Check out these articles
- 
    
         Video article 4:35 Video article 4:35Discover the Charm of the Elaborate and Realistic Hakata Dolls of Fukuoka Prefecture That Have Been Passed Down Through the Ages in Japan! The Beautiful Traditional Crafts Made by These Artisans Make Great Souvenirs!Traditional Crafts- 180 plays
- YouTube
 
- 
    
         Video article 4:25 Video article 4:25This Is the Epitome of Craftsmanship! Enjoy the Charm of Tokyo's Quintessential Traditional Japanese Craft, "Edo Kimekomi Dolls"!Traditional Crafts- 101 plays
- YouTube
 
- 
    
         Video article 5:36 Video article 5:36Awaji Ningyo Joruri - A Traditional Japanese Performing Art of Hyogo Prefecture Loved Both in Japan and Abroad! Introducing the History and Highlights of Awaji Ningyo Joruri!Traditional Culture- 176 plays
- YouTube
 
- 
    
         Video article 1:47 Video article 1:47Meet the Craftsman That Has Been Crafting Intricate Bunraku Puppet Heads for 40 Years! This Interview With an Awa Deko Ningyo Puppet Maker Will Make You Fall in Love With Ningyo Joruri!Traditional Crafts- 429 plays
- YouTube
 
- 
    
         Video article 3:30 Video article 3:30Kyoto Is Home to Many Traditional Crafts. The Culture of Masonry Techniques, Handicrafts, and Artisanal Skills of the Kyoto Stone Masons Is a Feast for the Eyes!Traditional Crafts- 102 plays
- YouTube
 
- 
    
         Video article 3:51 Video article 3:51Brighten up Your Room With Beautiful Sendai Tansu from Sendai, Miyagi! You'll Be Impressed by the History of This Japanese Craft!Traditional Crafts- 55 plays
- YouTube
 
- 
    
         Video article 4:16 Video article 4:16Ise Katagami, a Traditional Craft of Suzuka, Mie Prefecture With a History of More Than 1,000 Years, Is Highly Regarded Around the World for Its Use in Yukata and KimonoTraditional Crafts- 66 plays
- YouTube
 
- 
    
         Video article 9:59 Video article 9:59Enshu Onigawara: Traditional Crafts Said to House the Souls of the Demons Themselves! Only the Most Skilled Craftsmen Can Produce Their Soul Piercing Glares. These Master Artisans in Fukuroi, Shizuoka Share Their Thoughts on Enshu OnigawaraTraditional Crafts- 670 plays
- YouTube
 
- 
    
         Video article 3:15 Video article 3:15Edo Woodblock Printing Was Created by Katsushika Hokusai and Others Who Had a Great Influence on the Art of the World. The Works Created With This Tradition Have Attracted People From All Over the World!Traditional Crafts- 83 plays
- YouTube
 
Exploring the World of Ningyo Joruri - Traditional Japanese Puppet Theater. Discover the Amazing Process of Creating These Priceless Works of Art Made by Skilled Puppeteers!
Traditional Japanese Performing Arts - Ningyo Joruri
This video, titled "Tokushima's Wooden Ningyo Joruri Puppets|Footprints of the Puppets "AWA DEKO" (人形浄瑠璃を支える徳島の木偶 Footprints of the Puppets “AWA DEKO”), was uploaded by Joruri Kaido (浄瑠璃街道).
It introduces Ningyo Joruri, a traditional Japanese culture.
Ningyo Joruri is a type of puppet theater in which a story is performed by three puppeteers, a tayu (joruri narrator), and a shamisen player.
In this article, we'll introduce the puppets behind Ningyo Joruri, a traditional Japanese performing art.
The History of Ningyo Joruri, a Traditional Japanese Performing Art
Awa Ningyo Joruri is a traditional Japanese art form that has been handed down in Tokushima Prefecture for centuries.
Ningyo Joruri, which originated in Osaka in the Edo Period (1603-1868) as a form of mass entertainment, is a composite art form in which the tayu, shamisen, and the puppets work together to create a wonderful story.
In addition to being enjoyed as a form of mass entertainment, Ningyo Joruri is often performed with the same high artistic quality as bunraku, and performed as a Shinto ritual.
The Artisans Behind Ningyo Joruri Puppets
The puppets used in Ningyo Joruri are called "deko," and most of the heads of deko are hand made by puppeteers in Awa.
The construction of the wooden figurines is so elaborate that referring to them any differently would be to disrespect the craftsmanship of the artisans.
Awa Deko are a larger variety of puppets used in Ningyo Joruri, so paulownia wood is used as a material to make them lighter.
The puppets are designed to manipulate facial expressions and gestures through mechanisms inside their heads, and the craftsman's elaborate techniques are indispensable in creating each masterpiece.
You can see how Yoichiro Amari, an Awa Ningyo Joruri Craftsman, creates the puppets at 1:04 in the video.
The face is carefully carved out of paulownia wood with a carving knife, cut in two in front of the ears as seen at 2:02, and then mechanisms to control the eyes, mouth, and eyebrows are placed inside the hollowed-out head.
Learn More About Ningyo Joruri, a Traditional Japanese Performing Art
In Tokushima Prefecture, there's "Matsushige-cho Rekishi Minzoku Shiryokan, Ningyo Joruri Shibai Shiryokan," a museum where visitors can learn about the history and culture of Japan’s Ningyo Joruri.
At the museum, visitors can learn about the types of puppets, the materials used to make them, how they're made, the techniques used by the artisans, and the steps to completing one.
The Tokushima Prefectural Awa Jurobe Yashiki Puppet Theater and Museum (徳島県立阿波十郎兵衛屋敷), where you can see Ningyo Joruri performances up close, is also a great place to visit.
If you're looking to experience traditional Japanese culture, we highly recommend stopping by and checking out a performance.
Summary of Ningyo Joruri, a Traditional Japanese Performing Art
The artisans who make the elaborate wooden puppets are essential to Ningyo Joruri, a traditional art form loved by many.
We hope you enjoyed learning about the amazing culture of Ningyo Joruri, a traditional Japanese performing art that has been loved through the ages.
- 
    
