National Bunraku Theater

Traditional Puppet Theater

Thursday, October 3 at 7 pm**—Followed by a Gallery Exhibition opening reception at 8:30 pm – Sold Out
Friday, October 4 at 7:30 pm—Followed by an artist Q&A – Sold Out
Saturday, October 5 at 3 pm and 7:30 pm – Sold Out

Playbill (PDF) →

** The October 3 performance coincides with the opening of the Fall Gallery exhibition Bunraku Backstage. Tickets to the October 3 performance include entry to the Gallery opening reception following immediately after the performance at 8:30 pm.

Waitlist Information
We will take names for a waitlist for National Bunraku Theater performances on October 4 and October 5 only, beginning exactly one hour before each performance time and only in-person at the Box Office of Japan Society at 333 East 47th Street. Only 1 ticket can be purchased per person. Please note that there will be no waitlist taken online or via phone. You must be present 10 minutes before the curtain time to claim and purchase the ticket. There will be no guarantee that tickets will be available for each of the shows listed. Please note that there will NOT be any waitlist for the show on 10/3.

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.

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).

Related Event

Japanese Puppet Theater 101: A Close Look at Bunraku
October 5, 11 am

Part of the Ningyo! A Parade of Puppetry Series
September—December 2024

Save 20% when you purchase a ticket to any 3 programs in the Ningyo! A Parade of Puppetry Series (not including workshops). Offer only valid for tickets purchased in the same transaction.

Alongside the Ningyo! A Parade of Puppetry series this fall, the gallery exhibition Bunraku Backstage offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes of Japan’s puppetry theater, showcasing actual working puppets, props, instruments, costumes and more. Check out more details here.

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. (October 3 ticket includes Gallery exhibition as well as opening reception immediately following the performance.)

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Images: The Love Suicides at Sonezaki © Photo by Tomoko Ogawa; Bunraku Workshop © Photo uncredited; Ningyo! A Parade of Puppetry Series: The Love Suicides at Sonezaki © Photo by Tomoko Ogawa.

The Ningyo! A Parade of Puppetry series is supported by The Jim Henson Foundation.

National Bunraku Theater is produced under partnership with Japan Arts Council, which is supported, in part, by Japan Cultural Expo 2.0, All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd., Kikkoman Corporation, and Suntory Holdings Limited. The program is also supported, in part, by John and Miyoko Davey Foundation and Takenaka Corporation.

2024-25 Performing Arts Season Support

The season is made possible, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Additional, major support is generously provided by Doug and Teresa Peterson, Howard Gilman Foundation, and Jun Makihara and Megumi Oka. Endowment support is provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund, John and Miyoko Davey Foundation, and a leadership gift from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Program support is also generously provided by The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation; Hisamitsu America, Inc.; Akiko Mikumo; Hiroko Onoyama; Richard and Momona Royce; Dr. and Mrs. Carl F. Taeusch II; Dr. Jeanette C. Takamura; Nancy and Joe Walker; Estate of Alan M. Suhonen; and Performing Arts Circle members.

All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. is the official airline of the Japan Society Performing Arts Program. Yamaha is the official piano provider of Japan Society.

Japan Society programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.