Saturday, October 5 at 3:00 pm and 7:30 pm

The National Theatre makes its triumphant arrival with bunraku theater in New York City for the first time in 32 years! Witness a stunning production of traditional Japanese puppet theater, with 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 for many classic Studio Ghibli anime such as 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.

A pre-performance lecture on bunraku led by Hunter College Professor Claudia Orenstein begins one hour before each evening performance.

Performed in Japanese with English supertitles.

Your ticket for October 4 and 5 performances also includes complimentary, same-day admission for one person to Bunraku Backstage, on view at Japan Society Gallery through January 19, 2025. To view the exhibition please show your ticket/receipt to the Welcome Desk for free admission before the performance.

National Bunraku Theater is part of a North American tour produced and organized by Japan Society, NYC, that will make stops at Aratani Theater (Los Angeles, CA; September 28), Quick Center for the Arts (Fairfield, CT; October 1), The Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.; October 8 & 9), and The Jeannette & L.M. George Theater (Houston, TX; October 12).