- Culture
- Osaka
National Bunraku Theatre
Bunraku, a Japanese traditional performing art developed in Osaka and designated as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage
The National Bunraku Theatre is equipped with the stage mechanism for performing Bunraku, a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage and one of the major Japanese traditional performing arts along with Kabuki and Noh. Centered on Bunraku, the theater exhibits various performances including Kabuki, traditional Japanese music, dance and popular performing arts. Also, the facility undertakes the training of Bunraku performance successors, creation of performance records and publishing of research materials, operating as the center of traditional performing arts in the Kansai region. The building, designed by internationally acclaimed architect Kisho Kurokawa, has two halls, large and small, as well as an exhibition room and a library.
Architecture that combines tradition and modernity
The National Bunraku Theatre is located in Nipponbashi, which is near Dotonbori, a famous theater district since the 17th century and still a major tourist spot of Osaka today. Designed by world-renowned architect Kisho Kurokawa, the building incorporates traditional Japanese methods and splendidly blends traditional and modern styles based on black lattice patterns. Paper lanterns around the audience seats heightens the excitement of watching traditional performing arts.
Advanced comprehensive performing art by a trinity of narrator, shamisen players and puppeteers
The narrative art inherited from ancient times eventually became accompanied by shamisen, a three-stringed instrument, and then became connected to puppeteering. The popularity of the plays written by Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653-1725) led to the creation of the current Bunraku, an advanced comprehensive performing art that combines narration, music and puppets. The literary work "Gidayu-bushi" can be enjoyed as a musical performance solely by the narrative of the tayu with shamisen accompaniment; however, the puppet stage is like adding a moving illustration to the performance. In a unique method in which one large puppet is operated by three people, the story is defined beautifully, elaborately and dynamically, sometimes with movements that are impossible for humans.
Location
| Name | National Bunraku Theatre |
|---|---|
| Website | https://www.ntj.jac.go.jp/english/access/facilities_04.html |
| Address | 1-12-10 Nipponbashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka |
| Access | Approximately 1 minute's walk from Exit 7 of Nippombashi Station on the Osaka Metro Sakaisuji Line/Sennichimae Line and Kintetsu-Nippombashi Station on the Kintetsu Railway Nara Line For elevator, please take the elevator at Exit 10. There is no parking space. Please refrain from arriving by car. |
| Business Hours | Ticket office and exhibition room: 10:00 to 18:00 Duration of performance varies depending on production. |
| Closed | July 1 and year-end and New Year's holidays Period and closing days vary depending on production. Exhibition room may be closed occasionally for rotation of exhibits. |
| Inquiries | TEL: 0570-07-9900 (National Theatre Ticket Center) |
| Admission | Ticket prices vary depending on production. Admission is free for exhibition room. |
| Others | Earphone guides available for Bunraku performances (in Japanese and English only) Makumi-seki (single act tickets) available for Bunraku performances. Please see the website for details on performances. |
