I had a little time before an appointment, so on a whim I headed to the Kabukiza. The amazing thing about Single Act Tickets is that you can be sitting in the theatre just a few hours after the idea strikes you. And yes, today was wonderful, as always.
What kind of piece is Suehirogari?
Suehirogari, the opening piece of the July Program’s Matinee, is a dance play based on a kyogen comedy. A daimyo lord sends his servant Taro Kaja to buy a suehirogari, an auspicious folding fan, but Taro Kaja, who has no idea it means a fan, gets thoroughly tricked into buying an old umbrella instead. Taro Kaja is played by Hayato Nakamura, and the daimyo by Somegoro Ichikawa.
This was actually my third time seeing Suehirogari: first from the Single Act seats, then from the front row, and now from the Single Act seats again. Why I keep coming back, I will get to that.
How Single Act Tickets work
I bought my ticket online on the morning of the performance: 1,000 yen plus a 110-yen system fee, so 1,110 yen in total. One more yen and it would have been 1,111… This easiness is such a blessing.
The dedicated Single Act entrance is on the left side as you face the front of the Kabukiza. From there, a lift takes you up to the 4th floor. Single Act Ticket holders can only be on the 4th floor, floors 1 to 3 are off limits, and on the way out, you take a dedicated staircase all the way down to the ground floor.
The seats and the view from the 4th floor
The Single Act section has just two rows of seats. My recommendation: the second row, towards the back. Being in the very last row means you do not have to worry about blocking anyone behind you, though leaning forward is a no-no even in the last row 🙅♀️. There are benches behind the seats, so you can wait for the curtain in comfort.
And the 4th floor’s defining feature: how close the ceiling is. You are practically at the ceiling (laughs). The stage is easier to see than you might expect, but only the shichisan point of the hanamichi runway is just barely visible. You cannot see the actors’ entrances and exits along it, so that is the trade-off.
The Kabukiza opera glasses I bought on the spot
Since this was a spur-of-the-moment visit, I did not have my opera glasses with me, so I bought the Kabukiza’s original 3x pair (1,100 yen). The Kabukiza logo on them is a lovely touch.
The trouble was the little dial that, presumably, adjusts the focus. I turned it, apparently too far, completely lost track of what in focus was supposed to look like, and from then on it was just twiddle, twiddle, twiddle. I finished the performance never having worked them out (laughs). At 3x magnification, I would say they are best for when you want things just a little closer.
Suehirogari, take three
The highlight of this piece is Taro Kaja’s umbrella-spinning trick. The first time I saw it, it succeeded; the second time, it did not; and today, a nail-biting moment, but a complete success! So happy! I seem to have appointed myself keeper of the success rate.
And my favourite moment in Suehirogari, every single time: the daimyo applauding the umbrella trick with his folding fan. He looks so delighted, and it is utterly adorable (laughs).
Final thoughts
When you have time to spare before meeting someone or before your next appointment, Single Act Tickets let you slip in and see just one act. They are also perfect for anyone who finds a full-day program a bit much. The happiness of casually bathing in kabuki (bathing? Really, me?).
On the way home, I noticed the platform at Higashi-ginza Station is decorated in the joshiki-maku curtain colours, one last little thrill before heading off to my next appointment, still in a kabuki mood 💨
