You’ll hear a lot of American puppeteers referring to Bunraku or Bunraku styled puppets. Bunraku was originally the name of the theater company, while the puppetry style was called ningyo joruri. Which is part of why I, personally, have a pet peeve when people say that they do bunraku puppets, because it seems like saying “I do Hitchcock movies.” Be that as it may, the Bunraku masters work for years at their art. They say that it takes 35 years to become a master. You spend five years sweeping the stage; ten years doing the feet; ten years doing the left arm; ten years doing the head and right arm and then, finally, people think that you know what you are doing.
Here’s a clip of a demonstration with Kiritake Kanjiro, a Bunraku master. Normally you only see the master’s face, but in this clip everyone is unhooded. Note how the other two puppeteers are never referred to and that all of them remain expressionless while working. Actually, there is one point where the left arm man is asked a direct question and he looks distinctly uncomfortable. Fascinating stuff.
Spotted on PuppetBuilding
Beautiful! Elegant!