Japan National Bunraku Theater October 1st

The National Theatre makes its triumphant arrival in the U.S. for the first time in 32 years! Witness a stunning production of traditional Japanese puppet theater, featuring two quintessential climaxes from Bunraku repertoire: Date Musume Koi no Higanoko (Oshichi, the Greengrocer’s Daughter) and Sonezaki Shinju (The Love Suicides at Sonezaki).

Known for its globally influential three-person puppet manipulation technique invented in the mid-18th century, Bunraku has been designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Featuring scenography by Kazuo Oga, art director of classic Studio Ghibli anime My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke, this performance offers Americans a rare opportunity to glimpse the rich culture not only of Bunraku, but of Japan’s second-largest city ahead of Expo 2025, held in Osaka.

Strikingly lifelike, each puppet requires three highly trained puppeteers to create the illusion made possible with delicate, realistic movements.This stunning art form honors the past while sharing stories that connect to the present.