Yoshida Minotaro (real name: Miyanaga Toyomi) is rare among today's bunraku practitioners as he comes from the family of the prominent puppeteer Kiritake Kanjuro II, who died in 1986 at age 66, four years after he was designated a living national treasure. Minotaro was 33 years old at the time of his father's death, and now, at 50, he has succeeded to the prestigious stage name left by his father.

This month at the Tokyo National Theater, Yoshida Tamao, Yoshida Bunjaku and Yoshida Minosuke -- the three foremost puppet players and living national treasures each one -- welcome the new Kanjuro. Yoshida Minosuke, in particular, takes great pride in his prize disciple, now embarking on his career as Kiritake Kanjuro III.

Kanjuro was 14 years old when he decided to become a puppeteer in 1967. He joined the Bunraku Association of Japan and apprenticed himself under Yoshida Minosuke, unsurpassed as an onnagata -- a handler of puppets for female roles. Kanjuro first spent 15 years handling the ashi (legs) of the puppets operated by Minosuke, and another 10 years working the hidari (left hands). While working closely with Minosuke, Kanjuro learned his techniques and at the same time expanded his bunraku repertory. Over the past 10 years, Kanjuro has gained recognition as a highly talented omozukai (principal puppeteer), who handles the head and right hand of the puppet.