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Namba Bears

Osaka

For going on three decades this has been the place to hear underground music live in Osaka. It's a small, bare-concrete, smokey space ¨C well suited to the¡­

National Bunraku Theatre

Osaka

The classical performing art most associated with Osaka is bunraku, which makes dramatic use of highly sophisticated puppets. Visiting the theatre is a¡­

Sumo Spring Tournament

Osaka

The big fellas rumble into Osaka in March for this major tournament, held in the EDION Arena (Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium (¸®Á¢ÌåÓý»áð^) in Namba. Tickets (from¡­

Sone

°­¨­²ú±ð

Sone is °­¨­²ú±ð's go-to spot for jazz (since 1969) and gathers four acts, of mostly Kansai-area artists, each night. The look is a bit old-timey Viennese¡­

Ky¨­cera Dome

Osaka

Also known as Osaka Dome, this futuristic stadium is home to the Orix Buffaloes baseball team. While the Buffaloes may not have the following of the¡­

Fandango

Osaka

This much-loved live house is an Osaka institution and favours Japanese punk rock and experimental noise bands; check the website for the gig schedule¡­

Hokage

Osaka

Looking like an office with the inner walls ripped out (which is entirely likely), Hokage seems to be made for its rock, punk and noise bands. It's a¡­

Osaka N¨­gaku Hall

Osaka

A five-minute walk east of Hanky¨± Umeda Station, this theatre stages n¨­ (stylised dance-drama) performances a few times each month. Look for the relief of¡­

Osaka Shochiku-za

Osaka

This neo-Renaissance building (1923), modelled after Milan's La Scala, was the first Western-style theatre built in Kansai. It occasionally hosts kabuki¡­

Shin-Kabuki-za Theatre

Osaka

Inside a shopping mall, this theatre ¨C despite the word kabuki in the name ¨C shows mostly comedy and period dramas (in Japanese).