A Tribute to Professor James R. Brandon It was through Professor Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczak that I was first introduced to Jim Brandon. That was almost fifty years ago. I was immediately impressed and inspired by his enormous love of learning and tremendously generous and humane personality. He was a great man who contributed enormously to our field, a real pioneer, who set a wonderful path for the rest of us to follow. His scholarly output was prodigious and path-breaking, a truly great scholar. His understanding of theatre was brilliant, somebody who combined insight into theatre with contribution to scholarship and cultural awareness in a way that is very rare indeed, almost unprecedented. Although I did not see him very often, I treasure all my memories of time spent with him. One I recall in particular was a wonderful day I had when he took me for a drive around Oahu in Hawai’i. We discussed his life and extraordinary career and I recall his telling me of a production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado in which he had been involved. He took the view, which I thoroughly endorse, that one should adapt good material to become more relevant to present needs and more culturally sensitive than the original, provided one doesn’t distort the original creators’ basic intentions. I would like to send my condolences to his colleagues and family, especially Reiko. Jim’s love for scholarship and theatre, especially Japanese theatre, was so contagious and driven by a powerful and kind personality. He was a truly wonderful person, as well as a great scholar. Colin Mackerras

Aloha Oe, Dr. Brandon. What a generous teacher, mentor, director & friend! To a young grad student like myself in 1972, he was patient, encouraging, and energizing, and opened up a whole new world of the performing arts of Southeast Asia & Japan. Due to his contributions to the UH theater dept. & to me personally, I was motivated to further my studies in Southeast Asia in anthropology. Many like myself are grateful for Jim Brandon & to him for influencing our lives in a positive, meaningful way. Mahano nui loa, Dr. Brandon!

One of a kind. You would think being so famous and powerful would have made Jim more aloof or impatient with beginners. Yet each time I got to see him at work--teaching a graduate seminar at NYU, an intensive workshop at PSU, an early-morning lecture at Pomona College, or organising a noh-kyogen seminar in Hawaii--he was ALWAYS friendly, patient, kind to young scholars like myself and thoroughly professional. And great fun to share wine with; I lift my glass to you now in Kyoto, JRB. Jonah Salz

It was a privilege to have worked with Dr. B. in his various capacities as chair, director, and professor. He was always calm even in the stress of a major production and also knew that he could deal with whatever came his way. He just didn't let the little things bother him as he was a realist who always strove to reach the highest rung of the ladder. He had a lovely wry sense of humor. I loved talking opera and football with him. I was lucky to see him just a few weeks before he passed. He looked frail in body but not in mind. And his lively spirit and the sparkle in his eyes were still there. Aloha Jim. Marty Myers

Dear Dear Mentor, You were one of the most inspiring, talented and supportive teachers and human beings I've known. This is the first Im getting the news. Aloha Dr. Brandon. I wish I could be there for your celebration next Sunday...will be there in spirit! You live on through my life dedicated to the Asian -- and particularly Japanese - Performing Arts. I am sure if it were not for your support and recommendation, I would not have remained confident to stay in this specialization, to receive the opportunity of a lifetime to study with a Mombusho Scholarship in Japan... Not to mention the way that Asian Performance class I was so lucky to attend with you and Julie in the early 2000s, still informs my teaching and performances to this day. Just feeling the relaxation of your kind demeanor -- knowing all the while how incredibly brilliant, hard-working and endlessly dedicated you were to honor, achievement and advancement of the field -- was a major education in balance itself! Thank you so much for your gifts, presence and lessons - you are indeed much loved...and missed! <3

I just found this page because I was asked to write up something on Jim and his work for a new journal at University of Malaya where Ghulam Sawar (one of Jim's PhD students) is the editor. I will send Reiko a copy when it comes out and want to remind people that there is a write up that was done on his work in Asian Theatre Journal in 2011 (by David Jortner and myself). It tried to chronicle the breadth of his work and note the kinds of impact that all these tributes present. He was our sensei. There is a legacy in the traditional performing arts of much of Asia that a teacher is much more than the self-made person. The teacher is a link in a project of art and meaning making which is coming from somewhere (previous teachers) and going somewhere as it carries the work and ideas of prior teaching and past teachers into the future. The honour to the teacher is also an honouring of an art, a lineage, a way of being that is beyond just our ego or our time. Jim was dedicated to the work which was bigger than him or any of us. He made us each a link in that larger idea that extended beyond our particular dissertation topic or the production we experienced. There was discipline, vision, and the sense of being part of something big. He took emoting Stanislavski actors and turned them into ethereal lovers on a michiyuki or samurai who could wait years to restore a fallen clan. I remember watching as an assistant director the scene in Chushingura where Enya Hangen whispers "remember me" when Yuranosuke arrives a minute before the master will die. Jim through his writing and teaching has created a band of more than 47 that will work through the future to carry out his vision. Some of us are in academic positions, others are stage managers, directors, actors, other translate or make films or do a hundred other things. But the work he established—of making the west aware that theatrical genius and complexity goes beyond Europe and often reaches heights that those Elizabethans didn't even dream of—will continue. Though we feel like ronin for now and all wish we had been there to say goodbye, in our many different places we continue to carry out the mission. He made us to be what now are 'a treasury of loyal retainers.'

