Here a few very interesting marionettes, these are playing (are they only playing?) rebels, rough guys, robbers, that sort of stuff.

They are in the traditional play 鈴ヶ森 “Suzugamori“, which were during Edo times famous execution grounds for criminals.

Some info on it here (in English):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzugamori_execution_grounds

or here (in Japanese):

http://www.geocities.jp/woodone3831/sonotoki/suzugamori.html

There are various criminals discussing and also blood will be shed (“be shedded”?, anyhow, blood, as you can see.)
I was assured, it is very comical, too, hmmm…)

Some pictures of the magnificent puppets for this play here:

Josiane Keller “Isshiza marionette cut in half” (2015)

Josiane Keller “Isshi Youki with marionette” (2015)

Josiane Keller “Isshiza marionette rebel with cut face” (2015)

Josiane Keller “two Isshiza rebel marionettes” (2015)

Josiane Keller “Isshiza marionette rebel” (2015)

Josiane Keller “Isshiza marionettes – headless rebel and tattooed rebel with back wound” (2015)

Josiane Keller “Tamiko Youki with 雲助 kumosuke marionette” (2015)

It took me some time to understand what  “kumosuke” is; finally found some more info here:

“Kumosuke (jap. 雲助): unskilled laborers, colourful and unruly characters, who frequented the great highways (like the Tokaido) during Edo-period”

kabuki glossary

also this: “palanquin bearer, coolie, wandering robber”

jlearn.net/Dictionary/Browse/1173200-kumosuke-くもすけ-雲助

Josiane Keller “Isshiza 雲助 kumosuke marionette” (2015)

* So much for now, but there is more to come, so please check back later!