1.
SV & CU Large puppets manipulated by handlers in black clothing for sword play sequence




Initials ES. 1700 ES. 1709



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Japanese imports are nothing new in the United States, where virtually every field of electronic and optical goods numbers several Japanese names among the brand leaders. But the latest Japanese "import" to receive a welcome in New York is a little different. For a start, it's 300 years old -- the Bunraku National Theatre.

The Bunraku is the traditional Japanese puppet theatre. It is very different from the puppet theatres of other countries. Many of the dolls are near life-size and are operated by black-clad actors who climb inside the puppets to manipulate their more detailed activities, such as eye movements.

The Bunraku National Theatre has received a gratifying response from New York audiences. They can follow the Japanese-narrated action by listening to a translation on ear-phones. The ear-phones, of course, were made in Japan.

SYNOPSIS: A new Japanese product has achieved considerable success in New York, It's a bit different from previous japanese business successes. For a start, it's three-hundred years old. The import is the Bunraku National theatre. The Bunraku is a traditional Japanese puppet entertainment. Operators, dressed in black, work on stage in full view of the audience. They sometimes get right inside the puppets to manipulate the more delicate actions, such as eye movements. Audiences have been flocking to the New York City Centre theatre to see the puppets carry out their exhilarating routines of classical Japanese folk-lore. There's always lots of sword-play, providing action for the audience and some tricky movements for the handlers. A narration is given in Japanese. But the audience can follow what's happening by listening to a translation through ear-phones. The ear-phones, of course, were made in Japan.