solo outing

After Senshuraku, Before Shonichi: A Dark Day at the Kabukiza (Jan-Feb 2026)

A business trip to Tokyo, a quick stop at the Kabukiza - and a dark day, so no play after all. Instead, a one-person photo session in front of an empty theater, soaking up the quiet getting-ready scenery during the short gap after one run ended and before the next began.

2026.01.29

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

New Year Asakusa Kabuki: Part 1 (January 2026)

Part 1 of the New Year kabuki at Asakusa Public Hall. Hunting down actor handprints and tapestries, hearing the stage cues in Aioi-jishi from a front seat, a Maisen pocket sandwich, and a hotel three minutes away—a solo day out, traveling light.

2026.01.06

Kabuki

New Year Asakusa Kabuki: Part 2 (January 2026)

With time to spare before the afternoon show, I wandered around Asakusa, had the Danjuro statue all to myself for a photo spree, and caught the Otoshidama greeting — given, once again, by Sakon Onoe, who once again talked about Somegoro. A solo travelogue of New Year Asakusa Kabuki, Part 2.

2026.01.05

Kabuki

Kyoto National Museum, Pony Tales (January 2026)

A New Year visit to Kyoto National Museum to renew my annual pass, with a chance encounter with Ogata Korin's Bamboo and Tiger, the model for Torarin.

2026.01.03

Museums

Kokuho (Dir. Lee Sang-il)

Six months after its release, I finally saw "Kokuho" from a premium seat I booked through sheer persistence. The story was a little predictable, but the music and visuals had me in tears. Three hours well spent at the cinema.

2025.12.29

Others

Yoshiro and Yoshio Taniguchi Museum of Architecture, Kanazawa (December 2025)

A spur-of-the-moment detour to the museum of a beloved architect. I came for the recreated Yushintei rooms and ended up captivated by an unexpected water garden, a solo winter day in Kanazawa.

2025.12.20

Museums

Blue Boy Trial (directed by Kasho Iizuka)

I went for Izumi Sexy's screen debut. Blue Boy Trial left me thinking about what I had not known beforehand, plus a voice I overheard on the escalator afterward. A solo movie outing.

2025.12.03

Others

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