Categories
Circus Contemporary dance Live Music

Sancha de Daidougei – Sangenjaya street festival

During the week end of October 17 and 18, a number of free shows will be featured in Sangenjaya, for their yearly street festival. In particular, there will be circus, mime, brass bands and dance performances – we can particularly recommend Yosuke Meguro (juggling), Sivouplait (Mime), Dairakudakan (Butoh), The Vessel (acrobatics) among many other artists and companies.
In general, the performances are free.

Program and info in English is here.
And timetable and map in Japanese is here and in English there.

Categories
Butoh 舞踏

Gal Shaman 2.0

Kana Kitty French figured works, Sacred rythms, will be part of a butoh program on October 24, in Higashi Koenji. A member of Wozme, regular butoh performer of Wakaba Coffee’s works, Kana Kitty is emerging on the Tokyo butoh scene.

More details here.
For other butoh, dance and theater plays in the last quarter of 2026.
For more on butoh in Tokyo

Categories
Angura Theater

Angura revival – Kara Juro and Shuji Terayama in Tokyo

The Red Tent is settling in Kanda (October 3-11), Mito (October 17-18) and Zoshigaya (October 24-November 2nd) for  performances of the play Rainbow miniature house, a work from Kara Juro. The works of Angura most famous master, with connections throughout the Japanese scene from 21st century theater to butoh, are perpetuated, and offer insights in some of the roots of the current Tokyo performing arts scene.
Booking here http://eplus.jp/karagumi/

Similarly, Banyuinryoku keeps on performing Shuji Terayama work. Following Ships of fool (June 2024), the latest performance to take place is set up in 18th century Japan. It is a theater play derived from a story written by Terayama, Shinshaku Inazuma Soushi, which has also been screened in the television, and will be playing from November 20 to 29, with music and direction from the author old accomplice, J.A. Cesar.

Both plays will be in Japanese only, not always easy to understand, but offering glimpses in the Japanese theater culture of the sixties.

For other plays and shows in the last quarter of 2026 : here

Categories
Circus

Contemporary circus from Sweden and Japan in Tokyo

October is the month for circus in Tokyo : Setagaya Public Theater invites as usual an overseas circus company. Vessel is the name of the performance brought from Sweden, to raise moods and spirits with their acrobatics, juggling, tightroping, wheeling, and other balance challenges from October 23 to 25. To be noted, there will be workshops for adults (October 21st, evening) and youngsters (October 24, afternoon). The fare is very reasonable, and I have never been disappointed by STP invited performances.

In Odaiba, free circus experience on October 10 and 11 (at 1pm and 3pm), from the Setouchi Circus Company, which transforms the verticals of the city. There will be a number of performances until November with Arte Tokyo Circus project.

For more dance and theater performances from October to December, check here.

Categories
Theater

Minority report ? Japanese one woman show, when you feel lonely at midnight. With subtility and (English) subtitles

Through her work with Kegawazoku in the 2000s—a group described as creating frenetic, chaotic stages—Junko Emoto, a devoted entertainer who continually reinvents herself, bringing a festive energy and humor, challenged conventions surrounding femininity and bodily representation. From October 16 to 18, we can experience her performance, “A Play to Watch When You Feel Lonely at Midnight”.

In this work, Emoto weaves words and humor that resonate from one lesbian to another into the theatrical landscape. This is an attempt to invert the structure of empathy, which is often centered on the majority. As highlighted by TMT, Lesbian audience members may find themselves connected to the work, while non-lesbian audience members may experience a sense of discomfort. Yet beyond any theoretical framework, what matters most is the visceral experience this play leaves behind—the feeling that it is a powerful form of entertainment.

As a devoted entertainer who continually reinvents herself, she brings a festive energy and humor that feels unmistakably alive, expanding the possibilities of performance and entertainment.

An unusual and challenging experience, with English subtitles.

Booking is slightly complicated, there is one option in English for foreign credit cards, with an additionnal booking fee. As usual for TMT, I recommend to give a phone call, but you can also book on-line.

Categories
Live Music

Russian songs from the goulag

Miyuki Ishibashi has dedicated her art to Russian popular songs, singing in Russian music and scores she started to collect in the streets of Moscow, while she was studying, quite some time ago. Each year, she holds a concert at Kinokuniya hall, this time on October 3rd. Accompanied by a great band, cello, accordion, piano, drums, and playing the guitar, she puts her whole heart in bringing us the passion and drama of the unvoluntary heroes of her songs : prisoners, gypsies, a dying soldier watched by a crow, convicted lesbians, drunkards, haunted by memories, longing for a better future. It resonates deeply with the present. It is for sure better to understand Russian or Japanese, as she highlights the plot of the songs, but just listening to the music and its poetry is also very, very satisfactory.

Categories
Contemporary dance Dance

Dance Now Asia, Festival in Tokyo

In 2026, Dance Now Asia will be held in Tokyo. From October 20 to 25, choregraphers and contemporary dancers from all over Asia, from Indonesia to Japan, including Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan, will perform at Za Koenji. There will be programs featuring 3 different countries each, as well Showcase programs. On top of that, 2 workshops will be held, one butoh workshop with Ikko Tamura from Dairakudakan, and one with an Indonesian choregraph.

Categories
Contemporary dance English English subtitles Theater Visual arts

A Kyoto Experiment, By Heart, & by Tiago Rodrigues

On October 3 and 4, the famous Portuguese director is bringing another masterpiece to Kyoto Theatre Rohm. In English, subtitled in Japanese. Marking the highly anticipated Japan premiere of a masterpiece restaged throughout the world since its opening in 2013, By Heart blends personal memories and collective histories while presenting shared memory and its inheritance as a tool of resistance. We cannot forget Tiago Rodrigues last performances in Japan in Shizuoka, and this one again is a must – at least for Kansai people.
This will be the opening performance of K EX 2026, which wil spread throughout October and close on November 8.
See the whole program here, with interesting programs from Korea and Hong Kong and beyond.

Categories
ballet Butoh Circus Contemporary dance Dance English English subtitles 舞踏 Japanese tradition Opera Theater

Tokyo Stages in 2026 fourth quarter

See here our selection for October to November 2026

Categories
Butoh Classical music 舞踏

Akaji Maro’s Alter Ego in Setagaya Public Theater

Eric Maria Couturier will play the cello and inspire renowned Akaji Maro butoh dancer in continuation of their recent partnership. In the tracks of the Alter Ego performance in Nanterre, where the famous Intercomporain orchester member and Paris conservatoire professor was playing Bach’s solo cello suites, while Akaji Maro was interpreting his music through his art of butoh, the duet will be on stage in SPT from October 29 to November 1st. For this new performance, 4 additional dancers from Dairakudakan will take part, including Jongye Yang. For both music lovers and butoh / contemporary dance fans, it will be a new experience to be enjoyed in theater Tram, after the undergrounds of Kichijoji back in April.
Information for booking here. As unfortunately usual, sales happen on 3 different channels, each having own quota of tickets.