The Bunraku Photography of Taikichi Irie

Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of Photography Nara City

This event has ended.

One of the films of photos that was taken from the wreckage of Taikichi Irie’s house during the bombing of Osaka in 1945 was that of bunraku puppet theatre. Irie began shooting bunraku in 1939 at the Yotsubashi Bunraku Theatre, a short walk from his home. This series of photographs taken during the golden age of this art form travelled the world and won prestigious awards in Japan.
This exhibition features select works from this series, which also allow a glimpse into the backstage preparations before the dolls are given “life” in performances by some of the legendary puppet masters of the 20th century.