Apart from his towering scholarship, Jim was also so kind to younger scholars. So many us have benefited so much personally and professionally from him. His history of AAP for ATJ's "founding fathers" special issue is a meticulous and invaluable record of the history of Asian theatre studies in the U.S. and its scholarly organisation. And he was extremely helpful to me when I consulted with him about the organisation of Routledge Handbook of Asian Theatre. Rest in peace, sensei. --Siyuan (Steven) Liu

It's terribly sad news to hear that Jim Brandon has passed away. I remember serving as Jim's Grad. Asst. for the Kabuki, "Road to Tokyo," my first year at UH. It was such an honor! What a brilliant man with a warm, kind, and generous spirit. Rest in peace, Jim.

Dr.Brandon was an inspiration and the epitome of "a gentleman and a scholar." He will be remembered by everyone in the field and that memory will urge us to "do what we are doing."

Jim was my closest friend in the world, a relationship that began almost 60 years ago at the University of Wisconsin. We wrote together, acted together, laughed together, and never stopped writing and speaking to one another throughout the years. We talked about the future and about the end of the future, and his life has surely changed mine.

I will miss you, Dr. Brandon. You were a gentle giant in Asian theater scholarship and a patient mentor. I feel graced to have been inspired by you. I still remember vividly the Road to Tokyo Kabuki production, the trip to San Francisco, and the celebration afterward, the questions you posed in my MA oral exam, the exact words you wrote in your letter of recommendation for me, which you posted unsealed on the department announcement board (I know you meant to have me look at the message), your thoughtful smile when giving lectures. Thank you, Dr. Brandon, for taking us along with you on this wonderful magic ride.

So the time has come for us to say farewell to Jim on this physical plain of existence. But certainly he remains an important part of many, many people who had him as a teacher, friend. I know for me his life has been intertwined with mine from my senior year in high school to now. Seeing that production of SUKEROKU at UH when I was still in high school changed my life. When I entered UH being cast in NARUKAMI completed that change and I was from that point hooked on Asian theatre and in particular kabuki. All along the way Jim was there as a teacher, a director, the man who made it possible for so many of my friends and fellow kabuki enthusiasts to take part in so many productions and be introduced to so other many major teachers in our lives, including Matagoro-sensei, and Kikunobu-sensei. Jim and Reiko were famous for those fabulous cast parties at their tree house in Manoa, Must stop as the tears gather in my eyes. Jim, I owe so much to you. Your students continue your legacy, help us to live up to your achievements and passion for Asian theatre.

My greatest memory of Dr. Brandon was working with him on the Kennedy Theater production of The Imaginary Invalid. We would sit backstage in the dressing room discussing our makeup and characters. Although I was a student I appreciated getting to know him as a fellow actor.

A kind, gentle man with a wicked sense of humor and irony. We celebrated his achievements when he retired 15 years ago, but time, and his scholarly work on Occupation period Kabuki have further burnished his legacy. It was an honor to know him.

I had completed my undergrad at Northwestern with a lot of time spent studying Japanese theater. Then I'd gone to live in Kure, Japan for a while. Got to thinking that I wanted to go to grad school - but where to go? Somebody told me to check out who wrote the books I'd studied. I did: James Brandon. Looked him up in the internet, contacted him at UH and he encouraged me to apply. I did. We met, he became my adviser, teacher, mentor, director. I learned as much from his example as from his lectures. As much from his demeanor as his direction. As much from his quick smile as his kind insights. I've used and use his lessons every day. I know I'm not alone.

Dr. Brandon was one of my favorite people at UH during the years I spent there completing my MFA. He was a wonderful teacher, role model, and all-round human being. The universe is diminished by his absence.

We hope that you find this tribute to James R. Brandon a place of comfort, support and inspiration for you to visit whenever you want or need to.