A new option for FGs to throw at friends and parents coming through...

Kyodo via Japan Today: National theater providing English interpretation for Bunraku
OSAKA — The National Bunraku Theater for traditional Japanese puppet drama in Osaka said Monday it has started providing English interpretation through earphones.
The theater decided to provide the service in response to the growing needs of foreign audiences after the Bunraku puppet show was designated last year as an intangible cultural asset by the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the theater said. (Kyodo News)

Asahi Kaisetsu: Kabuki and Bunraku in English

I've been to Bunraku once and even with the help English speaking guides it was the most boring experience I have ever had in Japan. It took me about 30 minutes to start dozing off and I would have been well in the land of Nod if it hadn't been for my wife constant elbowing me in the gut. The only solace I had was in noticing that most of the men in the audience had succumb to the soporific effect of the music and er action?