Joruri Puppet Theater:Minamiawaji City, Hyogo Prefecture

　A traditional performing art of Awaji Island that has been around for 500 years.

　It was first performed by Takemoto Gidayu and others in the early 16th century, and became a popular form of theater for the common people, rivalling Kabuki.

Joruri Puppet Theater's doll

　Accompanied by joruri music and shamisen, the puppets are operated by "three puppeteers": the Omozukai who controls the head and right hand, the Hidarizukai who controls the left hand, and the Ashizukai who controls both feet. The Omozukai is the most experienced, followed by the Hidarizukai, and then the Ashizukai, a younger player.

　The stage is characterized by its "Hayagawari" technique, in which the puppets' appearances are quickly changed, and "Odogugaeshi" technique, which makes the flat stage appear three-dimensional.

　Awaji lsland is a thriving place for puppet theater, and at its peak in the 18th century, there were over 40 puppet theater troupes, but today there is only one, the "Awaji Ninguoza" in Minamiawaji city.

Odogugaeshi

　Now, when it comes to Joruri puppet theater, the first thing that comes to mind is "Bunraku."

　Bunraku began when Uemura Bunrakuken, a native of Awaji lsland, built a puppet theater in Osaka in the early 19th century.

　Bunraku and Joruri puppet theater are basically the same, but there are some subtle differences.

　The puppets used in Joruri puppet theater are slightly larger than those used in Bunraku. This is because Bunraku was performed in a theater built by the performers themselves, while Joruri puppet theater was performed in theaters built during travels, allowing for dynamic performances.

　It is said that larger theaters can accommodate up to 3000 people, so the puppets were made large so that the audience could easily understand them.

　There are also differences in the types of performances, such as Bunraku being a so-called Sewamono that depicts the loyalty and human feelings of the common people, while Joruri puppet theater is often about battles such as the Genpei War.