A traditional form of Japanese puppetry, native to Osaka, in which large (1.2 to 1.5 metres tall) and elaborately articulated and costumed figures are operated in full view of the audience. Each puppet is handled by three operators working in harmony, with musical accompaniment and narration provided by additional artists seated to one side. The chief operator controls head movement (eyes, eyebrows and sometimes the mouth) using a short rod and strings. He also controls the right arm. One of his assistants controls the left arm; the other controls the feet. The assistants are clad in black and wear gauze masks over their eyes.

Traditional puppet theatre.

A Japanese puppet theatre, founded in the seventeenth century and still performed today.