The Art of Bunraku and the Changes of Puppetry

Major Players in Bunraku Ningyōtsukai or Ningyōzukai (Puppeteers) Major Characters were operated by 3 puppeteers while the smaller ones where only operated by one. Puppeteers must train 30 years before being allowed to perform leading roles - 10 years for legs, 10 years for left arm, 10 years for heard and right arm.

Major Players in Bunraku Tayū (Chanters) recites the dialogue for characters, relates the spectacle of the scene and explains the background of the events. Long pieces take about 90 minutes, and characters can vary from only a few to around fifteen. Performs all young and old, male and female, warriors and townspeople―in different ways appropriate to each character, all by himself.

Major Players in Bunraku Shamisen Players Played most of the background music to set mood. They tended to sit next to the Tayū At times but not very often were other instruments used

The Puppets There are 30 basic types of puppet heads. Female puppets were made with no legs. They ranged in size and could be as big as about 6 feet tall, but not so small to where they couldn’t be seen by the audience.

Bunraku Puppets The Society for International Cultural Relations, Tokyo, 1935. A serious form of puppet theater in Japan performed in 1993.

Bunraku Plays Chikamatsu Monzaemon - most famous Japanese playwright "the Shakespeare of Japan" - wrote "Love Suicides at the Women's Temple" (1708) and "Love Suicides at Amijima" (1721)

Puppets throughout the Ages Julie Taymor The Muppets

Puppets throughout the Ages Marionettes Ventriloquism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4G68civvo8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UoG6Y8N-k4