'Bunraku is the traditional puppet theatre of Japan, a high-level stage art...'
'...in Bunraku, the manipulators appear openly, in full view of the audience...'
'The puppets of Bunraku are different from all other puppets around the world in that it requires 3 puppeteers to manipulate each doll. The three puppeteers are: the omo-zukai, or head puppeteer, who operates the doll's head and face by holding a stick with levers in his left hand, and with his own right hand also operates the doll's right hand; the hidari-zukai, or left-hand puppeteer, who uses his right hand to operate the doll's left hand; and the ashi-zukai, or foot puppeteer, who uses both hands to suggest the movements of the doll's legs and feet. Thus, if these three puppeteers do not all work together in perfect harmony, the puppet's motions will seem unnatural and fall apart, and thus the doll will never seem to come to life. The left hand of the head puppeteer, which supports the weight of the heavy doll, is like the puppet's spine, and it is through his left hand that the breath of life is first breathed into the puppet.'
Looking at modern Bunraku today...
BLIND SUMMIT
Other companies and examples...
Bunraku influenced puppetry...
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