Rei Sasaguchi - The Japan Times

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Rei Sasaguchi

For Rei Sasaguchi's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

Japan Times

CULTURE / Stage

May 19, 2004

Harmony of the artistic spheres

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Bunrakuza Theater in Osaka, the Tokyo National Theater this month presents in its entirety "Imoseyama Onna Teikin (Admonitions to Women on Their Relationships with Men)," Chikamatsu Hanji's 1771 bunraku masterpiece.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Stage

Apr 14, 2004

In search of the perfect swindle

Cherry trees bloom on the Kabukiza stage all year round, but this month, as befits hanami season, they're particularly spectacular. That's not surprising, because "Shiranami Gonin Otoko (The Five Shiranami Men)" by Kawatake Mokuami (1816-93), was inspired by ukiyo-e prints by the renowned Utagawa Toyokuni III.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Art

Mar 17, 2004

Three's a (talented) crowd

The Kabukiza in Ginza celebrates the arrival of spring with two excellent programs this month, including a striking dance number titled "Dattan" inspired by the fiery Buddhist rite of the same name held every March at Todaiji Temple in Nara.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Stage

Feb 18, 2004

Medieval kyogen treads modern boards

Mansai Nomura, the 37-year-old kyogen supremo who has also enjoyed success in contemporary theater and film and TV dramas, is embarking on yet another a new enterprise in Tokyo this month. At Setagaya Public Theater (SEPT) where he is artistic director, Mansai is presenting his first "Kyogen Gekijo (Kyogen Theater)" program in collaboration with his prominent kyogen actor-father, Mansaku Nomura. His uncle Mannosuke Nomura and Mansaku's six disciples are also participating.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Stage

Feb 4, 2004

UNESCO top honor for bunraku puppet theater

On Nov. 7, 2003, bunraku was recognized by UNESCO as a World Intangible Cultural Heritage. The award cited the unique nature of Japan's indigenous puppet theater, and praised the realism with which it portrays human emotions.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Stage

Jan 21, 2004

Seeing double at kabuki new year shows

Kabuki has made an auspicious start to the Year of the Monkey, with performances at no less than three venues in Tokyo: the Kokaido (Public Hall) in Asakusa, the Kabukiza in Ginza and the National Theater in Hanzomon. Of these, the first two venues offer the special excitement of watching up-and-coming young kabuki stars of the future tackling major roles.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Stage

Dec 3, 2003

A behind-the-scenes drama of noh

A masterly drama about a master dramatist is playing at the New National Theater in Tokyo through Dec. 21. Bando Mitsugoro, a 47-year-old kabuki actor, takes the title role in "Zeami," a biographical play about the talented writer-actor-director who, in the early 15th century, did more than any other to establish noh theater.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Stage

Nov 12, 2003

Season of 'new faces' sees an old master take a bow

This month the Kabukiza, Ginza, is sporting a yagura (turret) on its gabled facade, covered with a blue curtain on which is written "Kyogenzukushi (All kyogen plays)." To those in the know, the turret is announcing the arrival of the annual kaomise ("face-showing") season. This was the most important kabuki event of the year during the 18th and 19th centuries, marking the time when the licensed theaters in Edo, Kyoto and Osaka hired new actors for the upcoming year and introduced them to audiences.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Stage

Oct 22, 2003

Cynic's view of the sex and the city

One of kabuki's most prolific playwrights, Tsuruya Nanboku, produced 120 dramas in the last 25 years of his life. This month, the Kabukiza, in Ginza, stages just two of them, a pair of remarkable sewamono (realistic plays) titled "Kamikakete Sango Taisetsu (A Pledge of Love to Sango)" and "Osome Hisamatsu Ukina no Yomiuri (News of the Love Affair of Osome and Hisamatsu)," generally known as "The Seven Roles of Osome."

