National Bunraku Theater

National Bunraku Theater Review

Fans of theater will not want to miss the chance to see a performance at Osaka's National Bunraku Theatre. Registered by UNESCO as a World Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2003, Bunraku is not your average puppet show. The meter-high puppets require three handlers, and the stories, mostly originating in Osaka, contain all the drama and tension (if not the swordfights) of a good Samurai drama. The National Bunraku Theatre is Japan's premier place to watch this 300-year-old art form. An "Earphone-Guide" (¥650 rental) explains the action and context in English as the play unfolds. Performances are usually twice daily (late morning, and late afternoon) on weekends. To get here take the Sennichimae or Sakai-suji subway lines to Nipponbashi Station and take exit 7. The theater is just before passing under the Hanshin Expressway.