Kabuki Live

Paul Binnie is a woodblock print artist. He currently resides in London, England. As a collector of Japanese prints, Paul’s work was known to me. His prints are honest, compelling, and full of colour. They play on various themes from the past and the present of printmaking. Keeping an eye on his work over the years … More INTERVIEW: Paul Binnie

The first time I had every seen anything kabuki-related was with a DVD produced by Marty Gross Films. Most people with access to a Japan Foundation library in their city may have had the same experience. His DVD’s were my first window into the colour and spectacle of kabuki. Today Marty focuses on his ambitious Mingei Film … More INTERVIEW – Marty Gross

明けましておめでとうございます! Happy New Year! It has been two years since I began this blog and it has not always been what I had hoped. In 2017 I want to try different things on this forum to test my kabuki knowledge and research abilities. Being away from Japan and not being able to see kabuki on … More AMERICAN TOUR: THE 1982 GRAND KABUKI -アメリカツヤー昭和57大歌舞伎

In the middle of July, I traveled back to New York City to visit the touring Kanze noh troupe from Tokyo. The five days of shows were performed at Rose Hall (Jazz at Lincoln Center) at Columbus Circle.  At one time separated through class, noh was influential on kabuki through dance and continues to do so … More 隅田川 – Sumidagawa: noh and kabuki

Kabuki is practically everywhere in Tokyo. You don’t need to go to a kabuki programme at the Kabuki-za, Meiji-za or any other theatre to see kabuki and its aesthetics. Theatrical aesthetics of kabuki have been peddled for many years in modern Japan, with actors selling anything from cigarettes to toothbrushes. But it’s not always so … More 奥山おまいりまち – 歌舞伎絵ストリート

In light of the large earthquakes hitting Kumamoto prefecture in early April, it felt the right time to post about my visit to the Yachiyoza theatre. My visit being in November 2015. Located in Yamaga City (山鹿市) in Kyūshū, the Yachiyoza is nestled in an older, quiet area of Kumamoto prefecture. I had the opportunity … More 八千代座 – The Yachiyoza

  Tōkaidō Yotsuya Kaidan was seen in its entirety, by me, in early December 2015 at Tokyo’s National Theatre of Japan (国立劇場). I was very excited to see this play for the first time, live. When attempting to write observations about a play which have been inexorably written about, I will try to describe what hasn’t necessarily … More 東海道四谷怪談と忠臣蔵-Tōkaidō Yotsuya Kaidan & Chūshingura

When searching for anything kabuki-related in English, you will probably begin at kabuki21.com. Régis Allègre (his nom de plume is Shôriya Aragorô -笑狸屋荒五郎) is the creator of kabuki21.com, the most comprehensive kabuki website on the internet in English. His is a digital library of anything kabuki, present or past. If you are looking for a … More INTERVIEW: Régis Allègre – kabuki21.com

    Spring has come to New York City. The lovely sun and air were a nice break from Toronto’s colder climes. I travelled to New York City to see Ichikawa Ebizō XII and his 2016 Grand Japan Theater. This tour has travelled throughout Japan, as well as parts of Asia. Ebizō’s portion was the … More March Kabuki -春興鏡獅子 – Mirror Lion