Open Talk: When a Woman Grieves in Bunraku: The Expression of Sorrow as Exemplified by Ushiro-buri
The Yanai Initiative welcomes NAKANO Fukune, a Part-time Lecturer at Kyoto City University of Arts, who will explore how sorrow is expressed by ushiro-buri when a woman grieves in Bunraku.
One of the highlights of Bunraku is the kudoki, a scene in which a female character expresses her deep sorrow. As the music reaches its climax, the onnagata (female puppet) suddenly turns her back to the audience, arching her upper body and spreading her arms like wings. Known as ushiro-buri, this graceful movement marks a moment where the puppet momentarily transcends human form—an aesthetic expression unique to Bunraku puppetry.
Yet, this striking gesture relies entirely on the seamless coordination of three puppeteers. How do they collaborate to achieve this complex form, and why is such a visual spectacle employed to express grief? Drawing on video records of actual performances, this lecture analyzes the operational sequence of ushiro-buri and examines its receptive effect on the audience.
- Date & Time: November 2nd, 2026 (Monday), 14:00-15:00
- Venue: The Waseda International House of Literature, B1F
- Language: Japanese
- Participation: Free
- Admission: Open to Students, Faculty and Public
- Presented by the Yanai Initiative for Globalizing Japanese Humanities, with support from the Waseda International House of Literature
Lecturer
NAKANO Fukune
NAKANO Fukune is a Part-time Lecturer at Kyoto City University of Arts and Ph.D. Student at the Graduate School of Kyoto City University of Arts. Her research focuses on puppet performance and operational techniques in Ningyo Joruri Bunraku. Her major publications include “A Study of Ushiro-buri in Bunraku Puppetry: The Uniqueness of Movement in the Expression of Sorrow by Onnagata Puppets” in New Perspectives on Traditional Japanese Puppetry, edited by HOSODA Akihiro (Kohakubooks, 2026) and “The Mechanism of Cueing in Bunraku’s Three-Person Puppetry: From the Observation of “Zu” and “Hodo” Used in Demonstration” in Research Bulletin, Vol. 70 (Faculty of Fine Arts, Kyoto City University of Arts, 2026).
Facilitator
Yanai Initiative Committee Member: OHKI Erika
Contact
Yanai Initiative for Globalizing Japanese Humanities: [email protected]
