCHUSHINGURA—THE47
SEVENSAMURAIandKANJINCHO—THESUBSCRIPTIONLIST),andthentoour
continuingfriendshipthroughtheyears,Jimwasasmart,supportive,goodhearted,inspirationalsensei.Astheaccoladespourinfromhisdevoted
community,hisspiritliveson.
PennyBergman
NICOLE:FromHollyA.Blumner
PerhapsthemostimportantthingthatIlearnedfromJimingradschool,
whichIdidn’tunderstanduntilmuchlaterinmylife,isthis:Don’tassumethey
[whoeveryouareasking]aregoingtosayno.Dowhatyouneedtodo.Keep
pushingforwardunlessyouseethatyousimplycan’tgoonanymore.
Asagradstudent,IwasalwaysgoingintoJim’sofficebecauseIloved
talkingwithhim.Hemadetimeforme.Evenwhenhewasbusydoingother
things,hemademefeelwelcome.Once,hetoldmeaboutaschoolprankin
whichheandafriendwenttoarivalschooland“borrowed”theircow.Somehow
itendedupinanelevator.Jimsaidhegotinbigtrouble,andlaughedwhenhe
toldme.
AfterstudyingwithJim,andinteractingwithhimovertime,hegradually
becameamemberofmyfamily,thefamilyIcarryaroundinmyheart.Istillhear
Jim’svoiceinmyheadeverytimeIenteraclassroomtoteachJapanesetheatre.I
hopehislaughter-filledvoiceinmyheadnevergoesaway.
HollyA.Blumner
ALVIN:FromR.KevinDoyle
Inadditiontobeingatoweringintellect,rigorousscholar,andinspiring
director,Dr.Brandonwasaveryfunandfunnyperson.Ihadthedistinctpleasure
ofplayingDungeonsandDragonswithhim(I’mnotmakingthisup),andhewas
anabsoluteblast.Hisfavoritecharacterwasabig,dumbfighterwhowasmore
14
pronetokickingdowndoorsandgettingeveryoneintroublethanhewasto
thinking.HearingDr.Brandonlaughwithgleeasachoicehemadeingame
inevitablyinvitedruindownoneveryoneisoneofmyfondestmemoriesofhim.
R.KevinDoyle
SAMMIE:FromPatriciaPringle
WeweregoingtoseeaperformanceofOkinawandancesomewhereon
theothersideoftheisland.Wewerestandinginlineforourtickets,whenaman
inverynicealohawearturnedandintroducedhimself.Theyexchangednames,
andthemanaskedJim,"Whatdoyoudo?"Jimstoodupverystraightandwith
obviouspridesaid,"IamProfessorofAsianTheatreattheUniversityofHawai‘iat
Mānoa."TheothermangaveJimhiscard,andsaid,"BoardofRegents,UH.Call
mewhenyouwantaraise."
PatriciaPringle
R.KEVIN:FromDallasMcCurley
Jimhasalwaysbeenthemodelofteaching,research,andcollegialitythat
I'vetriedtoemulate,andI’vecometorealizethathisamazingabilitiesinthese
areasaren'tatalleasytoachieve.Lasttimewehadlunch,hedescribedmeeting
theghostofIchikawaDanjuroIatagravesite;nowhewalksamongtheother
greatartistsofKabukiwhotimehastaken.Aloha,Jim.
DallasMcCurley
NICOLE:FromAndyUtech
Iusehislessonseveryday.IknowI’mnotalone.
ALVIN:FromAlanShepard
Heliterallywrotethebook.
SAMMIE:FromElainaMalm
WhenIwasinmy30s,IdecidedtoruntheHonoluluMarathontoproveI
wasn'tquiteoverthehillyet.Jim,inhismid-sixties,agreedtorunthemarathon
15
withme.Wesetofftogetherfilledwithfreshenergyasfireworksfilledthesky
andcheerserupted.Isortofkeptpaceforaboutthefirstmile.Attheendofthe
day,Jimbeatmeby2hours!!Jimhadsuchboundlessenergy,thatoneofmy
nicknamesforhimwastheenergybunny.Thatdaythetortoisedidherbestand
finished,buttheharewastheclearwinner!
ElainaMalm
R.KEVIN:FromKathyFoley
Jimwasdedicatedtotheworkofcreatingafieldofacademicstudyand
internationalperformanceofAsianTheatre,whichwasbiggerthananyofus.He
madeuseachalinkinthatlargerideathatextendedbeyondourparticular
dissertationtopicortheproductionweexperienced.Therewasdiscipline,vision,
andthesenseofbeingpartofsomethingbig.HetookemotingStanislavskiactors
andturnedusintoetherealloversonamichiyukiorpatientsamuraiwhocould
waityearstofindthatswordorrestoreafallenclan.
