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'Bunraku' legend Takemoto Sumitayu ends 68-year career

TOKYO, Japan - Legendary "bunraku" puppet show narrator Takemoto Sumitayu speaks on May 26, 2014 as he greets the capacity-crowd audience at Tokyo's National Theater after winding up his 68-year career. The 89-year-old designated living national treasure suffered a stroke in July 2012, which eventually led him to call it quits.

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Master 'Joruri' chanter Takemoto ends final performance

OSAKA, Japan - Master "Joruri" narrative music chanter Takemoto Sumidayu hugs a puppet in tears after the 89-year-old performer's final stage appearance before retirement at the National Bunraku Theater in Osaka, western Japan, on April 27, 2014.

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Master 'Joruri' chanter Takemoto ends final performance

OSAKA, Japan - Master "Joruri" narrative music chanter Takemoto Sumidayu, 89, performs in his final stage appearance before retirement at the National Bunraku Theater in Osaka, western Japan, on April 27, 2014.

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National Bunraku Theatre marks 30th anniversary

OSAKA, Japan - Living national treasure Takemoto Sumitayu performs "Kotobukishiki Sanbaso" during a celebratory event marking the 30th anniversary of the National Bunraku Theatre in Osaka, western Japan, on March 27, 2014. Bunraku is Japanese traditional puppet theater.

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National Bunraku Theatre marks 30th anniversary

OSAKA, Japan - "Kotobukishiki Sanbaso," a piece in Japanese traditional puppet theater known as bunraku, is performed on March 27, 2014, at an celebratory event marking the 30th anniversary of the National Bunraku Theatre in Osaka, western Japan.

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Woman shaking hands with Bunraku puppet

OSAKA, Japan - A woman shakes hands with a puppet at the National Bunraku Theater in Osaka on Jan. 26, 2014, after the final spring performance. The Osaka city government has decided to reduce its subsidies to the Bunraku association.

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Osaka theater decorated with traditional New Year's red snapper

OSAKA, Japan - Workers put up a 3-meter-long papier-mache red snapper at the National Bunraku Theater in Osaka as a New Year's decoration on Dec. 25, 2009. Glaring red snappers, or ''nirami tai,'' were a popular seasonal decoration at theaters in western Japan before World War II and the puppet theater is reviving the tradition.

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(2)Crown prince, princess watch Bunraku puppet show

TOKYO, Japan - Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako visit the National Theater in Tokyo to watch a Bunraku puppet show Feb. 22. (Pool photo)

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(1)Crown prince, princess watch Bunraku puppet show

TOKYO, Japan - Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako respond to members of the audience at the National Theater in Tokyo before watching a Bunraku puppet show Feb. 22. (Pool photo)

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Japan to nominate 'joruri bunraku' for UNESCO recognition

TOKYO, Japan - Master puppet operator Yoshida Tamao manipulates a ''joruri bunraku'' puppet in a photo taken at the National Theater in Tokyo on May 9. Japan's Cultural Affairs Agency decided May 17 to nominate ''joruri bunraku'' puppet theater for recognition by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a ''masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity.''

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(1)Crown prince, princess watch Bunraku puppet show

TOKYO, Japan - Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako respond to members of the audience at the National Theater in Tokyo before watching a Bunraku puppet show Feb. 22. (Pool photo)(Kyodo)

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Japan to nominate 'joruri bunraku' for UNESCO recognition

TOKYO, Japan - Master puppet operator Yoshida Fumio Tamao manipulates a ''joruri bunraku'' puppet in a photo taken at the National Theater in Tokyo on May 9. Japan's Cultural Affairs Agency decided May 17 to nominate ''joruri bunraku'' puppet theater for recognition by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a ''masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity.''

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(2)Crown prince, princess watch Bunraku puppet show

TOKYO, Japan - Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako visit the National Theater in Tokyo to watch a Bunraku puppet show Feb. 22. (Pool photo)(Kyodo)

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'Bunraku' puppetry artist takes on master's name

"Bunraku" puppetry artist Tamame Yoshida (front) sits on the stage at the National Bunraku Theater in Osaka, western Japan, on April 4, 2015, during his name-taking ceremony to debut as Tamao Yoshida II, succeeding his master. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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New 'bunraku' master handles puppet during name-taking performance

"Bunraku" puppetry master Tamao Yoshida II performs at the National Bunraku Theater in Osaka, western Japan, on April 4, 2015, after taking on his predecessor's name. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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SNAPSHOT: Puppet master assumes prestigious teacher's name

Yoshida Tamao, a puppet master of the traditional Japanese puppet theatre, Bunraku, heads to his dressing room at the National Bunraku Theater in Osaka on March 31, 2015, after assuming his master's name. He was previously called Yoshida Tamame. His master was a living national treasure. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Bunraku puppet theater's living national treasure calls it quits

Toyotake Shimatayu, 83, a living national treasure in the "Bunraku" traditional Japanese puppet theater, announces his retirement as a "tayu" narrator at a news conference in Osaka, western Japan, on Oct. 21, 2015. His last performance will be held in February 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Bunraku theater resumes in Osaka

Traditional Bunraku puppet theater resumes at National Bunraku Theatre in Osaka on Oct. 31, 2020, after a nine-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Bunraku theater resumes in Osaka

Traditional Bunraku puppet theater resumes at National Bunraku Theatre in Osaka on Oct. 31, 2020, after a nine-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Imperial couple watches Bunraku puppet show

Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visit the National Theater in Tokyo to enjoy a Bunraku puppet show on Feb. 13, 2017. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Osaka theater decorated with traditional New Year's red snapper

OSAKA, Japan - Workers put up a 3-meter-long papier-mache red snapper at the National Bunraku Theater in Osaka as a New Year's decoration on Dec. 25, 2009. Glaring red snappers, or ''nirami tai,'' were a popular seasonal decoration at theaters in western Japan before World War II and the puppet theater is reviving the tradition. (Kyodo)