Back at Minamiza for Hanagata Kabuki after such a long time. The piece was Sonezaki Shinjū Monogatari, revived after 73 years with a fresh new approach, and I caught the Cherry Program cast with Kazutaro and Ukon 🌸 The quiet stillness of the final scene lingered with me for hours afterward. Yet another wonderful day, as always.
What is Hanagata Kabuki?
“Hanagata Kabuki” (literally “star-flower kabuki”) is a type of performance built around younger actors who will carry the next generation of the art form. This time, Kazutaro Nakamura and Ukon Onoe took on the lead roles of Ohatsu and Tokubei, swapping the parts between them in a double-cast format.
In Cherry Program (Cherry Blossom cast), Kazutaro plays Ohatsu and Ukon plays Tokubei. In Pine Program (Pine cast), it’s the reverse: Ukon as Ohatsu, Kazutaro as Tokubei. Being able to enjoy the same piece in two completely different versions—I mean, that lineup alone is enough to fill me up 🍚
The piece itself, Sonezaki Shinjū Monogatari, is a 73-years-on reimagining (supervised by Ganjiro Nakamura) of Sonezaki Shinjū, which first premiered as a new kabuki work back in 1953. The added word “monogatari” (“tale/story”) signals that this is a different take from the standard Sonezaki Shinjū.
The structure this time was: Part One — Sonezaki Shinjū Monogatari, then an intermission, then Part Two — a “Special Talk Session.” A little shorter than the usual kabuki program, but with the bonus of the talk session, it felt like a nicely packaged deal.
Cherry Program’s Sonezaki Shinjū Monogatari
A little background: I’d read Kakuta Mitsuyo’s novel version of Sonezaki Shinjū before heading to the theater, and that turned out to be a small but interesting lens.
In Kakuta’s version, Ohatsu strikes me as someone who sees shinju (double suicide) mostly as a way to be with Tokubei forever—almost upbeat about it, as if she doesn’t quite grasp what dying actually means. Kazutaro’s Ohatsu on stage felt different. There was more fear of death, more anxiety about what was coming, and something like attachment to the people she’d be leaving behind.
The final scene especially. Rather than swelling up into a tearjerker, it stayed remarkably calm—and within that calmness, you could glimpse two people walking toward death.
Still, Kazutaro’s Ohatsu was lovely and graceful, and Ukon’s Tokubei was wonderfully dashing, and I came away wanting to experience the Cherry Program all over again.
Part Two: The Special Talk Session
After the intermission came Part Two, the special talk session. Joining Kazutaro and Ukon as guests on this day were Niesaburo Kataoka and Kikusaburo Onoe.
The way the two guests made their entrance—too funny (laughs). “Wait, weren’t you just calling out ‘Ohatsu…’ as Tenmaya Sobei a moment ago?!” was basically the vibe (laughs). I’ll leave the details for those who actually come see it… but it was a warm, laughter-filled time in which you get to glimpse the actors’ off-stage personalities.
And of course, the photo session! That moment when everyone in the audience raises their camera at once has its own particular thrill. Naturally, I was right there snapping away too 😂
The Sonezaki Shinjū Monogatari Themed Bento
from picking up an earphone guide, stopping at the photo spots, to getting settled in, the pre-show time at the theater is unexpectedly busy. Buying a bento is part of that ritual.
This time, I went with the special Sonezaki Shinjū Monogatari bento.
The wrapping paper itself says “Sonezaki Shinjū Monogatari”—just that was enough to fill me up (well, in spirit. Stomach still empty)… okay, not literally, but pretty satisfying (laughs).
The contents, of course, were beautifully done. Each little dish prepared with care, the whole thing as festive as a celebration meal—a lovely keepsake from the performance.
Closing Thoughts
A long-awaited Hanagata Kabuki, the Cherry Program pair, what a happy day it was.
I’ve got another visit planned this month for the Pine Program, but the urge to see Cherry Program one more time is bubbling up. Kazutaro’s Ohatsu and Ukon’s Tokubei—I want an encore, but can I even get a ticket… Are tickets all sold out by now?
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The Whole Sonezaki Shinjū Monogatari Series
This post is part of my Sonezaki Shinjū Monogatari viewing series.
- Pre-show excitement notes: The jitters right after I scored my tickets
- Cherry Program, 1st viewing ← you're reading this one
- Pine Program: Kazutaro as the male lead – what a shock
- Cherry Program, 3rd viewing: A Sonezaki Shinjū double-header & a surprise Shinobu Terajima
- Cinema Kabuki: Off to a screening with a stage greeting by Kazutaro
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