Happy-Go-Solo

Ichikawa Danko’s Shinsho Shunjukai, 2nd Edition (November 2025)

The second edition of Shinsho Shunjukai, Ichikawa Danko's training-stage series. From Kyoto's Shunjuza: Fujimusume's charm, Ryusei's aerial flight, and the festive venue.

2025.11.03

Kabuki

Cinema Kabuki: The Tale of Genji – Rokujo no Miyasudokoro no Maki (October 2025)

After missing out on Kabukiza tickets for The Tale of Genji: The Lady of Rokujo, I caught it as Cinema Kabuki instead. Somegoro as Hikaru Genji left me wanting to see it live more than ever.

2025.10.13

Kabuki

A Tabletop Journey: Gion Rohan (October 2025)

An à la carte dinner at Gion Rohan, a Japanese restaurant just steps from Gion-Shijo Station in Kyoto. Fig shiraae, hamo and matsutake hot pot, karasumi mochi, and the famous saba sando to finish.

2025.10.10

Solo Gourmet

A Tabletop Journey: Sarashina Horii (October 2025)

I went all the way to Azabu-juban just because I was craving that soba. At Sarashina Horii, founded in 1789, I savored pure-white sarashina soba and discovered shichimi is best sprinkled straight onto the noodles.

2025.10.09

Solo Gourmet

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

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

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

New Year Asakusa Kabuki: Parts 1 & 2 (January 2025)

I watched both Part 1 and Part 2 of the New Year Asakusa Kabuki in one day: the same Ehon Taikoki twice with alternating casts, plus the hilarious Boshibari.

2025.01.17

Kabuki

January Program at the Osaka Shochikuza Theatre (January 2025)

The Nizatama duo reunited at the Osaka Shochikuza for the first time in 19 years. A perfectly in-sync couple in Osome Hisamatsu Ukina no Yomiuri, and in the long-awaited Kanda Matsuri, a Nizaemon so dashing you would never guess he is in his eighties. A solo outing to an auspicious New Year's program.

2025.01.13

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