TOKYO STORIES / TOKYO SONEZAKICITY

This project explores the connection between traditional Bunraku and contemporary forms of expression. Originating in the Edo period, Bunraku developed through the refinement of playwright Chikamatsu Monzaemon, narrator Takemoto Gidayū, and producer Uemura Bunrakuken. The tayū, who narrates the story and dialogue, can be seen as the rappers of their time, while shamisen players functioned like track makers.

Hip-hop is rooted in sampling, and AI can also be understood as a new form of sampling-based expression. From this perspective, using AI to reinterpret Bunraku in a contemporary form becomes a natural extension.

This work presents a reinterpretation of two acts from Chikamatsu’s The Love Suicides at Sonezaki, arranged in a hip-hop style featuring Ohatsu, Tokubei, and Kuheiji. The lyrics were generated with ChatGPT and composed using SUNO, while the visuals were created with DALL·E and further developed into video using MidJourney and VEO3.

Director

sano yutaka

Time

00:03:18

Country

Japan

Genre

Music Video

Year

2026