WORLD THEATRE TRADITIONS

Bunraku

Bunraku is Japan’s
professional puppet theatre.
Developed primarily in the
17th and 18th centuries. The
puppets are large, usually
about one-half life size and the
main characters are operated
by three puppeteers.
PERFORMANCE VIDEO
Bunraku Demonstration and
Workshop
Female puppets often have immovable
faces and since their long kimono
completely covers the lower half of their
bodies most do not need to have legs.
For female puppets the ashizukai
manipulates the lower part of the kimono WEBSITE
to simulate leg movements.
Bunraku history

The puppet head has a grip

The omozukai, or main puppeteer,
manipulates the head and features and
the right arm while the two lower
ranked puppeteers operate the left arm
(hidari-zukai) and the legs (ashi-zukai).
The assistants will typically serve a 10-
year long apprenticeship on each
before becoming an omozukai.
Bunraku performances use
with control strings to move the
chanted dramatic narrative
eyes, mouth and eyebrows.
called ‘jōruri’ to the
Arms and legs are hung from
accompaniment of a small
the shoulder board with strings
samisen (three-stringed Japanese
and the costume fits over the
DOCUMENTARY lute). The chanter (tayu) will
shoulder board and trunk, from
Bunraku: Masters of Japanese voice of all the puppets - men,
which a bamboo hoop is hung
Puppet Theater women and children.
to form the hips.

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