Yonekichi flying against the ceiling of the Minamiza was so beautiful it hurt. I picked a seat on the west side of the second floor, my first time there, just to be close to the flying scene, and couldn’t see the hanamichi at all (laughs). Still, I laughed a lot, and by the interval I had a couple of new plush friends. Today was, once again, the best.
- What is ‘LUPIN III: The beautiful azure castle’?
- West side of the second floor, for the flying scene
- First interval: the collaboration sandwich
- After the interval, laughing nonstop
- The Minamiza ceiling, and Yonekichi in the air
- Second interval: two cute friends come home with me
- The princess who is too cute, and a final photo session
- Wrapping up
What is ‘LUPIN III: The beautiful azure castle’?
‘LUPIN III: The beautiful azure castle’ (流白浪燦星 碧翠の麗城, Rupan Sansei Hekisui no Reijō) is the second Lupin kabuki production. It is based on Monkey Punch’s manga “Lupin III”, with script and direction by Kazuhisa Tobe.
The story is set in feudal Japan. Princess Seori is about to be forced into a marriage she doesn’t want, for the sake of her family, when she meets Lupin, and an adventure over the treasure of an old castle begins. At the Minamiza this time, Ainosuke Kataoka plays both Lupin and Goemon Ishikawa, and Yonekichi Nakamura plays Princess Seori.
In the earlier production, Ukon Onoe played Goemon, and part of me wanted to see that again. But Ainosuke’s quick switches from Lupin to Goemon were cool and fun in their own right!
West side of the second floor, for the flying scene
Inside the theatre, the stage curtain, with the characters painted against pines, a moon and a castle, was lovely. The play hadn’t even started and my mood was already climbing ⤴️
I chose the west side of the second floor to see the flying up close, but from there you can’t see the hanamichi (the runway through the audience) or the stage-left side at all. Anything performed there is audio only, please enjoy. Leaning forward might have helped, but leaning forward is… well 🥺 I behaved myself.
I knew the story well enough this time, so I skipped the audio guide.
First interval: the collaboration sandwich
I hadn’t planned anything for the interval, but at “Nadaman Tonkatsu” on the second floor I found the sandwich box made for this production. The one I’d seen on Ainosuke’s Instagram! Limited numbers, but I got one ⭕️
Even the box is in character: red string, styled like one of Lupin’s calling cards. Inside, a pork cutlet sandwich and a rolled omelette sandwich. More filling than it looked.
During the interval the flying rig was being set up, with wires stretching out in front of the curtain. “Wait, is it coming right now?” Fidgety already.
After the interval, laughing nonstop
Mamo-chan does the merch pitch
Right at the start of Act 2, the character who appeared on the hanamichi was “Mamo-chan” (Senju Ichikawa), dressed as Mamo 😂 Not that I could see him from my seat (laughs). I’d seen him on Instagram beforehand, and what he was saying made it obvious: “Ah, that’s Mamo-chan.” Audio only, please enjoy, indeed. He explains the story so far, but then goes on to plug the merchandise, which is hilarious. Mamo-chan, I’m such a fan (laughs).
The audience banter reaches the second floor
Lupin, Jigen and the princess also came down and walked through the audience, I think in Act 2 (Acts 2 and 3 run without a break, so where one ended and the other began is a bit of a blur…). At one point someone handed Ainosuke a jar of Momoya’s kizami shoga, the shredded ginger he advertises on TV (laughs), and then he gave the jar to a member of the audience 😂 So jealous. So funny.
And the banter comes all the way up to the second floor.
Yonekichi said, “There are a lot of people on the second floor too,” and Emisaburō, playing Jigen, replied:
“They’re all Beppan.”
There it is! VIVANT! So cooooool! I got to be Beppan, the secret unit from the TV drama (laughs).
This is why topical jokes matter (laughs). I was laughing nonstop.
Ordering at the teahouse, with local directions
The teahouse scene was around here too, I think. Ainosuke orders “nishin soba from Matsuba,” Yonekichi orders “kuzukiri from Kagizen Yoshifusa,” and the owner tells them where each shop is (laughs). Ajari mochi and yatsuhashi come up too. No opportunity to promote a local shop goes to waste. I’ll have to do a pilgrimage next time (laughs).
The Minamiza ceiling, and Yonekichi in the air
Then Act 3, and finally the flying scene I’d come for.
Even from the second floor it wasn’t quite eye level; I was looking up a little. But what I was looking up at was that ceiling, which is lovely in itself. Yonekichi flying against the ceiling of the Minamiza was so beautiful it hurt. That sight alone made the day worth it 🥺
Lupin, meanwhile, nearly falls, then breaststrokes his way back up through the air, like a frame from the anime. Ainosuke, I have real respect for anyone who can do that (laughs).
Second interval: two cute friends come home with me
At the second interval I finally bought Kabuki Nyantaro 🐈 Calico pattern, green collar, gold bell. Cute. Commemorative photo in front of the striped kabuki curtain 📷
And not only that: Minamina came home with me too. I hadn’t meant to buy one, but Mamo-chan kept recommending it… so, well. That Act 2 merch pitch really works (laughs). Red body, a blue roof-shaped hat, and “南座” (Minamiza) written large across the back. I photographed front and back.
The princess who is too cute, and a final photo session
Right through to the final act, Yonekichi’s Princess Seori is cute, cute, cute the whole way. Her line in the last scene was so cute it actually startled me. The same person who was so beautiful flying through the air is this cute with a single line.
A question for Ainosuke here: “Yonekichi is ridiculously cute. Don’t you ever fall for her for real?” I did.
Chūsha’s Inspector Zenigata was lovely too, with so much charm in his expressions and movements. With the ending of ‘The Castle of Cagliostro’ in my head, I spent the last stretch waiting for that line. The ending was wonderful, but it was performed on the hanamichi, so from my seat I couldn’t see him at all 😭 The flying was so close, and this I couldn’t see.
After the play there was a curtain call and a photo session. A “#ルパン歌舞伎” (Lupin Kabuki) sign, gorgeous costumes, confetti scattered across the stage. Being able to photograph everyone on stage is a different kind of fun from regular kabuki. Too good. Yonekichi, waving with her hands still inside her sleeves, was adorable. Even after the play is over, still cute.
Wrapping up
I laughed a lot, but I also came away with the satisfaction of having seen kabuki. There is gidayū narration, and the Lupin III theme is played on shamisen. Plenty of mie poses, sword fights, quick changes, and flying. Kabuki with everything on it, basically. You get to enjoy a Lupin story while meeting all sorts of kabuki highlights, so I think this could be a good entry point to kabuki too.
I was fine without the audio guide for the play itself, but I would have liked to hear the special conversation between Ainosuke and Yonekichi broadcast during the interval. The audio guide really is a must, every time… 😭
As for seats, the flying is over in a moment, so next time I’ll probably go back to the first floor as usual, or the east side of the second floor. I was glad to see that beautiful flying, but I want to see Zenigata on the hanamichi too. Live and learn.
Running times reflect the schedule for the performance I attended. Please check the official website for the latest information.
