- Bunraku
- Other Theater
Bunraku Performance in February
Bunraku Performance in February
Performance Dates
February 8 (Sat.) - February 16 (Sun.), 2025 at Shinagawa Curian Hall (Large Hall)
February 20 (Thu.) - February 26 (Wed.), 2025 at Bunkyo Civic Hall (Main Hall)
Program Ⅰ (11:00 a.m. – 2:10 p.m.)
Imoseyama Onna Teikin Part 1
Program II （3:00 p.m. - 5:10 p.m.）
Imoseyama Onna Teikin Part 2
Program III（6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.)
Imoseyama Onna Teikin Part 3
Ticket Prices (tax included)
Adults: [1st Grade] ¥9,000 [2nd Grade] ¥8,000
Students: [1st Grade] ¥6,300 [2nd Grade] ¥5,600
Seating plan (Shinagawa Curian Hall (Large Hall))
Seating plan (Bunkyo Civic Hall (Main Hall))
*Only first floor seats are available (Bunkyo Civic Hall).
*Japanese and English audio guides are available for rent. Click here for details of audio guide.
*English synopsis is available. It is included in the paid Japanese brochure.
*There will be intermission.
Booking Opens
January 14 (Tue.), 10:00 a.m.
* If there are still tickets available for purchase on the day of the event, you may purchase them in person at the Box Office (on-site) for this performance.
Box Office (on-site) : Open from 10:00 a.m. until each curtain time.
*Tickets for students and persons with disabilities for this performance are available online.
*Wheelchair spaces are available. For more details, please contact the Box Office.
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Box Office (by phone)
0570-07-9900 (From overseas: +81-3-3230-3000) in Japanese and English (10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)
Click here to find the details about how to buy tickets.
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in Japanese
The Bunraku performance produced by the National Theatre in February promises to be an opportunity for everyone to enjoy a masterpiece brimming with the charm of this unique traditional art form.
Bunraku is a traditional Japanese theatrical art, where the story and characters' emotions are expressed through "Joruri" performed by "Tayu (chanters)" and "Shamisen players,” while the "Ningyo-Tsukai (puppeteers)," three puppeteers working in unison, manipulate a single puppet.
*Shamisen is a traditional instrument with three strings.
The play “Imoseyama Onna Teikin,” which will be staged in the Bunraku performance opening on February 8 (Sat.), 2025, is set against the backdrop of a political upheaval in the 7th century. Its dramatic plot, filled with shifting alliances and complex character interactions, has made it a popular piece.
To fully enjoy this epic, “Imoseyama Onna Teikin” will be presented in three separate programs during the Bunraku performance in February.
Program I (beginning at 11:00 a.m.) centers on the “Imoyama Seyama” scene, often compared to Japan's version of “Romeo and Juliet,” where the children of two opposing families fall in love. This scene is particularly significant because, in order to depict events taking place on opposite sides of a river, the space for the musicians is specially arranged on both the left and right sides of the stage. This setup is unique to “Imoyama Seyama” scene among all Bunraku repertoires, so be sure to pay special attention to this rare feature.
Based on a tragic legend from the Nara region (a capital from the 7th to the 8th century), Program II (beginning at 3:00 p.m.) portrays the efforts of individuals striving to thwart the ambition of a powerful clan seizing the imperial throne. This is the story of Shibaroku, a hunter who once served a high-ranking minister, and his desperate attempt to protect the emperor by sacrificing his own child. Despite historical figures appearing in the play, the bold dramatization of the story will captivate you with its emotional intensity.
Program III (beginning at 6:00 p.m.) focuses on Omiwa, a sake brewery's daughter who falls in love with a nobleman, a key figure in protecting the emperor. The trials she faces due to their differing social statuses and her involvement in political struggles will move audiences deeply. The shifting locations — a sake brewery, a shrine, and a palace — offer visual variety, while the music spans from realistic dialogue to aria-like expressions of love, as well as dance-driven pieces, making this program musically rich and emotionally resonant.
“Imoseyama Onna Teikin” is one of the finest classic Bunraku works, and whether you choose to attend one program or experience them in any order, you will be captivated by the power and beauty of this masterpiece. We look forward to welcoming you to the Bunraku performance, which will be held at two venues in Tokyo.