Changes

Shortly thereafter, the Hikoroku-za was founded within the precincts of the Inari Shrine in 1884, and it became a rival of the Bunraku-za, which had since moved to Ōsaka's Goryo area. Just as in the days of Toyotake-za and Takemoto-za, puppet theater once again became popular. Although the Hikoroku-za was closed in 1893, the Goryo Bunraku-za prospered as the main representative of puppet theater, with the name of the theater, being transferred to the art itself, which came to be called "Bunraku".

Shortly thereafter, the Hikoroku-za was founded within the precincts of the Inari Shrine in 1884, and it became a rival of the Bunraku-za, which had since moved to Ōsaka's Goryo area. Just as in the days of Toyotake-za and Takemoto-za, puppet theater once again became popular. Although the Hikoroku-za was closed in 1893, the Goryo Bunraku-za prospered as the main representative of puppet theater, with the name of the theater, being transferred to the art itself, which came to be called "Bunraku".

The Goryo Bunraku-za burned to the ground in 1926, and its successor, a new Bunraku-za, was built near Yotsubashi in 1930. At the end of World War II, of all the theaters to be rebuilt from the ashes of the air raids, the very first was the Yotsubashi Bunraku-za. This was due to the fact that Bunraku was not only seen as a famous product of Ōsaka, but also a traditional performing art that had to be preserved.  

The Goryo Bunraku-za burned to the ground in 1926, and its successor, a new Bunraku-za, was built near Yotsubashi in 1930. At the end of World War II, of all the theaters to be rebuilt from the ashes of the air raids, the very first was the Yotsubashi Bunraku-za. This was because Bunraku was not only seen as a famous product of Ōsaka, but also a traditional performing art that had to be preserved.  

In 1955, the Japanese government recognized the art of Bunraku as an "Important Intangible Cultural Property (<font size=3>重要無形文化財</font> ''jūyō mukei bunkazai''). In 1963, the Bunraku Association was formed, and following the completion of Japan's first National Theater in 1966, Bunraku performances in Tōkyō were planned and produced by the National Theatre.  

In 1955, the Japanese government recognized the art of Bunraku as an "Important Intangible Cultural Property (<font size=3>重要無形文化財</font> ''jūyō mukei bunkazai''). In 1963, the Bunraku Association was formed, and following the completion of Japan's first National Theater in 1966, Bunraku performances in Tōkyō were planned and produced by the National Theatre.