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Bunraku or Japanese Puppet Theatre has become an indispensable aspect of Japanese culture. It is not only a major form of entertainment in Japan but also in the rest of the world. The tradition of Bunraku originated before 1600, when the indigenous traditions of puppet manipulation, music of the samisen and oral narrative, were blended to create what is known as the Japanese Puppet Theatre. The tradition of puppets in Japan goes way back to the past when puppets were used in rituals at shrines and temples to narrate the tales of heroism and tragedy. Bunraku saw rapid development during the seventeenth century. The 17th century saw the rise of the Japanese merchants and they were looking for novel forms of entertainment. In order to satiate their thirst of entertainment, several puppet troupes were formed in the cities of Kyoto, Osaka, and Edo or Tokyo and thus began the phenomenon of commercial puppet theater. Towards the end of the 16th century the first theater dedicated to Puppet Theater was built by a narrative chanter Takemoto Gidayu, in the city of Osaka. Takemoto Gidayu collaborated with the playwright Chikamatsu Monzaemon, who wrote plays that were derived from the daily life of townspeople. Soon many theater companies were formed and the Japanese Puppet Theater became a battlefield for rival theater companies. A major revolution took place in the year 1703, when the audience for the first time saw the puppeteers appear in full view. Gradually the chanter and samisen player also became visible to the audience. This was followed by sophistication in the puppet designs that included movable eyes and hands. From 1734 onwards the puppet theater became a three-man affair including the head and right-hand operator, left hand operator, and the feet operator. But then despite the popularity of the form, the puppet theater in Japan went through a period of decline. Bunraku was again revived in the nineteenth century by the puppeteer Uemura Bunrakuken. Since then the Japanese Puppet Theater has undergone many changes and now many modern props are used in Puppet Theater. However despite the sophistication and the modernization, the true essence of the traditional Japanese Theater has not been lost. Bunraku is extremely popular in Japan and it is one of the hallmarks of the culture of Japan.
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