The First Ever for the Midwest
One of Japan’s best known and most highly prized traditional performing arts, came to America and the Midwest in October of 2007. The “Bunraku: 2007 U.S. Tour” performed in the Midwest, Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco. For America, it was be the first major tour of the renowned National Bunraku Theatre – the most authentic Bunraku troupe from Osaka – in fifteen years. For the Midwest, it was the first Bunraku performances ever.
What is Bunraku?
Bunraku is one of three Japanese traditional performing arts along with Kabuki and Noh. Dating from the Edo period (1603-1868), it is a cultural treasure. Even today, Bunraku’s dramatic stories and sophisticated form enthrall audiences across Japan and around the world.
On an expansive stage with simple scenery, each of the half life-size puppets is operated by three puppeteers, two of whom are clad in black in full view of the audience. The finely carved wooden puppets come to life. Their every movement, from dramatic to subtle, is humanlike. To the right of the stage, the plucked sound of the shamisen, a three-stringed Japanese lute, is heard. The chanted narrative in the form of joruri conveys the story, which is easy for all to follow.
 The New York Times enthusiastically praised Bunraku, declaring it to be “surprisingly compelling art,” which is “powerfully expressive” and “likely to leave few in the audience untouched.”
In 2003, the Japanese traditional puppet art of Bunraku was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Thanks to The Japan-America Society of Osaka, which is commemorating its 100th anniversary by offering this special tour, and San Francisco Osaka Sister City Committee leading the U.S. Bunraku Tour Committee, both America and the Midwest was able to experience the best of Japanese culture firsthand.
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