Kabuki

September Program at the Minamiza Theatre: One Stormy Night (September 2024)

Gabu's voice from the film, now live on stage. Ichitaro's Mei and Takematsu's bespectacled Haku, cuteness at full tilt. A solo theatre diary of One Stormy Night at the Minamiza, and the cross-species friendship that brought me to tears — plus a matcha parfait at Nadaman and special-edition yatsuhashi to take home.

2024.09.16

Kabuki

July Program at the Kabukiza Theatre: Evening Show (July 2024)

Three evenings at Ura Omote Taikoki with the Shochiku Kabuki-kai flat-rate theatregoing service. Koshiro's aerial stunt, three generations of the Koraiya on one stage, and a Sanbaso finale so good I could have gone just for that.

2024.07.18

Kabuki

Shikoku Konpira Grand Kabuki: Part 1 & Part 2 (April 2024)

My first time at the Kanamaru-za, Japan's oldest playhouse, for the 37th Shikoku Konpira Grand Kabuki. Laughs from Somegoro and Koshiro, Jakuemon's hand-powered flying scene right beside the hanamichi — and somehow I didn't eat a thing all day. A back-to-back solo day out.

2024.04.15

Kabuki

March Program at the Minamiza Theatre: Cherry Program (March 2024)

Roaring laughter at Ukon's pre-show talk, a breathless Onnagoroshi Abura no Jigoku, and a lottery card that made my day. A solo trip to the Minamiza's spring hanagata kabuki.

2024.03.21

Kabuki

Kaomise at Kyoto’s Minamiza Theatre: Evening Program (December 2023)

The Evening Show of the Minamiza kaomise celebrating Ichikawa Danjuro XIII's name succession: Nizaemon's sublime Yuranosuke, a Stage Announcement that nearly made me cry, and the whole audience shouting "Naritaya!" together.

2023.12.10

Kabuki

Kaomise at Kyoto’s Minamiza Theatre: Matinee (December 2023)

A solo matinee at the Minamiza in Kyoto during the December 2023 Kaomise: Somegoro as Yogoro, the stage debut of Shinnosuke VIII, and a curtain by Takashi Murakami.

2023.12.09

Kabuki