Bunraku: Exciting Puppet Theatre with Ballad Narration and Shamisen Music, Oct. 18-20, 2007

The National Bunraku Theatre of Japan returns to the United States for the first time in nearly two decades from October 18-20. Bunraku is a form of theatre that began in the 17th century in Japan. It brings together three very distinct forms of storytelling; joruri, which is ballad narration, shamisen, a type of instrumental music, and ningyo tsukai, or the art of puppet manipulation.

The puppets used in Bunraku are about half the size of a normal human and weigh anywhere from ten to fifty pounds. The puppet operators are not hidden from the audience; they are part of the art. The master puppeteer controls the body and right arm of the puppet. The second puppeteer is in charge of the left arm while the third moves the legs.

The joruri narrator sits on a secondary stage with the musician. He is in charge of describing the story. He speaks all of the dialogue, sets the scene, and even tells the audience what the characters are feeling. The musician sits next to the narrator playing a shamisen, which is a three stringed instrument.

Most of the time, the musician plays single notes or chords but will occasionally play longer pieces to set the mood. When there is a pause in the storytelling, the music continues, acting as a bridge.

Bunraku began in 1684 when Takemoto Gidayu (1651-1714), a famous master of joruri narration, built the Takemoto-za theatre in Osaka, Japan. It was made famous, however, by a man named Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653-1724), who worked with Takemoto Gidayu to write many famous plays.

The 2007 U.S. Tour of the National Bunraku Theatre of Japan has 32 members including master puppeteers, musicians, and narrators. They will be showing two dramatic tales of love, passion, and devotion with visually spectacular sets, lavish costumes and breathtaking movements.

The first play entitled, Oshichi's Burning Love, was first performed in Osaka in 1773 and tells the true story of sixteen-year-old Oshichi whose love for a young priest leads her to arson.

The second play, Miracle at the Tsubosaka Kannon Temple, is about a devoted Wife, Osato, who prays daily for her husband’s eyesight to return. The husband, concerned that he is becoming a burden, ends his life so that his wife may move on.

The tour is being organized by the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles. Each performance will be accompanied by An Introduction to Bunraku, with the leading Japanese film and theater scholar, Mr. Peter Grilli.

To purchase tickets, or for more information call the Aratani / Japan America Theatre box office at (213) 680-3700 from noon to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and Sundays only on performance days.  Fax orders to (213) 680-1872 or send email inquiries to boxoffice@jaccc.org.  For more information visit the website at: www.jaccc.org.