Rosetayu Toyotake (born 1965) won the 2013 Japan Traditional Cultures Foundation Award, and is considered to be the new leading tayu (vocalist who recites the gidayu script of bunraku plays). In Bunraku, the tayu uses his vocal virtuosity to recite the puppet characters and the narrative descriptions of the scenes. He is accompanied by Seiji Tsurusawa on shamisen, a Living National Treasure. Performed July 2013 in Tokyo. Comes with English liner notes.
