What you probably mean by bunraku is "bunraku-style" puppetry. True bunraku is a very specific Japanese artform that takes about 40 years of practice to master. "Bunraku-style" puppetry borrows the basic approach of bunraku but is more varied and borrows from other styles of puppetry as well. Czech blacklight puppetry and the Czech "Curtain of Light" or "Black Theatre" are closely related and the puppets used are usually very similar. They also frequently use Bunraku-style techniques to operate rod puppets in special effects work.
I'm actually more experienced in bunraku-style puppetry than TV/video puppetry so I have a really good understanding of it, but that's from working with a professional theatre for several years. There isn't much formal training available unfortunately, most people learn by working for a company that works in that style. Some puppeteers are self-taught in the technique, but I've found most of the better ones have a background doing it in the theatre.
There are a lot of books on bunraku, your local library probably has one. The Toronto School of Puppetry occassionally offers short classes in what Puppetmongers call "The New Bunraku" which is their primary style of performance. Also in Toronto, Famous PEOPLE Players do Czech black light puppetry, which is basically bunraku under blacklight. The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia work in a similar technique but their work isn't as technically adept as FPP's. Both companies occasionally hire perfomers but more than likely you have to be a Canadian citizen or legally eligible to work here.
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NO WAY! What. You are like the king Guru of puppetry. *drops jaw in utter amazement* I might not find much that will teach me the art but at least I know how to spell it correctly now. ha ha!