Japan Times

CULTURE / Stage

Sep 17, 2003

Son pays tribute to a kabuki master

The Kabukiza Theater in Ginza is presenting two attractive selections of kabuki plays and dance numbers this month in memory of Nakamura Kichiemon I, who died on Sept. 5, 1954, at age 68. Naturally, Kichiemon's 59-year-old grandson, who in 1966 adopted the stage name of Nakamura Kichiemon II, is taking the lead at the event.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Stage

Aug 20, 2003

Stars for a day: kabuki initiates in the limelight

For a glimpse of the future of kabuki, make your way this month not to the Kabukiza (where contemporary drama superstar Hideki Noda is reigning supreme, see article below) but to the National Theater, Tokyo.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Stage

Jul 16, 2003

Ennosuke soars with two-in-one tale

For his 33rd annual summer season at the Kabukiza Theater in Ginza, Ichikawa Ennosuke is this month presenting not one but two kabuki classics: "Yotsuya Kaidan (The Ghost Story at Yotsuya)" and "Chushingura (The 47 Loyal Retainers)." There's a catch, though -- he's fashioned them into a single, three-act drama.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Stage

Jun 18, 2003

Just two ordinary, everyday heroes

Amid the violent upheavals of the Warring States Period in Japan from the mid-1500s till the early 17th century, there emerged some chivalrous spirits eager to fight on behalf of unprotected, ordinary people. Such men, who were known as kyokaku or otokodate -- "ones who seek to right wrongs" -- generally adopted the dress and imitated the behavior of samurai, upholding honorable principles and fulfilling social obligations.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Stage

May 14, 2003

A new Kanjuro takes the bunraku stage

Yoshida Minotaro (real name: Miyanaga Toyomi) is rare among today's bunraku practitioners as he comes from the family of the prominent puppeteer Kiritake Kanjuro II, who died in 1986 at age 66, four years after he was designated a living national treasure. Minotaro was 33 years old at the time of his father's death, and now, at 50, he has succeeded to the prestigious stage name left by his father.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Stage

Apr 16, 2003

Lessons in warfare, lessons in duty

This month the Kabukiza in Ginza offers a jidaimono (history play) on a grand scale -- "Kokusen'ya Kassen (Kokusen'ya's Battle)." The play is adapted from Chikamatsu Monzaemon's bunraku masterpiece, which enjoyed a record 17-month run when it was first presented in Osaka in 1715. The play is being staged this month to mark the 350th anniversary of Chikamatsu's birth, in 1653.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Stage

Mar 19, 2003

Double the beauty and pain

The Kabukiza Theater celebrates the advent of spring by offering an attractive selection of kabuki plays and dance numbers with excellent casts, including the two renowned onnagata, Nakamura Shikan and Bando Tamasaburo.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Stage

Feb 19, 2003

Celebrating kabuki's 400th birthday in style

Celebrating the 400th anniversary of the birth of kabuki, this month the Kabukiza in Ginza offers "Yoshitsune Senbonzakura (Yoshitsune and 1,000 Cherry Trees)" in its entirety. Performed by an excellent cast, the program runs for eight hours.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Stage

Jan 15, 2003

On with the old and in with the new

The kabuki year has kicked off with three striking programs at the Kokaido (Public Hall) in Asakusa, the Kabukiza in Ginza and the Tokyo National Theater in Hanzomon.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Stage

Dec 25, 2002

Ennosuke masters Mishima's extravagant vision

The Kabukiza Theater in Ginza concludes the year in style, with outstanding performances by the versatile Ichikawa Ennosuke, 63, and members of his troupe.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Stage

Nov 13, 2002

Dishonor avenged, love avowed

This month, following the lead of the Kabukiza, the National Theater in Tokyo also presents "Kanadehon Chushingura (The 47 Loyal Retainers)" to mark the upcoming 300th anniversary of the famous act of revenge carried out by the 47 ronin (masterless samurai) on the night of Dec. 14, 1702 (on the old calendar). As at the Kabukiza staging (featured in The Japan Times, Oct. 16), this program is presented in two parts.

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