Bunraku

This is a 1984 book printed in Japan.

The book defines Bunraku as a traditional performing art that has a narrator reading a Gidayu Joruri libretto to music from a shamisen while puppets handled by three puppeteers act out the story on the stage.

The narrator does have a text in front of him, but he has to verbally perform all the characters, whether male or female. He has to be able to speak dialogue, narration in rhythm with the shamisen, and melodic chanting, also. He has to be able to perform the various styles of bunraku, and his training takes a lot of work and a long time.

The three puppet workers are called the Chief Handler, the Left Handler, and the Leg Handler. The Chief Handler handles the head and all movements involved in that, and the right arm of the puppet. The Left Handler handles the left arm. The Leg Handler handles the leg and feet, and has to stomp when necessary in time to the music. Generally all three wear black, even over their heads, but sometimes the Chief Handler's face is revealed.

The stage.

The book says that bunraku 'developed as an entertainment medium of the common people.' Bunraku itself goes back to around the middle of the 16th century, but what led to Bunraku goes back at least a hundred years more.

The book goes into various personages involved in the history of Bunraku, and how various factions among its performers almost caused it to die out entirely.



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