Head of a female Bunraku theatre puppet (part a) with stand (part b). She has a white oval-shaped face, long white neck and elaborate black coiffure. She has a wide nose, large light grey eyes and her eyebrows are light blue. Her lips are painted dark red, teeth are black. Her hair is pulled back into three buns. Front bun is secured with cord, and the centre bun is held in place with a kushi (comb) and kogai (hair tool). Both are made of black lacquered wood with iridescent plastic decorations embedded in them. Designs are floral and coloured red, light purple, white, light pink and light blue. The bottom bun is secured with a two-pronged, gold-coloured metal hair pin. The top has a circular medallion with a floral motif. The head is attached to a wooden rod with a handgrip. Two cords, with toggles, run through the grip, and into the head, to control neck and eye movement. The grip fits into a wooden stand (part b), supporting the head at an angle.

Male Bunraku theatre puppet (part a) wearing a long heavy robe. He has a removable head (part b) and separate sword (part c). The body has an internal wooden, bamboo and paper frame, with cords and rods throughout to control arm and hand movement. There are stuffed cloth bundles around the arms, legs and stomach for added dimension. The character is wearing a long-sleeved, front-closing under-robe, coloured dark orange with elaborate white embroidery across its entire surface. Motifs consist of circular dragons with curvilinear and floral lines in between. Overtop, the puppet is wearing a short-sleeved, vest-like robe. The shoulders and lower half are pleated. Coloured dark purple with a dark grey meander pattern background. Throughout there are embroidered circular dragons divided by rows of flowers; designs in white, dark orange and dark green. Matching belt tied around waist. White wooden hands extend past the sleeves. The head (part b) consists of a beige square-like face, long beige neck and styled black hair. He has a wide nose, large light grey eyes, and wide slanted eyebrows. A pointed diagonal red line is painted across both eyes, lips are done in a matching red. He has a light blue beard and moustache. Hair is pulled into a top knot, with a paper bow secured behind. Head is attached to a wooden rod with a handgrip. Multiple cords, with toggles, run through the grip and into the head, to control eye, eyebrow, mouth and neck movement. Maker's mark stamped onto base of head and along back of handgrip. The short curved sword (part c) is sheathed. It has a black hilt with a bronze-coloured metal pommel and guard. The sheath is black with a bronze-coloured metal cap. The sheath’s grip is dark brown and has light brown flowers painted across it. Brown, grey and white striped cord tied around the blade, to attach it to the puppet’s belt.