Category: Theatre

Theatre

Shun kin at Barbican (2)

Now the main stage, “Shunkin”. It was just fantastic. Probably I can say one of the best stages I’ve ever seen. The story is based on a novel called “Shunkin sho”, written by Junichiro Tanizaki. It’s a story of a blind shamisen player “Shunkin” and a man who takes care of her, “Sakuke”. On this stage, story goes with the narrator who is recording the story for “NHK” programme in the current Japan, and the man in the narrated story who is visiting the grave of Shunkin and Sasuke, and the old Sasuke who talks about his memory of Shunkin […]

Theatre

Shun kin at Barbican (1) Honjo Hidetaro

Okay, the first writing after the re-launch is about the stage “Shun kin” which was performed at Barbican. And this entry is about its pre-show concert by Hidetaro Honjo. I’m afraid I didn’t know his name…but seems he is such a famous Shamisen player. He started it by learning “Nagauta” and “Minyo”. This time, he played some graceful pieces and sang some “Minyo” too. It was very delicate, beautiful tune. There is a lot of different types of Shamisen, but…for example, the powerful sounds of “Tsugaru-shamisen” always gives me energy. And gentle pieces make me remember the cities like Kyoto […]

Theatre

Kabuki@Sadler’s Wells

I went to see Kabuki! Ebi-sama! Actually I was in two minds of going to see it, I didn:t have much money, was too busy, didn’t have any image of “Kitsune Tadanobu” by Ebizo…but I’m so happy I could see it. They performed three scenes “Fushimi-inari” (aka “Torii-mae”), “Michiyuki-Hatsune-no-Tabi” (aka “Yoshino-yama”), and “Kawatsura-Hogen-Yakata-no-Dan” (aka “Shinokiri”), all from “Yoshitsune Senbon-zakura”. It’s a story of the fox “Tadanobu”. I think it was a good selection…I mean, if it was only one of them the story didn’t make sense for the people who don’t know much about Kabuki. But “Torii-mae” shows really Kabuki-ful […]

Theatre

Kinshu Tokubetsu Stage “Shin”

I went to see the Kabuki stage called “Shin” performed by Kantaro/Shichinosuke Nakamura! This time a taiko performer, Tetsuei Hayashi, and a shamisen performer, Chikudo Takahashi were on the stage as well. Hayashi is the person who participated to start “Kodo”, which I went to see their performance on the other day, so their drumming today was also amazing and energetic. Takahashi was so good at playing speedy tunes. And of course, Nakamura brothers was fantastic! In their first performance, “Ninin-Wankyu”, I was so surprised that Shichinosuke, who played “Matsuyama-dayu” looked so beautiful. “Matsuyama-dayu” is a phantom in the story, […]

Life in London, Theatre

Priscilla

I went to see the musical “Priscilla”. I didn’t know anything about the story, but it was amazing! The costume was so gorgeous, all the scenes was so energetic and powerful! I wish I could understand their jokes more… but still, their dancing was wonderful and I enjoyed it so much. Actually my friend’s friend is playing in this musical. Her name is Kanako Nakano. The scene she speaks was not too long, but her character was so unique and performance was great! It cheered me up as well, looking at a Japanese woman trying so hard in west end. […]

Art&Exhibitions, Life in London, Music, Theatre

Kodo at Southbank centre, London

I went to see a performance by “Kodo” (A group of Japanese traditional drum players). To be honest, I hadn’t seen any proper Japanese drum performance before, and I just went there because it was 50% off for students! But it was amazing. Just amazing. I thought it would be good when I saw the promotion video on their website, but you can never experience the sounds of “big drum” unless you go to see them. It echoes inside your body, rather than on the surface. It was like thunder. Another thing I liked about them was that they were […]