         Video article 7:58 Video article 7:58Edo-Kiriko – Works of Art That Shine Like Jewels. A Closer Look at the Charm of This Traditional Craft of Tokyo, Which Can Cost Millions of Yen or More, and How It's Made!Traditional Crafts Things to Do- 605 plays
- YouTube
 
- 
    
         Video article 2:45 Video article 2:45The Gorgeous Carp Streamers of Kazo Saitama; One of the Few Carp Streamer Towns in Japan. The History of These Handmade Crafts and How They're Made!Traditional Crafts Traditional Culture Celebrities- 650 plays
- YouTube
 
- 
    
         Video article 3:09 Video article 3:09Rare video showing the working process of Takaoka Bronzes, a traditional craft of Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture. 400 year old crafts are popular as works of art and fine arts in the world.Traditional Crafts Art & Architecture History- 717 plays
- YouTube
 
- 
    
         Video article 4:06 Video article 4:06Kurume Gasuri is a Traditional Craft of Fukuoka Prefecture That Has Been Loved Since Ancient Times For Its Simple Yet Sophisticated Beauty! A Look at the Fascinating Handiwork of One Traditional Japanese Artisan!Traditional Crafts- 125 plays
- YouTube
 
- 
    
         Video article 4:55 Video article 4:55The Beautiful Sound of the Koto: Hear the Entrancing Tones, Born of the Craftsmanship of Master ArtisansTraditional Crafts History- 978 plays
- YouTube
 
- 
    
         Video article 3:42 Video article 3:42Discover the Secrets Behind the Beauty of Bizen Ware, a Ceramic Craft From Okayama Prefecture Handed Down Since the Heian Period! A Craft That Captures the Hearts of Tourists!Traditional Crafts- 224 plays
- YouTube
 
- 
    
         Video article 13:11 Video article 13:11Sword Polishing Is a Highly Difficult Type of Craftsmanship for Maintaining Japanese Swords. A Look at the Uncompromising Techniques That Go Into Restoring Japan's Historical SwordsTraditional Crafts- 658 plays
- YouTube
 
- 
    
         Video article 16:32 Video article 16:32Kutani Ware: A Style of Traditional Japanese Porcelain in Ishikawa Prefecture, Characterized by Its Elaborate Use of Brilliant Colors. Find Out Where to Get Your Hands on These Works of Art!Traditional Crafts History- 239 plays
- YouTube
 
- 
    
         Video article 4:19 Video article 4:19Tsubame-Tsuiki Copperware - A Traditional Craft From Niigata Prefecture That's Been Passed Down for More Than 200 Years! Watch as a Plain Iron Plate Becomes a Beautiful Teapot Through Masterful Craftsmanship!Traditional Crafts- 146 plays
- YouTube
 
- 
    
         Video article 9:59 Video article 9:59Enshu Onigawara: Traditional Crafts Said to House the Souls of the Demons Themselves! Only the Most Skilled Craftsmen Can Produce Their Soul Piercing Glares. These Master Artisans in Fukuroi, Shizuoka Share Their Thoughts on Enshu OnigawaraTraditional Crafts- 670 plays
- YouTube
 
- 
    
         Video article 2:35 Video article 2:35Aizu Paper Mache Akabeko - With Its Impressive Bright Red Coloring, This 400-Year-Old Folk Art of Aizu, Fukushima Is a Craft That Clearly Shows the Craftsman's Attention To DetailTraditional Crafts Celebrities- 579 plays
- Vimeo
 
- 
    
         Video article 6:09 Video article 6:09The Japanese Fishing Rod Is a Delicate and Supple, Yet Strong Work of Art. A Look at "Sao Shosaku," a Company in Kawaguchi, Saitama That Continues to Make High-Quality, Traditional Japanese Fishing RodsTraditional Crafts- 409 plays
- YouTube
 
 
                             
             
                            
Comment