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Bunraku, traditional Japanese puppet theater
A form of traditional Japanese puppet theater in which large, elaborately crafted puppets are manipulated by visible puppeteers, accompanied by a narrator (tayu) and shamisen music. Designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Cultural note
Bunraku originated in Osaka and is one of Japan's three major classical theater forms, along with 能 (Noh) and 歌舞伎 (Kabuki). It features large puppets (about 1.2-1.5 meters tall) operated by three puppeteers: the main puppeteer (主遣い) handles the head and right hand, while two assistants control the left hand and feet. The 太夫 (narrator) provides all dialogue and narration, accompanied by 三味線.
The name comes from 植村文楽軒, who established a puppet theater in Osaka in the early 19th century. The 国立文楽劇場 (National Bunraku Theatre) in Osaka is the art form's main venue.