Yu Shibuya: ‘Creating something from nothing requires a huge effort’
Yu Shibuya made the decision early on in his life to “rescue” modern Japanese culture from crass commercialism. He chose the theater as his weapon.
Expect revivals and VR from the stage as theater continues to deal with the coronavirus
In his 1964 anthem, “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” Bob Dylan sings: “As the present now / Will later be past / The order is rapidly fadin’...” At the time, he may have had social turmoil in mind when he wrote those lyrics, but the ...
Children's puppet shows help bunraku master endure coronavirus shutdown
Kanjuro Kiritake says the pandemic has left him worrying for the future of his art form.
COVID-19 plays the spoiler as stages try to reopen in Japan
Even in the age of COVID-19, the show must go on, and go on it will. Theater lovers suffering from withdrawal symptoms as a result of cancellations prompted by the coronavirus will be relieved to learn that a number of companies are busily formulating plans ...
Japan's acting troupes turn your home into a stage
With the curtains remaining closed at theaters across Japan, some acting troupes are adopting new methods of reaching their audiences.
Conquering history and conquering the stage with Ken Watanabe
Japanese actor Ken Watanabe returns to 'Pizarro' 35 years after his last performance in the play, this time in the lead role as the titular Spanish conquistador.
Updating 'Romeo and Juliet' in a bid to fight prejudice in Japan
Wishing Chong brings an all-male version of 'Romeo and Juliet,' set in post-war Western Japan, to the stage in Tokyo.
Bringing Haruki Murakami's 'The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle' to Japan's stages
Murakami's enigmatic masterpiece has been adapted for Japanese stage for the first time, with Songha and Daichi Watanabe taking on the role of Toru Okada.
The art of condensing Shakespeare's oeuvre
Shuntaro Fujita brings "Tempo 12-nen no Shakespeare" to Tokyo, modernising a story that encompases elements from each of the Bard's 37 plays.
To kill or not to kill: that is the question in 'Death Note: The Musical'
A new version of "Death Note: The Musical" takes to the stage in Tokyo, with hopes of challenging people's perceptions of justice.
Yoshitaka Hori: The man on a mission to export Japanese musicals
HoriPro Inc. CEO and Chairman, Yoshitaka Hori, wants to take Japanese musicals out to the world and compete with the likes of Broadway and the West End.
'Fortune' updates Faust's devilish deal
Playwright Simon Stephens turns to ideas of terror for his British-Japanese transformative theatrical trip.
