Happy-Go-Solo

October Program at the Kabukiza Theatre: Part 3 (October 2025)

Part 3 (Cast A) of the full-length Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees, marking Shochiku's 130th anniversary. Danko Ichikawa's fox Tadanobu was adorable and heartbreaking, with unaju before the show and medetai-yaki at last.

2025.10.06

Kabuki

Somegoro Ichikawa Kabuki Dance Performance: Kiwami (October 2025)

A performance by Somegoro I had long wanted to see. A kabuki dance program, Kiwami, at the Cerulean Tower Noh Theatre, with full focus on the movement of suodori.

2025.10.05

Kabuki

Autumn Bunraku Performance: Program C (September 2025)

The Love Suicides at Sonezaki, in bunraku. In the Tenmaya scene, Ohatsu's foot carried all her resolve, and for a moment, I forgot they were puppets. A quiet, heavy, wonderful night at the theatre.

2025.09.22

Bunraku

September Program at the Kabukiza Theatre: Single Act Tickets (September 2025)

A free afternoon appeared out of nowhere, so I booked a Single Act Ticket online the night before and popped in for just one act, Kamo Zutsumi.

2025.09.16

Kabuki

Single Act Tickets at the Kabukiza Theatre: How Do They Work?

Single Act Tickets let you watch just one act of kabuki at the Kabukiza Theatre. Here's how to buy them, how entry works, and what to expect on the fourth floor.

2025.09.16

Others

Touken Ranbu AR Walk at the Minamiza Theatre (August 2025)

The kabuki Touken Ranbu: Azuma Kagami Yuki no Midare never fitted into my schedule, so I summoned sword warriors with the game app's AR Walk feature in front of the huge Minamiza signboard.

2025.08.17

Others

Kyushu’s National Treasures: Kyuhaku’s Beautiful Bounty (July 2025)

I went to Dazaifu to see the National Treasure sword Heshikiri Hasebe, and came home smitten with a doll-shaped ginseng. A solo day of swords, ginseng, and umegae-mochi.

2025.07.21

Museums

A Tabletop Journey: NeRoLi herb (July 2025)

A solo tabletop journey to NeRoLi herb in Omotesando. I popped in for herbs and stayed for a body-kind curry plate and the day's soy-milk soft serve.

2025.07.17

Solo Gourmet

July Program at the Kabukiza Theatre: Evening Show (July 2025)

I came for 'Chō no Michiyuki', danced by Somegoro Ichikawa and Danko Ichikawa — delicate and lovely at first, then swept into the torments of hell. With 'Onihei Hankachō: Kettō' starring Koshiro Matsumoto, and a long-awaited medetai-yaki.

2025.07.14

Kabuki

A Tabletop Journey: Napule (May 2025)

A lunch where light pouring through the windows felt just right. In a back alley of Omotesando, I took my time with wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, from pomegranate soda to tiramisu.

2025.05.23

Solo Gourmet