National Bunraku Theatre

The National Bunraku Theatre

The Osaka audio-guided tour presents you with the National Bunraku Theatre, in the heart of the Nipponbashi district, one of the rare places in the world where one can discover bunraku in its most authentic form.

The art of puppet theatre

It is in Osaka that bunraku was born and developed during the Edo period, before being recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity. This puppet theatre of great sophistication rests on three elements: each puppet is manipulated in full view by three perfectly synchronised people, a narrator called tayū tells the story with intensity, and the shamisen accompanies the narrative with its deep notes. Together, they bring to life often tragic stories, inspired by Japanese history, legends or universal human dramas.

What there is to see

The theatre was designed especially for this art: its large hall allows one to observe every detail of the puppets' performance, from the most subtle movements to the facial expressions, while the acoustics enhance the voice of the narrator and the music. Even without understanding Japanese, one is gripped by the visual power and the emotion. Before or after the show, a free exhibition room presents puppets, instruments and explanations about bunraku.

Practical information

The National Bunraku Theatre is in the Nipponbashi district, in Osaka. It offers performances according to its own programme and hours, liable to vary; the exhibition room is freely accessible. It is advisable to consult the programme in advance.

What is bunraku?

A puppet theatre born in Osaka, where each puppet is manipulated by three people, accompanied by a narrator and the shamisen; it is recognised by UNESCO.

What is the tayū?

The narrator of bunraku, who tells the whole story with great dramatic intensity, accompanied by the shamisen.