Mc681 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTheatre · Osaka
National Bunraku Theatre
国立文楽劇場
Bunraku is Osaka's own puppet theatre. It grew up here in the 1600s and is on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Each large puppet is worked by three people in full view of the audience. A chanter (tayu) voices every character, and a shamisen player sets the mood.
The National Bunraku Theatre in Nippombashi is its home stage. Main runs take place a few times a year and each lasts about three weeks, so time your trip if you want to see a show. Between runs, the free exhibition room shows puppet heads and explains how the art works.
What to see and do
See the three puppeteers move as one while the chanter voices the whole story, from comic scenes to tragic love-suicide plays.
The theatre's exhibition room has displays on bunraku, currently puppet heads. Entry is free.
Watch the platform at the side of the stage, where the tayu and shamisen player perform the music and voices live.
What’s on
Good to know
- Book tickets ahead online; good seats for weekend shows go fast.
- A programme part lasts several hours, so eat first or bring a snack for the intervals.
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