Osaka Tenjin Matsuri Stage Expression

A festival dance originating in Kochi Prefecture, characterized by dancing with naruko (wooden clappers). The Kochi Yosakoi Festival, started in 1954, spread nationwide due to its flexibility allowing free choreography and costumes, evolving uniquely in each region including the 'YOSAKOI Soran Festival.'

A creative dance fusing Kochi's Yosakoi with Hokkaido's Soran. Dynamic team performances have spread nationwide and grown into an international dance event with overseas participants.

A representative form of puppet theater that developed primarily in Osaka. Three handlers manipulate complex puppets while a narrator tells stories accompanied by thick-stringed shamisen. It features diverse productions including domestic dramas and historical plays. Registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008, it stands as the pinnacle of traditional Japanese puppet theater.

A prominent rakugo school representing Osaka's classical storytelling tradition. The Katsura Bunshi lineage combines preservation of classical repertoire with innovation, training numerous disciples. Active in modern media including television and YouTube, they contribute to rakugo's broad dissemination while maintaining the common people's humor tradition from the Edo period and reaching new audiences.

Japan's national puppet theater located in Osaka. It preserves the bunraku tradition continuing from the Edo period while protecting and advancing the artistry of puppet theater with narration. As the headquarters of UNESCO-recognized bunraku, it hosts performances year-round and globally represents Japan's traditional puppet theater heritage.

One of Japan's largest dance festivals held annually in summer in Sapporo, Hokkaido. It uniquely fuses the traditional southern Yosakoi dance with Hokkaido's folk song Soranmbushi, creating an innovative festival. Hundreds of teams compete, attracting approximately 2 million spectators. It promotes regional cultural development and cultural exchange across the Asia-Pacific region.