2024/9/28/ Japan’s puppet theater returns to Los Angeles for first time after 20 years: “National Bunraku Theater” to be performed at Aratani Theatre Sep. 28 at 7:30PM / SOLD OUT
Featuring “Oshichi, the Greengrocer’s Daughter” and “The Love Suicides at Sonezaki”
The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) presents “National Bunraku Theater” at Aratani Theatre, 244 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 on Saturday, September 28 from 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Reserved seating: $35-55.
Performed in Japanese with English subtitles.
Doors opens at 7:30 pm. Performance starts at 8:00 pm.
The National Theatre makes its triumphant arrival in Los Angeles, bringing authentic bunraku theater from Japan to LA for the first time in nearly two decades.
Witness a stunning production of traditional Japanese puppet theater, featuring two quintessential climaxes from bunraku repertoire: Date Musume Koi no Higanoko (Oshichi, the Greengrocer’s Daughter), depicting a woman’s desperate act to save her lover’s life, and Sonezaki Shinju (The Love Suicides at Sonezaki), a dramatic tale written by Chikamatsu Monzaemon, regarded as Japan’s Shakespeare.
Aligned with kabuki and noh theater, bunraku originated a globally influential three-person puppet manipulation technique in the 18th century, earning an Intangible Cultural Heritage designation by UNESCO.
Featuring scenography by Kazuo Oga, art director of the Studio Ghibli films My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke, this performance offers Americans a rare opportunity to glimpse the rich culture of bunraku.
The U.S. tour of National Bunraku Theater is 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), Japan Society (New York City, October 3-5), The Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.; October 8 & 9), and The Jeannette & L.M. George Theater (Houston, TX; October 12).
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 by the John and Miyoko Davey Foundation and Takenaka Corporation.
