1 minute walk from the Kintetsu Nipponbashi Station on the Osaka Metro Sakaisuji Line and Sennichimae Line. In addition to the Bunraku theater with a total capacity of 753 seats, there is a small hall with a total capacity of 159 seats for various types of performances such as Bunraku, dancing, Japanese music, popular performance arts, etc. The 1st floor exhibition room is centered around rare and valuable documents regarding Bunraku, as well as the occasional exhibits. All are welcome to visit (free admission). Bunraku stories are told through dramatic narratives called "Jyoruri" with musical verses in addition to an accompaniment by a stringed instrument called “Shamisen.” The dolls are elaborate and detailed, being able to express various emotions (happy, angry, sad, joy) through mechanical gimmicks and used to perform along with the Joruri and Shamisen. The person who control it is called “the puppeteer.” It is said that the “three-person-puppet” is a rarity in the world, which requires three people to operate the puppet. Puppet Jurori was performed nationwide during the early Edo period, but its longstanding place in Osaka to this day was through the cooperation between Takemoto Gidayu, a performer of Joruri, and Chikamatsu Monzaemon, a writer.

• Location

  〒 542-0073 1-12-10 Nipponbashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka

• Fax

  06-6212-1091

• Tel

  06-6212-2531

• Closed

  Irregular holidays

• Open

  Vary depending on each performance (material exhibition rooms are from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM)

• Price

  Varies by performance (exhibition hall free)

• Languages

  English

• Directions

  1 minute walk from the Kintetsu Nipponbashi Station on the Osaka Metro Sakaisuji Line and Sennichimae Line

• URL

  http://www.ntj.jac.go.jp/english.html

• Tour guide

  Audio guides available