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SANGYO, THE THREE PROFESSIONS IN BUNRAKU PUPPET THEATER OF OSAKA
3/17/2010


Kippo News from Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Bunraku puppet plays consist of Tayu, shamisen players, and puppeteers. The fine balance among these three roles adds considerable depth of expression to this unique puppet theatre.

Tayu, the narrator in bunraku, vocalizes all lines of different puppets in a story. In addition, he goes so far as to sing and describe all scenes (background script).

The shamisen player expresses the emotions of the characters in a rhythmical, melancholy manner accompanying the Tayu’s narration. This sole sound of shamisen depicts the emotions, age, and mind of individual puppets, as well as the visual scenes of the stage. His production brings humanity to the puppets and draws the sympathy of the audience through realistic sensations produced by rhythmic breathing in unison with the Tayu. The unique way in which shamisen artists tap their instruments to emphasize a point is particularly impressive.

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