My schedule shifted and suddenly I had a free block of time. I did the maths and thought, “Wait, I could actually go?” So I hurriedly booked a Single Act Ticket online the night before, and the next day I popped in to see just one act, Kamo Zutsumi. As always, it was the best day ever.
What Are Single Act Tickets?
Single Act Tickets (makumi-seki) let you watch just one act of a kabuki programme from the fourth floor of the Kabukiza Theatre. A full programme runs for several hours, but with these tickets you can sample only the act you fancy, a wonderfully beginner-friendly system. And since you’re only paying for one act, the price is very reasonable too.
This time, my schedule opened up only the day before, so I booked a reserved seat online that evening. I’ve put together a separate article with the details of how to buy tickets and how entry works, so do have a look if you’re curious. Here, I just hope the lightness of it comes across: book on a whim the night before, wander in the next day.
Sakon’s Princess Kariya
Kamo Zutsumi is set on the Kamo embankment in spring, with the plum blossoms in full bloom. Prince Tokiyo, played by Yonekichi Nakamura, and Princess Kariya, the adopted daughter of Kan Shojo, are young lovers whose secret meeting is arranged by Sakuramaru and his wife. It is the opening of a great tragedy, and yet somehow an easygoing, gently comical act.
Sakon Onoe’s Princess Kariya was lovely in every way: the sweetness, the freshness, every single gesture. The straightforward charm of the way she shyly hid behind her sleeve, the soft elegance befitting an akahime, the “red princess” role type for young noblewomen. I learnt afterwards that this was Sakon’s first time in the role. A debut, and it looked like this…? I found myself completely absorbed. A superb onnagata, exactly as the reviews said.
The View from the Fourth Floor
The Single Act seats are on the fourth floor, the proverbial gods, so the stage really is quite far away. If you want to savour the performers’ expressions, opera glasses are a must… but flip that around, and with opera glasses you’re perfectly fine. What surprised me most was how clearly the actors’ voices carried, even that high up.
For a shorter act like Kamo Zutsumi, getting all this for the price of a single act is unbeatable value. I could even imagine arriving a little early before meeting a friend in Ginza and squeezing in one quick act. A little kabuki in the gaps of the day. Just note that some acts run well over an hour, so don’t forget to do the maths on your schedule, yes, like I did this time.
Final Thoughts
Kabuki has an image of being an all-day affair. But with Single Act Tickets, you can slip in and enjoy just one favourite act whenever a pocket of time opens up. Even on a day when my plans fell through, the numbers lined up and I got to see the opening act of a great classic. What a gift. And so the tragedy begins from here, I mused, dashing off to my next appointment.
Just don’t forget your opera glasses. If the timing works out, this is a lovely way to see kabuki.
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