This depends on what you mean by 'bunraku'. The traditional bunraku puppet made only by the Japanese is somewhat of an insider's secret. There are no books, patterns or tutorials online that you can use to make them; they simply do not exist as far as I know. At any rate, a traditional one is way too complicated for new puppet makers or school-aged people.
However, many people confuse the term 'bunraku' with the more Westernised table-top puppet (which uses similar concepts as bunraku and is almost the 'child' of bunraku in a way), and there are plenty of table-top tutorials and patterns out there. (Bunraku is the official name for 'ningyo joruri', the Japanese puppetry - only those who have permission may use the term 'bunraku' in Japan)
Some info is here on both bunraku and table-top puppets. The second link is a tutorial for a table-top puppet, which is very easy to do (print, cut, fold, and glue; you're done!):
http://puppetsinmelbourne.com.au/index.php/faq/2007/10/30/what_is_bunraku_puppetry
http://puppetsinmelbourne.com.au/index.php/faq/2009/03/18/how-to-make-a-table-top-puppet
Bunraku puppets originated in Japan during the Edo period (17th century). They were developed as a form of traditional puppetry theater and are characterized by large, intricate puppets operated by multiple puppeteers. Bunraku combines puppetry, music, and chanting to tell stories drawn from historical events, mythology, and everyday life.
Bunraku puppets serve as the central figures in a traditional Japanese form of puppet theater that combines storytelling, music, and intricate puppetry. These life-sized puppets, typically manipulated by three puppeteers, aim to convey deep emotional narratives and complex character interactions. The artistry of Bunraku puppets, along with the accompanying narrative and musical elements, enriches the theatrical experience, making it a unique cultural performance. Ultimately, they are designed to engage and entertain audiences while preserving Japanese cultural heritage.
A puppet theatre in which large puppets enact the ordeals of separated lovers or dueling samurai.
Bunraku is a Japanese art that uses puppets, not dolls. Puppets used in actual productions are built from scratch by the performers, crew and puppet builders of each puppet theatre or troupe. They are works of art that require sculpting, costuming, hair dressing, painting and creation of the technical mechanisms that make them work (articulated hands, moveable eyebrows, blinking eyes, etc). As they take many tens or hundreds of hours to create and maintain, they are priceless. There is no place that I am aware of that creates production-ready puppets for bunraku. If you monitor ebay you may find bunraku puppets for sale from time to time but be ready to pay handsomely to own one. If you have a real interest in owning a bunraku puppet, I'd advise researching their construction online and in books and attempting to build one of your own. This would be a massive undertaking but those who are able to see it through will certainly have a unique work of art.
There are several types of puppets, including hand puppets, marionettes (puppets controlled by strings), shadow puppets (silhouettes projected onto a screen), and rod puppets (manipulated with rods). Other types include sock puppets, fingertip puppets, and bunraku (traditional Japanese puppets operated by multiple puppeteers). Each type has its own unique method of manipulation and style of performance.
bunraku begin in 1651
The National Bunraku theater is in Osaka, Japan.
Bunraku was established by Takemoto Gidayu (1651-1724) in 1684
the puppets have a stick in their back and he lifts them up
sock puppets
make shows
Yes, craft stores sells kits to make puppets.