Bunraku Puppet Play
Bunraku, puppet play, developed over a period of more than twelve centuries as the popular entertainment of the people. In Kamigata (the Japanese used this term in speaking of Kyoto and its vicinity- meaning the place of the capital and its neighboring is), this Bunraku art was established in the Eiroku Period (16th century), by Takemoto Gidayu, who is known as the founder and greatest contributor to the Gidayubushi, which is the music and dialogue of the puppet plays.
Gidayubushi
is based on the daily life of merchants in Osaka, the biggest commercial city
in Japan at that time, and Gidayubushi had the greatest success there.
The reason why Bunraku was so popular in Osaka is its vivid and dynamic life of the merchants required interesting and melodramatic entertainment rather than a more sophisticated type. In Gidayubushi, the common feelings of human nature, such as joy and sorrow were realistically portrayed. The great skill of the manipulators of the puppets has enabled Bunraku to flourish even until today.
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