bunraku

[ boon-rah-koo ]

noun

, (sometimes initial capital letter)

1. a form of Japanese puppet theater in which puppeteers, dressed in black and visible to the audience, manipulate large puppets to the accompaniment of a chanted narration and musical instruments.

bunraku

/ bʊnˈrɑːkuː /

noun

1. a Japanese form of puppet theatre in which the puppets are usually about four feet high, with moving features as well as limbs and each puppet is manipulated by up to three puppeteers who remain onstage

Word History and Origins

Origin of bunraku¹

1915–30; < Japanese, from the Bunraku ( -za ), an Osaka theater of 1789–1801, literally, literature enjoyment (theater) < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese wén + lè

Word History and Origins

Origin of bunraku¹

C20: Japanese