Polite to Stranger
Cultural · Traditional · Arts
文楽は三人で一体の人形を動かすと聞きました。本当に驚きました。 — I heard that in bunraku, three people operate one puppet together. I was truly amazed. (Cultural · Traditional · Arts, Polite to Stranger, JLPT N3)
You
文楽は三人で一体の人形を動かすと聞きました。本当に驚きました。
ぶんらくはさんにんでいったいのにんぎょうをうごかすとききました。ほんとうにおどろきました。
I heard that in bunraku, three people operate one puppet together. I was truly amazed.
Romaji: Bunraku wa sannin de ittai no ningyou o ugokasu to kikimashita. Hontou ni odorokimashita. / Reply Romaji: Hai, sou desu. Omozukai, hidari-zukai, ashizukai no sannin desu.
Reply
はい、そうです。主遣い、左遣い、足遣いの三人です。
はい、そうです。おもづかい、ひだりづかい、あしづかいのさんにんです。
Yes, that's right. There's the lead, the left-hand puppeteer, and the leg puppeteer.
Gesture & etiquette
Calm respectful tone, knowledgeable curiosity. If at a performance, sit absolutely still — bunraku requires deep concentration. Applaud restrained, traditional. After the show, a small bow (15 degrees) to anyone who explained details to you.
Bunraku (puppet theater, originating in Osaka in the 17th century) features three puppeteers per puppet: omozukai (main, head + right arm), hidari-zukai (left arm), ashizukai (legs). Their coordination is invisible to first-time viewers — the puppets appear to move as living beings. A tayuu (chanter) narrates and voices all characters, accompanied by shamisen. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The National Bunraku Theatre in Osaka and the National Theatre in Tokyo are main venues.