Watching the Joruri performance on Saturday afternoon I realised just how abstract the experience was. Since I couldn’t understand the dialogue or the story arc (and buraku is supposedly a literary vehicle), I had to focus on the visuals and the technical details of the performance. There is a lot to inspire. The painted cloth backdrop, called maku, the black robes and hoods, the strange slightly awkward movements, the sounds (usually a single chanter recites all the characters parts, altering the pitch of their voice), the costumes, the mechanics of the dolls…

Afterwards, someone translated the story. Overbearing sadness, ancient melancholy. Apparently not many happy endings…

Above: A ghastly doll with a hinged face and boggling eyes.  Shockingly this was revealed during an extended sword fight – this doll has had his face sliced in half…  This particular doll is very old which makes it even more fascinating.

Above: A man with moveable eyebrows and a doll with moveable eyebrows.

Above: A painting hanging in the theatre.  We wondered if it was Obama.  It is!  Seems to be a strong political message here…