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How did Central Asian puppeteers influence the origins of Japanese puppet theatre?

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bugaku performance — Japanese performing arts *Bugaku*, a court dance adapted to Japanese tastes from the dance and music of 8th-century China and Korea.

The origins of Japanese puppet theatre are linked to traveling performers known as kugutsu-mawashi ("puppet turners"), whose art is believed to have been introduced to Japan by nomadic puppeteers from Central Asia.1

Historical evidence suggests that by the 7th century, these Central Asian puppeteers, who had previously resided in northern Korea, migrated to Japan. In their new homeland, these men continued their dual roles as herdsmen and puppet manipulators, while women in the group performed dances and songs as popular entertainers.2

While there may have been a native Japanese puppet tradition as well, the art of puppet manipulation eventually merged with epic storytelling to form the foundation of what would become the famous Bunraku puppet theatre. Over time, this tradition evolved significantly; for instance, puppets were initially primitive and lacked hands or feet, and manipulators remained hidden until the 18th century, when they began operating in the open.12