Minamiza

March Program at the Minamiza Theatre: Sonezaki Shinjū Monogatari, Cherry Program (March 2026) – Third Visit

My 4th Sonezaki Shinjū of the month. After watching Cherry Program at Minamiza, I dashed off to a Cinema Kabuki screening with a stage greeting by Kazutaro. A self-declared "Sonezaki Shinjū double-header" — topped off with a surprise appearance by Shinobu Terajima. The most Sonezaki-saturated day of my life.

2026.03.23

Kabuki

March Program at the Minamiza Theatre: Sonezaki Shinjū Monogatari, Pine Program (March 2026) – Second Visit

My second visit to the Hanagata Kabuki Special at Minamiza - this time the Pine Program. Kazutaro's Tokubei was perfection from the moment he stepped on stage, and Ukon's Ohatsu turned out to be my favorite. A solo-going account of falling in love with cast-swap kabuki.

2026.03.08

Kabuki

March Program at the Minamiza Theatre: Sonezaki Shinjū Monogatari, Cherry Program (March 2026) – First Visit

A revival of Sonezaki Shinjū Monogatari after 73 years, performed by the Cherry Program cast at Minamiza in Kyoto. Kazutaro's Ohatsu, Ukon's Tokubei, the quiet lingering of the final scene, a warm post-show talk, and even a themed bento—a day packed with delights, solo-style.

2026.03.05

Kabuki

March Program at the Minamiza Theatre: Pre-Curtain Notes (March 2026)

Minamiza's "Hanagata Kabuki Special Performance" features a role-swapping production. I cheerfully bought tickets to both the Matsu and Sakura casts — only to find myself nervous about Kazutaro in a male role… A pre-show notebook of the jitters before opening day.

2026.03.01

Kabuki

Tamasaburo Bando New Year Special: An Afternoon of Talk and Cinema Kabuki (January 2026)

A New Year special at the Minamiza, with Tamasaburo Bando and Nizaemon Kataoka simply talking, up on stage. Their ease with each other and their warmth were almost too much. A record of a solo afternoon in the box seats -- a little gift of a moment.

2026.01.17

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

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

Kaomise at Kyoto’s Minamiza Theatre: Evening Program (December 2023)

The Evening Show of the Minamiza kaomise celebrating Ichikawa Danjuro XIII's name succession: Nizaemon's sublime Yuranosuke, a Stage Announcement that nearly made me cry, and the whole audience shouting "Naritaya!" together.

2023.12.10

Kabuki

Kaomise at Kyoto’s Minamiza Theatre: Matinee (December 2023)

A solo matinee at the Minamiza in Kyoto during the December 2023 Kaomise: Somegoro as Yogoro, the stage debut of Shinnosuke VIII, and a curtain by Takashi Murakami.

2023.12.09

Kabuki