A wide variety of musicals, plays, dance, and more! Experience another world at the theater

Shiki Theatre Company's "The Phantom of the Opera" is coming to Yokohama!

Speaking of the musical "The Phantom of the Opera," it's the Shiki Theatre Company. It's so well-established that the name immediately comes to mind, but there are probably many people who are hesitant to go to the theater because they think, "I'd like to see it someday, but it's a bit far away..." Good news for those people! Starting in March, "The Phantom of the Opera" will be performed at the KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theater (Hall)!

What is "The Phantom of the Opera"?

Photo: Ken Arai (from the previous performance)

The total number of performances in Japan is third after "The Lion King" and "Cats"!

"The Phantom of the Opera" is performed all over the world, but the Shiki Theatre Company's Japan premiere was in 1988, the same year as the Broadway premiere. Japan is known in history as the third country in the world to have performed the show, after the UK and the US. The total number of performances is the third highest in Japan after "The Lion King" and "Cats" (as of September 30, 2016). It is truly one of Japan's leading musicals.

Photo: Takashi Uehara (from the previous performance)

On the stage is a faithful reproduction of the Paris Opera House. Don't miss the elaborately crafted proscenium arch that frames the stage like a picture frame and the majestic chandelier that floats high above! How luxurious it is to be able to experience the stately atmosphere of the Paris Opera House right here in Yokohama!

The gorgeous costumes and stage sets, the overwhelming singing ability of the actors, and the sublime music that supports it all... this endlessly fascinating performance makes you feel like you absolutely have to see it!!

The moving stage, packed with a variety of highlights, is sure to draw you into a world beyond the ordinary.

This will be the first long-term performance in the Yokohama area in four years!

It's been about four years since Shiki Theatre Company's long-term performance in Yokohama, since their last production of "Cats." As many of you may remember, there was a "Cats Theater" near Shin-Takashima Station in the Minato Mirai 21 district for three years from November 2009 to November 2012. During those three years, the Cats Theater became a familiar part of the Yokohama scenery, and I felt very sad when the theater was demolished after the performances ended.

Such a long-term performance in Yokohama. It seems that Shiki Theatre Company has been considering to hold another long-running performance in Yokohama. This time, the performance will run for 5 months until August. You can enjoy a magnificent drama by making full use of the KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theater <Hall>.

The gorgeous stage set, the actors' powerful performances, and the music that touches your heart will warm your heart.

Take a break at Chinatown's only (probably) book cafe, Kanteido Bookstore

This is a hidden gem of a cafe where you can escape from the hustle and bustle of bustling Chinatown and quietly enjoy a book while enjoying coffee or Chinese tea. Inside the cafe, there are a variety of books on topics ranging from Journey to the West, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and Kung Fu to Chinese history, fortune telling, and even panda-related books. There are also Chinese versions of popular Japanese comics, so you might be able to study a language! The colorful and kitschy interior that is typical of Chinatown is also worth seeing. There is also outdoor terrace seating where you can smoke.

Chinese teas such as jasmine tea and lychee tea are served with refills of hot water, snacks to accompany the tea, and a smiling panda jelly.
"At first the pandas were just cute, but recently I've gotten used to drawing them, and they've started to have more complex expressions (laughs)," says the store manager.
They also have beer and pound cakes. It's a hideaway cafe where you can relax and unwind, probably because it's on the third floor of a building. They also sell second-hand books and miscellaneous goods at the storefront.

In addition to the pressed flower art classes held on Thursdays and Saturdays, they also plan to hold picture book readings, Kamishibai (paper theater) events, coloring cafes, manuscript cafes, etc. They also have a collection of Peking Opera, also known as Beijing Opera, and books set in 19th century China, the same period as "The Phantom of the Opera."

After seeing "The Phantom of the Opera," which is set in 19th century Paris, you can relax in a retro Chinese restaurant, which could be a great way to spend a day enjoying the exotic atmosphere of Yokohama.

■BOOKS&CAFE Kanteido Bookstore
Address: 3rd floor of Yokohama Bazaar, 166 Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama
Business hours: Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 11:00-19:30, weekdays: irregular
Closed: Wednesday

Be intoxicated by the richness of physical expression - Yokohama Dance Collection

©Damien Jalet｜Kohei Nawa, VESSEL_2016_ROHM theater_Photo by Yoshikazu Inoue

What is the Yokohama Dance Collection?

This dance festival, which began in 1996 with the aim of discovering and nurturing young choreographers and popularizing contemporary dance, is one of the oldest cultural programs in Yokohama. This year marks the 22nd anniversary of the festival. The competition, which is the central program of this festival, places emphasis on the originality of the "choreography."

Shaking our bodies to express joy and sadness is something we do naturally from the time we are babies, without being taught by anyone. There are countless ways of "expression" in the world, such as words, pictures, and music, but dance in particular can be said to be the "beginning of ways of expression." Choreography is a way of expressing oneself using one's body, which everyone possesses, by elevating the era, aesthetic sense, emotions, and values held by each person into a work that can be appreciated by everyone, and conveying them in a free-flowing manner. And when you watch the dancers' solid techniques that support it, it seems that the "joy that lies beyond physical expression" wells up within you.

In any case, this is a stage that you should see in real life and feel in your heart.

This year marks the 22nd anniversary of the event, and an art program in collaboration with the Yokohama Museum of Art will be held.

