National Bunraku Theatre

The National Bunraku Theatre presents Japanese puppet performances combining narrative recitation, shamisen music, and mechanical dolls controlled by three puppeteers per character.

The theater building opened in 1984 as a response to preserve traditional Japanese puppetry arts dating back to the early seventeenth century.

The main auditorium contains 753 seats designed for Bunraku productions, while a separate Small Hall with 159 seats hosts popular entertainment and recorded performances.

The location stands one minute from Nippombashi Station and Kintetsu-Nippombashi Station, with tickets available through online booking, phone reservations, or the box office.

Each puppet requires three operators working in synchronized coordination: the head puppeteer controls facial expressions, while two assistants manage the limbs.

Location: Nipponbashi

Inception: 1984

Architects: Kisho Kurokawa

Creator: Tadanori Yokoo

Official opening: March 20, 1984

Capacity: 753

Website: https://ntj.jac.go.jp/en/theatre/bunraku

GPS coordinates: 34.66750,135.50861

Latest update: May 12, 2025 11:49