Bunraku, Japan's centuries-old form of puppet theater, combines three distinct and highly refined artistic disciplines: joruri, or ballad narration, shamisen instrumental music, and ningyo tsukai, or the art of puppet manipulation. Each of these skills demands years of intense training (it is said to take at least 25 years to attain the status of omozukai, the main puppet master). But the true magic of bunraku is revealed when the three independent components of movement, words, and music come together—it is this awe-inspiring ensemble work that evokes such deep emotion and wonder. This is extraordinary, multidimensional performance, displaying complexities not found in any other theater in the world. In a major cultural event, Japan's foremost exponent of this singular living art form—a company that includes four "Living National Treasures"—visits the United States for the first time since 1983.
Select this event as part of a Choose-Your-Own Subscription or add it on to any Series Subscription and save 10% on single-ticket prices.
Program: Date Musume Koi no Higanoko (Oshichi of the Fire Watch Tower) (1773), Tsubosaka Kannon Reigenki (Miracle at the Tsubosaka Kannon Temple) (1887), and an introduction to bunraku
Learn more about this event in the Annual San Francisco Chronicle Fall Arts Preview.
Made possible, in part, by Union Bank of California
|
Program Notes
Program notes are available online. [PDF]
|
|
|
 |
Video Clips
( Real One Player)
|
|
 |
Sightlines
Sat, Oct 13, 7-7:30 pm, Zellerbach Hall
Sun, Oct 14, 2-2:30 pm, Zellerbach Hall
Pre-performance talks by Peter Grilli, President of the Boston Japan Society. These Sightlines events are free to all event ticket holders.
|
|
 |
Education/Community Events
Symposium on the History, Culture, and Aesthetics of Bunraku
Thu, Oct 11, 7 pm, Wheeler Auditorium
UC Berkeley scholars Mary Elizabeth Berry (Chair, Department of History), and Janice Kanemitsu (East Asian Languages and Cultures) join Peter Grilli of the Boston Japan Society and Bunraku artists with background on the aesthetics and history of Bunraku, film of a fully-staged Bunraku production, and a Bunraku puppet technique demonstration. Presented in association with the UC Berkeley Institute for East Asian Studies and Center for Japanese Studies and the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center. (More information).
 Flyer (PDF)
|
Parking Alerts: Parking may be a problem on campus for the Sat, Oct 13, performance due to a Cal Football game. Please see our Parking Alert section for more information.
Artists links: Official National Puppet Theatre of Japan site
|
|
Purchase Tickets
| Sat, Oct 13, 2007 | 
|
| Sun, Oct 14, 2007 |
|
Venue: Zellerbach Hall A
Price: $76
Subscription Series:
Choose-Your-Own
 
What do these symbols mean?
|
calperfs.berkeley.edu