Takemoto Sumitayu VII (1924–2018) was a Japanese Bunraku tayu, or narrative chanter, from Osaka. Born Kinichi Kishimoto, he became a disciple of Toyotake Ko’tsubodayu II, later known as Toyotake Yamashiro no Shojo, in 1946 and made his stage debut that year in “Kanjincho.” He succeeded to the name Takemoto Mojidayu IX in 1960 and became Takemoto Sumitayu VII in 1985. Through his ability to distinguish the voices and emotions of numerous characters and evoke an entire dramatic scene through narration, he became one of the leading performers of gidayu-bushi and a central figure in modern Bunraku. He was designated a Living National Treasure in 1989, named a Person of Cultural Merit in 2005, and awarded the Order of Culture in 2014. In his representative book, “Bunraku no Kokoro o Kataru,” he discusses major works including “Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami,” explaining their characters’ emotions, the coordination between chanter and shamisen player, and the vocal choices required in individual scenes.
