Bunraku Uncovered: The Art of Storytelling in Japanese Puppet Theater

Learn about a centuries-old Japanese art form in a rare U.S. appearance from one its most acclaimed masters! Portland Japanese Garden invites you to step behind the curtain of bunraku, Japan’s acclaimed puppet theater, through a firsthand conversation and live vocal demonstration. Takemoto Oritayu, a leading tayu (jōruri narrator/chanter) based in Osaka, joins Professor Larry Kominz (Portland State University) to explore how bunraku blends intricate puppetry, dramatic storytelling, and music into an art form recognized as a Japanese Intangible Cultural Heritage. This is a ticketed event, and must be reserved in advance.