Surrounded by  silent forests in the mountains of Kumamoto Prefecture lies Kyu Seiwa Village. Here, a traditional form of Japanese puppet show known as Seiwa-buranku continues to this day. In 1979, the show was designated as the Kumamoto Important Intangible Cultural Heritage. Bunraku is a traditional form of Japanese puppet theater that involves two types of performances: the puppet show and Joruri, which is a combination of chanting and shamisen playing. Seiwa-bunraku originates from the end of the Edo period. It was performed by strolling troupes between 1848 and 1858 to farmers who loved the Joruri music. The farmers hosted the puppet shows to wish for a good harvest. For a while, Seiwa-bunraku disappeared, however a preservation association was formed after a performance was given during the ceremonies to honour the accession of the Showa Emperor. The association is committed to adhering to and keeping this traditional art form alive. Furthermore, in 1992, the Seiwa Bunraku museum was established, and now Seiwa Village is known as the home of traditional bunraku arts.