Happy-Go-Solo

August Program at the Kabukiza Theatre: Part 3 (August 2026)

An empty auditorium all to myself before curtain, the adorable Matsumushi duo, Tamasaburō's jiuta-mai dances, a Tokyo Kitcho bento at intermission — and a downpour and Kabuki Nyantaro to finish. My night at Part 3 of the August Program.

2026.08.13

Kabuki

August Program at the Kabukiza Theatre: Part 2 (August 2026)

An empty Kabukiza right after the doors opened, the ever-hilarious "Rakuda," and Shichinosuke's heartbreaking Omatsu. A Part 2 full of laughter and tears.

2026.08.13

Kabuki

August Program at the Kabukiza Theatre: Part 1 (August 2026)

A ghost story on Ghost Story Day — Kaidan Botan Dōrō at the Kabukiza. Koshiro's opening remarks had the whole house laughing, Tatsunosuke's ghost was almost too adorable, and the intermission meal at Tokyo Kitcho was a feast. My second visit to Part 1 this month.

2026.08.13

Kabuki

NEW Cinema Kabuki “Yotsuya Kaidan” (August 2026)

A morning of ghost stories at MOVIX Kyoto with NEW Cinema Kabuki "Yotsuya Kaidan". Tsurumatsu back on screen, a terrifying Oiwa, a stylish stage, and my comfortable AirPods Pro 3 earphone-guide setup.

2026.08.10

Kabuki

Bunraku Summer Festival: Machi no Hi (August 2026)

Chaplin's classic City Lights reborn as a brand-new bunraku play. I'd never seen the original film and loved every minute. Plus an unexpected encounter with Kanjuro Kiritake at the charity donation box.

2026.08.08

Bunraku

Summer Vacation Bunraku Performance: Part 2 (August 2026)

Part 2 of the Summer Vacation Bunraku Performance, seen from a special seat right in front of the musicians' platform. My first Gempei Nunobiki no Taki left me in awe of how dead a puppet can be, plus a bunraku bento and an adorable program.

2026.08.08

Bunraku

August Program at the Kabukiza Theatre: Part 2 (August 2026) | Subscription Service 3

Part 2 of the August Program at the Kabukiza, seen with my flat-rate theatregoing service. Kankuro and Koshiro in Rakuda were comedy at full power, plus the hand-drawn uchiwa display, a discovery about the east box seats, and a pre-curtain medetai-yaki.

2026.08.03

Kabuki

August Program at the Kabukiza Theatre: Part 1 (August 2026) | Subscription Service 2

In Kaidan Botan Doro, the greedy humans turn out to be scarier than the ghosts. Ukon and Minosuke had me in stitches as the scheming couple, while Tatsunosuke's ghost was almost too adorable. My Part 1 experience from the second-floor front row.

2026.08.03

Kabuki

Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya (August 2026)

My very first Chiikawa turned out to be the movie. Lulled by the cuteness, I was not ready for the chills of the second half: a solo cinema report with a Premium Box Seat and FOD points.

2026.08.02

Others

Sphinx from the Bag at Theatre HOPE (August 2026)

The real reason for my Tokyo trip was not the Kabukiza. It was Sphinx from the Bag, a Kana Kita and Ayuka Kishimoto two-hander at Theatre HOPE: an intimate small-theatre report.

2026.08.02

Others