Bunraku traditional Japanese puppet theatre 文樂

The scholarship organization held a talk and sponsored us a trip to watch the traditional Japanese puppet show at the National Theatre today. Our ticket costs 3600yen/each between the 5~7th rows.

今天獎學金集團又辦了一個講座，和一起去日本國立劇場來觀賞日本傳統木偶劇。 我們在第5~7排，票價3600yen。

We had a nice free lunch bento and freebies from the Asean Center, where we sometimes give talks and cultural exchanges in our "costumes". (Very busy!)
我們聽完講座之後吃了一頓免費便當 :) 然後從我們經常交流和給講座的亞洲中心拿了2份禮物（很忙的！）

The Japanese puppet theatre, also commonly known as "Bunraku", is considered one of the three major theatrical shows in Japan. The other two being "Nou" and "Kabuki". Kabuki, which you may be more familiar, was actually derived from the puppet theatre. According to the lecture, Bunraku was from Osaka, where traditional arts flourished due to the absence of foreign influence when the country isolated itself during the 17th century. It started with only 1 puppeteer to 1 puppet, but as more minute movements were demanded, it eventually evolved into a 3 puppeteer to 1 puppet performance.

日本的木偶劇，稱“文樂”，是日本三大劇場中之一。其它兩個為“能”和“歌舞伎”。大家應該熟悉的歌舞伎其實是從文樂由來的。根據講座，文樂源自大阪。因為在17世紀，日本對外封鎖，沒有外國的影響，所以本土的文化藝術得以繁榮發展。起初的木偶是由一人操作的，但是要求逐漸提高，最後演變成三人一個木偶的演技。

As you know, it is a puppet performance, so it took place in the small theater within the National Theatre of Japan.

因為是木偶演出，所以舉辦在日本國立劇場的小劇場內。

We saw many people in their nice kimono, quite a rare sight nowadays! There were also quite a number of foreign tourists although there was no English hearing guide. No photography was allowed, so I'll briefly write my thoughts about Bunraku here.
我們看到了很多穿傳統和服的女生，難得一見啊！雖然沒有英文補助機，但是還是有不少外國人。因為場內禁止拍攝，所以我只能說一下我對文樂的感想。

Basically the storyteller, called "Tayuu", didn't use any mike and asserted his voice through his diaphragm. That was why we saw their faces turned red and covered with sweat. They are always paired with 1 or 2 shamisen players and they have to be changed when the scene changes as well. The first story was quite impressive, followed by a lengthy introduction about their arts and history, along with some Japanese jokes which I didn't get most of it. There was a 15mins break, followed by a 93mins show about a willow spirit who turned into a human and married her life savior. The stories are usually tragic...
講故事的叫“太夫”，而且他們都不用麥克風，單靠丹田發功喔！因此可以看到他們的臉都是通紅佔滿汗水的。他們都會配搭一兩位彈三味線的伴奏者，因為很辛苦，所以場景換的時候他們也跟著換人。第一場故事還蠻精彩的，接著是一段很長的文樂和歷史介紹。內有一些日本笑話，但是我多半都聽不懂。之後有15分鐘休息，緊接93分鐘的表演。第二個故事是講述一個柳樹精靈化成人類，為了報答救她的男人所以以身相許。故事通常是悲劇...

Anyway, halfway into the second story, it was unbearably boring and I struggled not to doze off. Many Japanese and peers were deep in thought with their eyes shut as well. It was difficult to concentrate because for countless minutes, it was just the husband and wife puppet on the stage and the chanting narration from the storyteller. Apparently, they were talking and developing some kind of romantic love too deep for me to follow. Fortunately, towards the later part, it became a bit more exciting when the spirit, now a mother, had to reveal her true identity because her real body is being chopped up to build a part of the temple.
第二個故事的中途變得超級無聊，我儘量掙扎不要打瞌睡。其他日本人和朋友都似乎閉著眼睛在沈思中...。在漫長的時間裡，只有那兩夫妻在台上，再加上太夫念經似地敘述，很難集中。對話好像是他們正在培養深厚的感情似的，太深了我跟不上。還好後段稍微變精彩了一點。這時精靈已經是一個5歲小孩的媽了，不過真身卻被某寺廟砍了去當建材。逼不得已，她向家人透露她原本是柳樹精靈的真相，並且道別。

The show didn't end with a big bang like what we used to in the western culture, so it was a bit of disappointment there. Nevertheless it was a good experience and recommended for any foreigner.
演出的最後不像我習慣的西方劇那樣有華麗的結束，所以有點失望。不過總得來說對於任何外國人，都是很好的經驗。