National Bunraku Theatre

国立文楽劇場Naniwa, Osaka

Culture

What makes this place special?

At a Glance

The National Bunraku Theatre is the home of bunraku, the traditional Japanese puppet theatre, in Osaka. The complex stands in the Nipponbashi district of Chūō ward and opened in March 1984 as the fourth national theatre in Japan. It is run by the Japan Arts Council, and its building, designed by Kisho Kurokawa, has five floors above ground and two below.

The large hall seats about 750 and is used mainly for bunraku, a UNESCO-listed intangible cultural heritage, as well as traditional dance and stage plays. The small hall, with about 160 seats, hosts other traditional entertainment such as rakugo, manzai and Japanese music. The theatre also trains new performers and has a research library and an exhibition room.