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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. 2 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 6 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 7 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. 8 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 9 "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 12 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 13 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 ******** PARTVII. M.C.,R.KEVIN:AtReikoBrandon’srequestandwithagenerousinitialdonation fromProfessorEmeritaBarbaraSmith,wehavejustestablishedanewfund attheUHFoundation,theJamesR.BrandonMemorialAsianTheatreFund, tohelpcontinueJim’slegacyhereattheUniversityofHawai‘iatMānoa.If 17 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 ******** 18 RECEPTIONINUPPERLOBBYANDONUPPERLANAI