The puppets range anywhere from half life-size, to fully life size. Every major character is manipulated by three puppeteers that the audience can see. The main puppeteer, or "omozukai" will move the right arm, eyes, eyelids, mouth, and eyebrows and is often colorfully dressed, while the first assistant will take care of the left arm, and the second assistant will move the legs, the assisants being clad in black hoods(let's just pretend they're not there, 'kay?). In order to become an omozukai, one must train as an assistant puppeteer for ten years.
To the right of the stage is a slightly raised platform where the chanter, or "tayu" sits. The tayu is also the voice for all the puppets, regardless of their age or gender. Also sitting on that platform is a shamisen player who provides some music for the play. There is also an "jouriri", who narrates the plays. The jouriri, tayu, puppeteers, and shamisen player must have perfect synchronization to make the performance work. The people sitting on th platform also provide something else for the audience to watch.
Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653-1724) was the playwright for many of the Bunraku plays during it's peak. Many of his plays had contemporary and historical interest, including "Suicides at Sonezaki", which was based on a true love-suicide story(think "Romeo and Juliet"). Many of the themes in bunraku plays dealt with the Buddist and Christian morals of the Edo-period(1600~1868), during which many of the plays were set.
Bunraku theatre has survived due to government support as well as two theatres- the National Theater located in Tokyo and the National Bunraku Theater, which is in Osaka(it's birthplace!).
And now a video for you.....
I got my info from......
"About Bunraku Puppet Theater." Web Japan : Top Page. Web. 24 Feb. 2010.
"Japanese Culture - Entertainment - Bunraku." Japan-Zone.com - Japan Travel Guide, Japanese Pop Culture, History, Japanese Girls, Japanese Guys. Web. 24 Feb. 2010.
