Happy-Go-Solo

November Bunraku Performance: Kanadehon Chushingura, Parts 1 and 2 (November 2024)

From 11 in the morning to past 8 at night, I made it through Kanadehon Chushingura from the opening act to Act Seven, Jagariko in hand. A breath-holding seppuku scene, my favourite pine curtain, and a lost phone to finish: my full-day run at the National Bunraku Theatre's 40th anniversary.

2024.11.11

Bunraku

Osaka Castle Nishinomaru Takigi Noh 2024 (October 2024)

A front-and-centre seat, with Osaka Castle rising behind the stage. Two evenings of open-air noh by firelight: thrilling spider threads, a celestial maiden, and one very frightening demon. A solo theatre diary in blue and pink light.

2024.10.12

Nohgaku

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

Watching the Shuzan-sai Evening Show from a seat right beside the temporary hanamichi. The which-bank-to-sit-on dilemma of Yoshinogawa, a luxurious cast for Kanjincho, a bromide photographed against the real stage, and a medetai-yaki dash.

2024.09.23

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

Travel Walks: House of Light (September 2024)

A long-awaited overnight stay at James Turrell's House of Light. Watching the light program from the tatami, a bath that makes your body glow, stargazing with uninvited insects, and an unexpected refusal of Turrell at sunrise.

2024.09.09

Travel Walks

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

Bunraku Performance for Beginners: Sugawara Denju Tenarai Kagami (June 2024)

I went for Terakoya, but the beginner-friendly commentary stole the show. My first Bunraku Performance for Beginners at the National Bunraku Theatre, in its 40th anniversary year — a solo theatre diary.

2024.06.09

Bunraku

Samurai Detective Onihei: Buying the Merch Without Watching the Film (May 2024)

A story about buying the merch without watching the film: two clear stickers, one to keep and one to use, plus tie-in Kataage Potato crisps I could not eat because Koshiro was on the packet. A mini record of Onihei quietly taking over my life.

2024.05.17

Others

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