Joryu Gidayu Performance

Joryu gidayu (‘women’s gidayu’) is a sub-genre of gidayu-bushi, the chanted, shamisen-accompanied narration for traditional bunraku puppet theatre and its forerunner ningyo joruri. Gidayu is performed by the tayu (storyteller), who conveys the thoughts, speeches and emotional landscapes of all the characters on stage, regardless of gender. This show in Nihonbashi includes a total of four performances, with 81-year-old 'living national treasure' Komanosuke Takemoto also making an appearance.

Read our interview with Komanosuke Takemoto here