IrememberwatchingasanassistantdirectorthemomentinChushingura
whereEnyaHanganhasjustslashedhisstomachintheseppukuscene,when
Yuranosukerushesinjustbeforehismasterwilldie.Hanganmanagestowhisper,
"Rememberme!"Yuranosukebows:"Iswear!"
JimBrandon,throughhiswritingandteaching,hascreatedabandofmore
thanforty-sevennowmaster-lessronin:wewillworkthroughthefuturetocarry
outhisvision.Someofusareinacademicpositions,othersarestagemanagers,
directors,actors,translators,filmmakers,ordoahundredotherthings.Butthe
visionJimestablished—ofmakingthewestawarethattheatricalgeniusand
complexitygoesbeyondEuropeandoftenreachesheightsthatthose
Elizabethansdidn'tevendreamof—willcontinue.
Thoughwefeellikewavemenfornowandallwishwehadbeenthereto
saygoodbye,inourmanydifferentplaces,wewillcarryoutthemission.
16
Hemadeuswhatweare:'atreasuryofloyalretainers.'
SAMMIE:WhatfollowsisfromJamesR.Brandon’sChushingura:Studiesin
KabukiandthePuppetTheatre,UniversityofHawai‘iPress,[1982];
theclosingoftheplay:
ALVIN:[“Akagaki:]Atthecock'scrowannouncing,dawnofanewday...
R.KEVIN:[Takemori:]...ourheart'sfilledtooverflowing,risewiththe
risingsun...
NICOLE:[Goemon:]...aswegotogetherto...
ALLFOUR[All:]...ourLordHangan'sgrave.
SAMMIE:Eachpersonturnstothosenexttohim,nods,wipestearsof
gratitude,gripsanelboworplacesahandonashoulder.Thentheir
thoughtsreturntotheirmaster,Hangan,andallofthemstandsilent,
posedinmingledhappinessandgrief.”
FromKathyFoley
********
PARTVI.
M.C.,R.KEVIN:WhatfollowsarevideoexcerptsfromsomeofDr.Brandon’s
KabukiproductionshereatUHM.
SHOWINGOFVIDEOEXCERPTSFROMJIM’SUHMKABUKIPRODUCTIONS
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PARTVII.
M.C.,R.KEVIN:AtReikoBrandon’srequestandwithagenerousinitialdonation
fromProfessorEmeritaBarbaraSmith,wehavejustestablishedanewfund
attheUHFoundation,theJamesR.BrandonMemorialAsianTheatreFund,
tohelpcontinueJim’slegacyhereattheUniversityofHawai‘iatMānoa.If
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youwouldliketocontribute,atableissetupintheupperlobbyfordoing
so.
ThereissomuchmoretosayaboutJimandhisinfluenceonour
lives.Weallhavestories.So,wewouldliketoinviteeveryonetothe
UpperLanaiforpupusanddrinkswhilewesharesomeofthosestoriesand
memorieswithReikoandeachother.
Beforewegoouttogether,however,Iwouldliketointroduce
someonetoyou.DavidFurumotoisaprofessoratDr.Brandon’salma
mater,theUniversityofWisconsin.WhilestudyingunderDr.Brandonhere
attheUniversityofHawai‘i,ProfessorFurumotoperformedinfiveofhis
Kabukiproductions.AsalivingtributetoDr.Brandon,ProfessorFurumoto
willperformapairofexcerptsfromKanjincho.
DAVIDFURUMOTO:Iwouldliketodedicatethisbriefperformancetothesensei
whochangedmylife,ProfessorJamesR.Brandon.RonaldCavayeand
othersfromtheearphoneguidegroupinJapansendtheircondolences,as
well.Brandon-sensei,onegaishimasu.
PERFORMANCEOFKANJINCHOEXCERPTS
********
PARTVIII.
M.C.,R.KEVIN:PleasejoinmeincongratulatingProfessorFurumoto.
David,pleasecomebackonstageandleadusoutwitharoppo
inhonorofJimandReiko!(Toaudience.)Thankyouforcoming,and
we’llseeyouontheLanai.
PERFORMANCEOFROPPOBYDAVIDFURUMOTO
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RECEPTIONINUPPERLOBBYANDONUPPERLANAI