Bunraku puppets from Japan

MIT International Puppet Museum of Catalonia

3 years ago

The Bunraku Puppets Of Japan

The bunraku technique comes from Japan and is considered, along with Nô and Kabuki, as one of the main traditional drama genres, Ningyo Johruri Bunraku marionette theater combines sung narration, instrumental accompaniment and marionette theater.

It emerged at the beginning of the Edo period (around 1600) as an association of marionettes with Johruri, a narrative genre very popular in the 15th century.

The intrigues told in the Ningyo Johruri, as this new form of puppet theater was then called, derive from two main sources: the historical accounts of the feudal era (Jidaimono) and contemporary dramas about the conflicts between love feelings and obligations social (Sewamono).

Japanese Bunraku is Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. UNESCO

Here you can see how Bunraku heads are built, shown by the great Japanese builder: Amari Yōichirō

They can be classified into different categories:

1. Bunraku Ningyo: These Bunraku puppets are the most popular and are characterized by their detailed craftsmanship and realistic movement. They are handmade, with a complex internal structure that allows them to move freely.

2. Kugutsu Puppets: These are traditional puppets that represent human or animal figures. Some models can be controlled by operators manually or using wireless marionettes to manipulate them like a traditional marionette.

3. Gashira puppets: These puppets are especially large and used in Japanese plays to represent important characters, such as warriors, nobles and religious figures. Some can even measure up to two meters high!

4. Chindon-ja puppets: These puppets are mainly used in street processions to promote events related to entertainment, such as music festivals or other noteworthy cultural events.

One of the most famous builders of Bunraku puppets is Takemoto Gidayu.

Gidayu was a 17th century Japanese artist who specialized in creating puppets for the bunraku theater.

Together with Uemura Bunrakuken, developed a new style of representation and created some masterpieces that are still performed today.

If you want to see puppets from all over the world, you cannot fail to come to the MYTH