noun
puppet operator; puppeteer
Refers to a person who manipulates puppets, especially in traditional Japanese puppet theater such as bunraku.
彼は人形回しとして文楽の舞台に立っている。
He stands on the bunraku stage as a puppet operator.
人形遣い is a more common and general term for a puppeteer, while 人形回し specifically emphasizes the act of manipulating or turning the puppet, often in a traditional context.
Compound of 人形 (にんぎょう, 'puppet') and 回し (まわし, the continuative form of 回す, 'to turn, to manipulate').