Hello, I am Yoshi from NILS Japanese language school. Today’s topic is about the Japanese traditional performing art: 文楽 bunraku.
Bunraku 文楽, also called ningyo joruri 人形浄瑠璃（にんぎょうじょうるり）, is the traditional Japanese puppet theater. Dolls act out a chanted dramatic narrative called joruri 浄瑠璃（じょうるり） to the accompaniment of a three-stringed Japnaese lute, shamisen. Since a bunraku doll’s height is about 150 centimeters tall, it has to be manipulated by three puppeteers. The chief handler, who wears a crested kimono and Japanese male skirt, operates the head and right hand and moves the eyes, eyebrows, lips and fingers. Two helpers, dressed and hooded in black to make themselves invisible, handle the left had, the legs and feet. Bunraku was developed in the 18th century like kabuki. During this period, many great plays were written by a famous joruri writer named Chikamatsu Monzaemon 近松門左衛門(1653-1724).
In Kyushu area, there is only one theater exclusively used for bunraku in Yamato town in Kumamoto prefecture where our group school, Hitotsuba High School is located. Let’s watch traditional bunraku plays if you have a chance to visit Kumamoto!



July 3rd News, from NILS Japanese language school.