Tag: 6/2026

Categories
English subtitles Japanese tradition Theater

The 47 ronin : Discovering Kabuki

The National Theater, Tokyo, continues to promote the discovery of first rank kabuki for people not yet understanding all codes and arcanes. From June 5 to June 20, and particulary from June 13 to June 20, Kanadehon Chushingura – The treasury of loyal retainers, will be introduced to beginners. A 2-hour session, with support in English, will present first how to enjoy kabuki, explaining the rules and codes of this traditional theater form, followed by a 90 mn performance. At a reasonable cost, with explanation, hearing support in English, and, from the 13th to the 20th, subtitles in English, it is a bargain for stepping into this art – and a rarity, as usually there is an hearing support, which disrupts the listening of the play itself, but no subtitling. The drama, Chushingura, is about the revenge of 47 samurais whose master was forced to commit suicide, and is a very popular drama (Jiro Osaragi wrote an acclaimed novel, The 47 ronin, based on these events).

More information on Japan traditional performing arts
More information on Theatre and dance performances in May/June

Categories
French Theater

Jean Reno gets emotional in Tokyo

I had the chance to watch Jean Reno solo, らくだ／The camel / Le chameau premiered in Tokyo Metropolitan Theater last Sunday. I wasn’t sure what to expect, given the profile of the actor, but I was in no way disappointed. Much more emotional and intimate than imagined, this was a great one man show, revealing the scars of fame, as well as its scarcity. It very much sounded like an autobiographical testimony, blended with solo songs supported by the piano performance of Pablo Lanty. A great spectacle both for fans and non fans of the famous French actor, which ended in warm applause and a final song ! The camel is leaving the capital on May 24, heading North to Toyama and then West : Hyogo, Shizuoka, Fukuoka, Yamaguchi, Kyoto and many more cities, ending on July 19 in Okayama. If there are still tickets available, do not miss the chance to enjoy, and bring back a bottle of Dassai sake !

Categories
Contemporary dance Dance

Fugue of that day. And then.

Session House Kagurazaka will marks its 35th Year with “Dance Bridge 2026”, Mademoiselle Cinema premiering its newest work, Fugue of That Day. And Then,over two days, June 20 (Sat) and 21 (Sun),
2026

Ten years after Fugue of Sorrow. Now, dancing across a decade-long fault line. This production is part of the long-running “Dance Bridge” series, which has played a leading role in Japan’s contemporary dance scene. A decade after Fugue of Sorrow (2016)—a collaborative work with a visual artist that drew significant attention for its raw portrayal of women’s emotions—this new piece reflects on our present moment,
situated between a changing world and enduring pain.

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Performance Details

Dance Bridge 2026 – 35th Anniversary: Culmination and New Challenges
Fugue of That Day. And Then,

Dates & Times
June 20 (Sat), 2026 — 15:00 / 19:00
June 21 (Sun), 2026 — 14:00

Categories
Angura Theater

Ship of fools, from the realm of dead to Tokyo

Shuji Terayama Ship of fools, Tokyo 2026

From June 19 to June 28, another folly of Shuji Terayama will be revived. The Ship of fools will be performed at Za Koenji public theater. It will be another disturbing and mad experience, which will bring us back to the chaos of Angura in the seventies (the play dates back to 1976). From the Middle Age to contemporary times, a ship is travelling back from the realm of the dead – is it bringing back Orpheus among its twisted crowd of fools and drunkards ? Connected to The Narrenschif from Sebastian Brant (and illustrated by Albrecht Dürer), let us dive further in the creative Underground atmosphere of an uncontrolled Tokyo, fifty years ago. Music shall play quite a role in this theater piece. With this commemoration of Terayama Shuji 90th birth anniversary, we continue this season our travel in the Angura scene – do not miss the outdoor, under the tent performance of Kara Juro Tin soldier, by the way – and look for release of the booking for The book of the dead by Dairakudakan, the butoh company headed by Maro Akaji, who initially mingled with Kara Juro !
As booking is usually complicated in Japan, tickets can be purchased both from the theater, for a limited number of places, and from the company itself, which usually sells more tickets.

Categories
French Theater

French short plays, by Atelier Café Gare de Lyon

L’atelier Café Gare de Lyon presents 2 new shows, all in French :

 y, la disparition

a dystopian comedy – what would the world look like if all humans disappeared

and

Les 7 péchés capitaux

7 comedians present the vision of 7 contemporary writers about the 7 capital sins.

 On June 6th and 7th, in Nakano
More information and booking here

Categories
English Theater

Love beyond, a play in English and Sign Language

KAAT is inviting us to see Love beyond, a play in English / Sign language about vanishing memories and communication, by a Scottish company and one deaf actor. This very moving piece from Glasgow received many positive critics (in English here). From June 12 to June 14 in Yokohama.

Categories
Comic French Theater

Un dîner de cons ! A Tokyo ?

From June 4 to 7, 4 performances in French, subtitled in Japanese !!!!

Du 4 au 7 juin, 4 représentations, en français sous-titré japonais, du Dîner de cons auquel nous sommes tous conviés. Une nouvelle occasion de rire dans la langue de Molière en notre belle capitale. La troupe Théâtre Kitsuné, nouvellement formée (?) mais comptant des acteurs aguerris, et qui nous ont déjà ébaudis lors d’improvisations mémorables, nous guérira de la morosité, au théâtre Zatsuyu de Shinjuku.

Lien ici
Facebook info there

Japanese people will be able to follow thanks to subtitles – a great way to meddle into French comic subculture.

Categories
French Theater

Jean Reno Tokyo solo premiere !!!

Jean Reno, the famous French actor, will be on stage, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre from May 10 to May 24. The one man show, The camel / Rakuda, supported by pianist Pablo Lanty, and subtitled in Japanese, is a world premiere. It will reveal his travel around the world since his birth in Morocco and Leon. Verses of the description hint it will also be poetic. It is a premiere and we are not sure what it will be all about. But we have to be there – the more detailed description is in Japanese only, Geigeki really needs to improve.
For booking in English at the Geigeki.
The camel will travel throughout Japan, in Kansai (Nishinomiya in May, Kyoto in July), in Kyushu, in Shikoku, in Toyama, Miyagi … check the tour !
In the official site above you can find a short video from Jean Reno talking about this world premiere, what it is about, and why Japan first.
For a short review of the show, click here

More performances in French in the months to come here and here.
And recommandations for shows in the first and second quarters of 2026.

『らくだ』