Bunraku was declared Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2003. Story telling by a tayu (reciter), music played on the traditional three-stringed futozao shamisen, and puppetry are combined to create a performing art unique in the world. "Shinju-mono" (suicide stories) written by Chikamatsu Monzaemon depicted human nature tortured by worldly obligations.