Japanese Bunraku puppets. A Brief Introduction to the History of Bunraku. By Matthew Johnson Bunraku is the name commonly used for ningyo-joruri, literally puppets and storytelling. This simple name not only describes a puppet performance, but also alludes to its predecessors. There was a long tradition of travelling storytellers who used biwa as their accompaniment. There were also travelling puppeteers. When these two art forms were joined is not exactly clear, but the beginning of what is now called Bunraku was 1684, when Takemoto Gidayu set up his own theater in Osaka. Takemoto Gidayu began his career as a narrator under some of the most acclaimed masters of the period in Kyoto. He soon became famous in his own right, and was known for intimite story telling that spoke the hearts of the characters. Until this time, Chikamatu Monzaemon's work had mostly been in the Kabuki theater, working with Sakata Tojuro, the actor who created the wagoto, or soft style for which Kansai Kabuki became known.
This golden period reached its height in the 1740's. An Introduction to the World of Bunraku. Japanese Culture - Entertainment - Bunraku. Japanese Culture - Entertainment - Noh Theater. Japanese Culture - Entertainment - Kabuki Theater.