The large puppets are usually manipulated by three puppeteers, and such close control gives them the power to display an extraordinary gracefulness and human-like expressiveness.

the tales told in joruri were mostly historical, legendary or heroic. These plays were called "jidai-mono." Chikamatsu invented an entirely new genre called "sewa-mono," or townsfolk plays, which vividly portrayed contemporary happenings, actual incidents and the way ordinary people lived during the period.

The art form later went into serious decline. By 1767, both the Toyotake-za and the Takemoto-za had closed their doors.

In the early part of the 19th century, a puppet play producer named Bunrakuken Uemura built a small theater in the area of Osaka where the National Bunraku Theater now stands.

In 1872, the theatre was relocated and given official government recognition. The new theatre was referred to as "Bunraku-za."

In 1884, a rival theater, the Hikoroku-za, was built, and ningyo joruri entered its second golden age with technically dazzling performances that once again thrilled audiences.

In time, the Bunraku-za absorbed the performers of the Hikoroku-za, becoming the sole inheritor of the ningyo joruri art form. From that time on, it has been known as Bunraku, and its stories and the elegant movements of the puppets dressed in elaborate costumes continue to amaze audiences today.