Osaka is alive with an array of traditional performing arts: Bugaku, Noh, Kyogen, Bunraku, Kabuki, Japanese dance, Rakugo, and Manzai.

Bunraku, also known as ningyo joruri is an enduring art form that dates back to the Edo period (1603-1868). In this theatrical art, puppets dance to the accompaniment of shamisen, a three-stringed lute, and a droning narration in the form of joruri, a time-honored art that entails the chanting of dramatic narratives. In Oct. 2003, Bunraku Puppet Theater was recognized by UNESCO as one of the masterpeice of World Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Bunraku Review:
"Bunraku is the oldest of all Japanese theatre styles and possibly one of the most misunderstood. To descibe it simply, the word 'puppetry' fails to encompass the complexity of the stories and the artistry of the pupeteers. Like many Japanese traditional arts, the puppetry of Bunraku takes years to master. In particular, working harmoniously and smoothly in conjunction with two other puppeteers to make the movements and expressions of the puppet as lifelike as possible takes a great deal of patients and practice. While the puppeteers are visible, a truly good performance will make you forget that they are even there." (by Tracey Jones)

For theatre, go to the Dotombori district, where the Osaka Shochikuza Theatre, Naniwaza, Kasoza, and the theatre in the Toei Building. Here you can enjoy entertainment as diverse as Kabuki, Rakugo, Manzai, and musicals.

Since Osaka's establishment as a castle town and one of Japan's major cities, successive generations have handed down a thriving culture of traditional performing arts.

From Universal Studio Japan to the finest shopping, Osaka also has a wide variety of modern attractions as well.