Shinjuku’s Puk Pupa Theater from 1929, Now Online

Puk Pupa Theater is the first modern theater in Japan dedicated to puppets. He gives performances at his charming theater in Shinjuku, and until before the pandemic, he counted 80 puppeteers among his members.

Puk Pupa Teatro presents about 10 different plays during the year, with more than 120 days of performances. A recent play they performed is Wani ga machi ni yatte kitaわにがまちにやってきた (A Crocodile Came to Town).

Puk Pupa Teatro uses a wide range of puppets and techniques, including string puppets, hand puppets, shadow puppets, and traditional Japanese puppets. There is a wide variety of traditions surrounding puppetry in Japan, and Puk Pupa Theater is proud to bring these traditional cultural treasures into modern times.

The puppeteers do not hide their faces in the Puk Pupa Teatro productions, as they do in the traditional Bunraku puppet theater, but after several minutes you stop noticing their presence, all your attention is on the wonderful story they are presenting in a tiny stage.

Miniature furniture, bright colors, upbeat music, and short direction, each presentation is designed to hold children’s attention. All the children sitting quietly, with their attention fixed on the puppets and the story that is happening, is a wonderful experience to watch!

His performances are also very popular among adults, usually in Japanese and English. The theater has a long history of collaborations with foreign puppeteers, as part of its commitment to internationalization and peace.

Puk Pupa Theater was founded in 1929 by Toji Kawajiri, who was the older brother of its Artistic Director, Taiji Kawajiri (1914-1994), rapidly growing in popularity in Tokyo. Being an artistic group based on freedom of expression and anti-war ideas, Puk Pupa Teatro was persecuted by the authorities during the war and had to change its name several times.

But after World War II ended, Puk Pupa Teatro flourished again, establishing itself in the building where it currently performs in 1971. Since then, it has expanded to incorporate more than 80 members and has become a meeting point for puppeteers. from all over the world.

Since 1971, the theater has hosted more than 50 leading puppeteer troupes from around the world, including Percy Press and Son (UK), Albrecht Roser (Germany), Dick Myers (USA), Jim Gamble (USA), Jean-Paul Hubert (France), Richard Bradshaw (Australia), the Central Puppet Theatre-Sofia (Bulgaria), and the State Puppet Theatre-Varna (Bulgaria). It is normal for a group affiliated with Puk Pupa Teatro to be on tour in Japan. Puk Pupa Teatro also tours, its puppeteers have performed in Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Poland, Australia, Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

In addition to puppet presentations, Puk Pupa Teatro also makes its space available for film and performing arts shows, as well as concerts such as Portuguese guitar, French song, Japanese percussion, and much more.

You can see a short film by Puk Pupa Teatro here , or enjoy more of their videos on theirYoutube Channel .

You can find the Puk Pupa Theater at Yoyogi 2-12-3, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. It is a 5 minute walk from the south exit of Shinjuku station. Even if you are not planning to see the puppet show, the theater is worth a visit, as the cafe on the first floor offers one of the best and cheapest espressos in Tokyo.

For more details, reservations or ticket purchase, you can visit the Puk Pupa Theater website (in Japanese and English) or call 03-3370-5128.

The best way to travel within Japan is by train, very punctual and convenient, although it can be expensive. To have an even better price, we recommend traveling with the Japan Railways universal pass called JR PASS , which can be purchased on their website. This pass is purchased before traveling to Japan , arriving at the airport or at any train station , you can pick up your pass with proof of purchase .