This classic exhibition catalog by photography master Ken Domon, centered on the traditional puppet theater "Bunraku," blends photography with Japanese classical performance aesthetics, serving as a precious record of cultural heritage. Domon is renowned for his realism and received the Purple Ribbon Medal in 1973. The book documents the 1974 Shinjuku exhibition, capturing through his lens the behind-the-scenes of Bunraku—puppet manipulation, rhythmic recitation, and the joys and sorrows of the stage—like frozen tableaux vivants that evoke resonance with traditional arts. It features selected Bunraku series photographs, accompanied by commentary from Takechi Tetsuji and visual design by Kazuhiko Tanaka, showcasing Domon's "light-and-shadow realism" technique, transforming the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage into visual poetry where the classical merges with the modern.
