Komaba Branch participates in Discover BUNRAKU event

On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, as part of its Japanese cultural experience and international exchange events for students, the Komaba Branch of the Center for Global Education participated in Discover BUNRAKU, a Bunraku appreciation program for international visitors hosted by the Japan Arts Council. The program was held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Playhouse.

The event aimed to give UTokyo international students and foreign researchers an opportunity to experience Japanese classical performing arts, while also fostering interaction among local and international students and researchers through the shared experience of Bunraku. Forty-four participants from seventeen countries and regions attended.

In the first part of the program, following a performance of Manzai, a moderator introduced Bunraku, explaining its appeal and the three arts that comprise it: puppetry, narration, and music. The second part featured three acts from Kokusen’ya Kassen (The Battles of Coxinga), one of Chikamatsu Monzaemon’s most celebrated historical plays. Participants were captivated by the powerful narration and expressive puppet movements, and the shared experience provided opportunities for interaction among them.