Japanese human national treasure Takemoto Sumitayu, narrator of traditional « bunraku » puppet plays, died of pneumonia at a hospital in the western city of Osaka on Saturday. He was 93.
Japanese human national treasure Takemoto Sumitayu, narrator of traditional « bunraku » puppet plays, died of pneumonia at a hospital in the western city of Osaka on Saturday. He was 93.
The bunraku performer, whose real name is Kinichi Kishimoto, was named Sumitayu VII in 1985 and designated as a living national treasure in 1989. His adoptive father, Sumitayu VI, was also a government-designated national treasure.
