The 2003 Laureates / Arts and Philosophy Category / Theater, Cinema

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Tamao Yoshida (Personal name: Sueichi Ueda)

Japan / January 7, 1919 - 2006
Bunraku Puppeteer

"The foremost master puppeteer of Bunraku, a major classical performance art of Japan"
Mr. Tamao is at the summit of the world of Bunraku puppet theater, one of Japan's classical stage arts. Going beyond the mere transmission of puppetry techniques, he has added original and creative insight in puppet movement, with a virtuosity cultivated over the course of many years through a deep knowledge of the scripts and essence of the roles. Capable of emotional depictions that surpass the abilities of human actors, Mr. Tamao has contributed to Bunraku's current status as the world's most highly developed and refined form of puppet theater.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

1919
Born in Osaka, Japan.
1933
Begins Bunraku puppeteer training at age 14 under Tamajirô Yoshida. Receives stage name of "Tamao Yoshida."
1934
Appears in first Bunraku performance at Osaka's Yotsubashi Bunraku Theater.
1940-1944
Leaves Bunraku when drafted into military service; remains in service for total of five years, five months.
1946
Returns to Bunraku as a head puppeteer.
1955
Head puppeteer for the role of Tokubei in the revival of Sonezaki shinjû (Love suicides at Sonezaki).
1962
First performs Bunraku abroad, at the World's Fair in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.
1968
First performs Bunraku in Europe.
2002
1111th performance of role of Tokubei in Sonezaki shinjû (Love suicides at Sonezaki).

AWARDS AND HONORS

1977
Holder of Intangible Cultural Properties (Living National Treasure), Government of Japan
1978
Purple Ribbon Medal, Government of Japan
1985, 1995
Special Bunraku Prize, 4th and 14th National Theater Bunraku Awards
1989
Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, Government of Japan
1998
1997 Asahi Prize
2000
Person of Cultural Merit, Government of Japan

MAJOR ROLES

PLAY
ROLE(S)
Sonezaki shinjû (Love suicides at Sonezaki)
Tokubei
Shinjû ten no Amijima (Love suicides at Amijima)
Jihei
Sugawara denju tenarai kagami (Sugawara and the secrets of calligraphy)
Kanshôjô (Michizane), Matsuômaru
Heike nyogo no shima (Shunkan on Devil Island)
Shunkan
Yoshitsune senbon zakura (Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees)
Tomomori,Gonta
Kanadehon chûshingura (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers)
Yuranosuke
Ichinotani futaba gunki (Chronicle of the Battle of Ichinotani)
Kumagai