Puppets are frequently seen in Japanese anime and have been the source for the cyborg-craze that is part of the Japanese pop-culture. Puppets though, have been a part in Japanese art and culture since the 17th century, so let’s take a look at the legacy of Bunraku (文楽).

Bunraku, also known as Ningyō jōruri, is a form of traditional Japanese puppet theatre, founded in Osaka in the beginning of 17th century. Three kinds of performers take part in a bunraku performance: the puppeteers, the chanters and shamisen musicians. Occasionally other instruments such as taiko drums will be used. Bunraku puppetry has been a documented traditional activity for Japanese people for hundreds of years.

The heads and hands of traditional puppets are carved by specialists, while the bodies and costumes are often constructed by puppeteers. The heads can be quite sophisticated mechanically. In plays with supernatural themes, a puppet may be constructed so that its face can quickly transform into that of a demon. Less complex heads may have eyes that move up and down, side to side or close, and noses, mouths, and eyebrows that move.

Controls for all movements of parts of the head are located on a handle that extends down from the neck of the puppet and are reached by the main puppeteer inserting his or her left hand into the chest of the puppet through a hole in the back of the torso.

The main puppeteer uses his or her right hand to control the right hand of the puppet. The left puppeteer manipulates the left hand of the puppet with his or her own right hand by means of a control rod that extends back from the elbow of the puppet. A third puppeteer, operates the feet and legs. Puppeteers begin their training by operating the feet, then move on to the left hand, before being able to train as the main puppeteer. Many practitioners in the traditional puppetry world, particularly those in the National Theater, describe the long training period, which often requires ten years on the feet, ten years on the left hand, and ten years on the head of secondary characters before finally developing the requisite skills to move to the manipulation of the head of a main character, as an artistic necessity. 

All but the most minor characters require three puppeteers, who perform in full view of the audience, generally wearing black robes. In most traditions, all puppeteers also wear black hoods over their heads, but a few others, including the National Bunraku Theater, leave the main puppeteer unhooded, a style of performance known as dezukai. The shape of the puppeteers’ hoods also varies, depending on the school to which the puppeteer belongs.

Bunraku is most popular in Osaka and the Kansai area so if you’re around, you should visit Osakas puppet theatre, which is dedicated only to puppet plays.