2 hour private experience
Location: Chuo Ward, Osaka
Offered in Japanese, with a friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in your language
Meet the Master
Born to a father who was a ningyo joruri puppet artisan, Masayuki grew up in the world of ningyo joruri, witnessing both onstage performances and the work behind the scenes. After apprenticing under master puppet artisan Oe Minosuke the 4th, a Holder of Selected Conservation Techniques, he became the primary puppet artisan for the National Bunraku Theatre in Osaka in 1986, later establishing his own independent studio workshop in 1996.
What you’ll do
Enter the studio workshop of a ningyo joruri puppet artisan and learn about the history of both the performing art and the craft. Then, under the guidance of the master, learn how to handpaint the face of a doll.
Availability
Everyday
Session 1 (13:00 - 15:00)
Session 2 (15:00 - 17:00)
Session 3 (17:00 - 19:00)
Who can attend
Children must be 12+ years old.
What else you should know
Please refrain from applying hand cream or any kind of body oil before the experience, since this may damage the puppets.
Access
30min from Osaka Station by car.
The Motion of Stillness
To bring to life something inanimate, the balance between motion and non-motion has to be deliberately and carefully expressed; this is how the seemingly emotionless carved puppet comes alive. Developed during the late 16th to early 17th century, ningyo joruri puppetry consists of three roles that work seamlessly together to bring the puppets to life on stage: the tayu (narration), shamisen (music), and ningyo (puppets). Ningyo joruri, also known as bunraku, was first performed as both entertainment and as a means to convey messages to the masses when literacy was not commonplace. Since its development as a combination of musical narration and puppetry, ningyo joruri has evolved but continues to be an integral cultural tradition. The craft of making the hand-carved puppets for the performance of ningyo joruri is an intricate and highly detailed process, as the artisan must imbue otherwise static wooden puppets with a sense of movement, which is fully brought to life on stage through the deft handling of puppeteers. At this studio workshop in Osaka, join one of the few remaining ningyo joruri puppet artisans and learn about the history of the craft, as well as about the performing art itself. Witness the intricate craftsmanship behind ningyo joruri, a performing art recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Cancellation Policy
Please make your booking at least 7 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.
