Seeing is Believing: I enjoyed Bunraku in Osaka

I had a chance to see the latest Bunraku performance in Osaka with my mother, who is a long-time Bunraku fan and used to take narration lessons.

Inside the theater there is a room on the first floor where the puppet heads of the maincharacters, Shamisen (三味線: the three-string musical instrument), and other props used on the stage are on display. Volunteers are there to answer any questions you may have.

The play lasted from 3:30pm until 7:00pm, with a 30-minute intermission. Taking photos and videos were not permitted, but at least I found a teaser video clip on the National Bunraku Theatre website.

It's just amazing how real all the puppets look and how expressive their body language is. I highly recommend you see this unique performance.