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A Japanese ventriloquist TAZUKO TANIMOTO

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TAZUKO TANIMOTO

I am a ventriloquist living in Osaka, Japan.

I started ventriloquism 22 years ago and have been working as a professional, doing over 100 shows a year in schools, kindergartens, children’s museums, local festivals and corporate events.

Also I am teaching ventriloquism at a college, high school and a culture school.
Since 1996, I have been attending the annual ventriloquism conventions in the US to further sharpen and
expand my performance skills.
At my first convention experience in Kentucky, I found myself watching an illusion which I had never seen in Japan.

Then I decided to learn more about the American way of performing.
I also took the Maher Home Course in ventriloquism.

I am currently creating my original show combining some Japanese techniques with the American styles I have studied.

I hope to convey what I think is really wonderful about ventriloquism, including making the figures come alive, to many more Japanese audiences in the future.

　 What inpried TAZUKO ?

After I saw some amazing ventriloquists' acts in the international convention I decided to learn more about the American way of performing.

I took the Maher Home Course in ventriloquism.
As English is my second language , it took special diligence and patience,
but I completed the course some three years later.
After that, I made up mind to go from being an amateur to a pro.

TAZUKO reports the workshop on February 16.17. 2008
conducted by an American ventriloquist DAN HORN


		Dan Horn Revolutionizes Japanese Ventriloquism
		On February 16 and 17, Dan Horn conducted a two-day workshop in Osaka, Japan which I organized. It was his second visit to Osaka to teach　Japanese ventriloquists following an earlier trip in 2006.
		This year's event attracted more than twice the number of participants than the previous one, with people coming from all over Japan to see Dan's highly accomplished professional skills with their very own eyes.
		On the first day, 30 ventriloquists had a special opportunity to receive personal instruction from Dan. His most valuable lesson was how to use arm rods, something that everyone was very eager to understand. Standing beside each student, Dan coached them on how to operate each finger when grasping the rods.
		Prior to that he offered some advice on basic manipulation and was always kind and encouraging despite the students　sometimes awkward movements, allowing them to relax and enjoy the event.
		On the second day, 108 people attended a more wide-ranging workshop, which started with a lesson by me on lip-control technique for the 46 sounds in the Japanese syllabary. This was followed by short performances by me　and other eight　Japanese ventriloquists. Finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived as Dan took the stage with a round of thunderous applause. He began by introducing his buddy, Orson.The audience was immediately hooked as the sleepy old man　emerged from Dan's bag. Dan gave tips on various points such as animated figure manipulations using the mouth, head, and arms along with microphone and distant voice techniques.
		Under his guidance, everyone practiced raising their hands from the wrist, which made the figures' movements much more natural and smooth,and really brought them to life. He also introduced his dog　Miles,　and when the dog suddenly barked, some people nearly fell out of their seats. Dan also talked about his past TV experiences and showed some old footage of himself. This made us realize how long and diverse Dan's career has been.
		The entire event was a great success, inspiring the Japaneseventriloquists to improve themselves with new ideas and skills. Having the chance to meet such a prestigious ventriloquist , Dan Horn is sure to be as a strong incentive and help them become better performers.
		The idea of creating an illusion through animated figure movements is practically unknown in Japan, as the traditional art of puppet theatre, bunraku, still continues to hold sway over modern ventriloquism. This means that puppets are expected to look like puppets and follow a certain set of formal movements
		Since my first visit to the Vent Haven Convention in 1996, I have been trying to attain a new style of ventriloquism which was I had never before seen in Japan
		What I saw at the convention was the funniest entertainment I had ever seen in my life and I became determined to share my joy with Japanese people in my future work. Dan Horn was　my original inspiration and his definition of ventriloquism as "the art of 3D animation" has charmed not only me but many other ventriloquists in Japan
		I feel that a new trend is spreading through the Japanese ventriloquism world thanks to Dan Horn's dedication in presenting such great workshops and generously imparting everything he knows. What was originally a low art featuring a talking doll saying something funny has become a respected medium of expression using a lifelike figure with a developed character. This change is making Japanese people laugh more and bringing greater respect to ventriloquism.
		We are deeply grateful to Dan Horn for making such a great effort on our behalf and for literally traveling half way around the worldto share his knowledge with us.