Well, the Yokohama Dance Collection has a long history, but this year they are holding a program in collaboration with the Yokohama Museum of Art. The Yokohama Museum of Art's special exhibition "BODY/PLAY/POLITICS", which was held until December 14th last year, was a group exhibition of contemporary art with the keyword "body". The exhibition theme is the same as the Yokohama Museum of Art's exhibition, which showed the expression produced by the body of a single person, the action of a group, and the spiritual "body" from various angles, and we will delve deeper into the expression produced by the "body" in dance.

The world's first new performance! Junnosuke Tada "Choreograph"

"RE/PLAY (DANCE Edit.)" © Ryuichiro Suzuki

One piece worth noting is the new piece "Choreograph" directed by Junnosuke Tada (head of Tokyo Deathlock and artistic director of Fujimi Civic Cultural Center Kirari Fujimi), who is also a judge for the competition. This performance at the Yokohama Dance Collection will be its world premiere.

The performers include Aokid, a choreographer, dancer and visual artist who won the Yokohama Dance Collection 2016 Competition I, Kaori Ito, another award-winning choreographer and member of Tokyo Deathlock, Gunjo, who was a member of the breakdance group "BRONX," which had a strong influence on the breakdance world, and Naoko Tozawa, who won the world championship at the "Juste Debout Experimental (2016)" (France), a world competition that competes for creative originality in dance that goes beyond the boundaries of street dance, and who has been active in a wide range of fields, including appearing in the opening of the Yokohama Dance Collection 2016 "No Sound Flower" and "VESSEL Yokohama" in 2017.

(From the official website)

And director Tada Junnosuke will also be appearing!
Known as a director who creates "dance like theater, theater like dance," Junnosuke Tada has created new theatrical expressions while expanding the possibilities beyond the existing framework of theater. His unique direction has been highly praised both in Japan and overseas. In recent years, he has continued to create in Southeast Asia, including Singapore and Cambodia, so why not visit to see his broad-minded view of history?

"Who on earth am I?" Young actors' Hamlet begins!

Lazona Kawasaki is a commercial facility located right next to JR Kawasaki Station. Plaza Sol, located on the 5th floor of the West Building, is an easy-to-enter, friendly, multi-purpose hall. It hosts a variety of performances by young musicians and performers, including concerts, plays, and comedy shows. This time, the main cast will feature fresh young actors and New National Theatre Theater trainees, who will be putting on a passionate performance.

2015 performance "Macbeth"

One of the joys of watching young actors grow during the performance is being able to see them. In last year's performance of "Macbeth", they made the most of the space and their bodies under limited conditions to present a powerful and innovative "Macbeth", which was well received.

The number of spectators steadily increased with each performance, and on the final day, the performance was so popular that the venue was packed.

The performance of "Hamlet" that we will be performing today is, like "Macbeth," a masterpiece by Shakespeare, and a masterpiece among masterpieces that highlights Shakespeare's keen observation of human nature, which is representative of Renaissance theater.
"Who am I?" The protagonist worries about his path in life, worries about his own identity in a crumbling world, and heads toward insanity, as played by up-and-coming young actors with passion and speed. Experience the enthusiasm of the actors on this energetic stage.

Japan's only performing arts platform "TPAM - International Performing Arts Meeting in Yokohama 2017" is being held!

Courtesy of Kick the Machine Films_feverroom

What is TPAM?

It is the only international performing arts platform in Japan, and is held in three programs: "Performance Program," "Exchange Program for Performing Arts Professionals," and "Open Call Program." The number of participants at last year's event was 292 people from 40 countries and regions around the world, including 424 people from Japan, making it one of the world's leading performing arts events. Although most programs are attended by professionals, most programs are open to the general public. Admission fees are reasonable, and the number of attendees at the last event was 18,773 people in total.

A performance program where you can experience performing arts from Asia and around the world

The performance program features 13 works/projects that embody the latest trends in performing arts from Asia and around the world.
For example, Apichatpong Weerasethakul's "Fever Room" will be premiered in Japan at TPAM!
Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Thailand), who has won numerous film awards including the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, is a highly successful international filmmaker. As a genius Thai filmmaker and visual artist, many screenings and exhibitions of his works, such as "Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives," were held in Japan last year, and he was fascinated by the charm of his works and was looked upon with enthusiasm by people in the film and performing arts industries in Japan.
"Fever Room" is Apichatpong's first stage production. As a completely new theatrical experience that transcends the boundaries of film and theater, this work, which has received high praise at festivals around the world, will be performed in Japan for the first time!

Exchange programs and open programs are also available

The "Exchange Program" for information exchange and networking between domestic and international performing arts professionals is open to the general public, with the exception of some symposiums and talk sessions such as business meetings and negotiations. You can also view the open-entry program "TPAM Fringe," which is a chance for new artists to gain international recognition. It is also a great opportunity for theater fans to discover new talents and works, and is very popular every year.

In addition, there will be a variety of other performances and events during the period!
So we asked the TPAM organizing committee for some recommended performances.

The dance work "BALABALA" (https://www.tpam.or.jp/2017/?program=balabala) , choreographed by Eko Supriyanto (Indonesia), is the third Asian international co-production in which TPAM has participated.
Eko Supriyanto, a choreographer and dancer who has worked on mainstream projects including Madonna's shows, reinterprets the traditional dance of Jailolo, a remote island in eastern Indonesia, from a modern perspective with five young local female dancers. It is a fresh performance that transcends gender and cultural barriers. Free admission for those under 18!

(TPAM Public Relations Officer Amemiya)

TPAM brings together people involved in the performing arts from Japan and abroad, and also features Japan and world premieres, as well as artists who are currently in the spotlight. Be sure to check it out.