Tokyo Weekender July 2016
Breaking the rules of kimono – a new book shatters antiquated views of this traditional garment. Plus: The boys for sale in Shinjuku Ni-chome, best sake of 2017, Japan's new emperor, and what really goes on inside "Terrace House."
Breaking the rules of kimono – a new book shatters antiquated views of this traditional garment. Plus: The boys for sale in Shinjuku Ni-chome, best sake of 2017, Japan's new emperor, and what really goes on inside "Terrace House."
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BEHIND THE SCENES AT<br />
THE OPENING SHOW<br />
The opening day for Alata couldn’t<br />
be more fitting: <strong>July</strong> 7 is the most<br />
common day for celebrating<br />
Tanabata, a holiday that recognizes<br />
two celestial lovers, and is a time<br />
when magical things are known to happen.<br />
The title character of the play is Alata,<br />
a shogun from the Sengoku period (1467–<br />
1603). In his own time, he was charged<br />
with the duty of protecting a princess<br />
from an evil spirit. Defeated on his mission,<br />
Alata finds himself magically transported to<br />
<strong>Tokyo</strong> and the year 2020. There, he meets<br />
Kokoro, a modern young woman with<br />
no fondness for old traditions. As Alata<br />
struggles to make his way in the modern<br />
era, he and Kokoro are pursued by the<br />
same spirit that sent Alata into the future.<br />
One of the things that makes Alata<br />
unique is its ability to tell its tale entirely<br />
without words. Whether audiences are<br />
marveling at Alata’s intense swordplay,<br />
being moved by fast-paced dance routines,<br />
or looking up to see performers on wires<br />
zooming towards the stage, there’s no<br />
language barrier and audiences from<br />
around the world will be able to follow the<br />
story without missing a beat.<br />
We were able to see part of a rehearsal<br />
for the show, and the stage positively<br />
crackles with energy as the characters<br />
brought the captivating story to life with<br />
dance, pantomime, and swordplay.<br />
The playwright behind Alata is Kensuke<br />
Yokouchi, who has penned works that range<br />
from Super Kabuki shows and large-scale<br />
plays to small, independent works. Together<br />
with director Shunichi Okamura, who has<br />
produced everyone from idol groups to<br />
DANCE,<br />
SWORDPLAY,<br />
AND PANTOMIME<br />
COME TOGETHER<br />
TO CREATE AN<br />
UNFORGETTABLE<br />
THEATRICAL<br />
EXPERIENCE<br />
kabuki actors, he has taken up the<br />
challenge of bringing a completely<br />
wordless work to dramatic life.<br />
For a theatrical piece that uses<br />
no words, music plays a crucial<br />
role, which is where the group Mili comes<br />
into focus. The band came to international<br />
attention through the hit mobile music game<br />
Deemo, and all of Mili’s album releases have<br />
hit the number one spot on Japan’s indie<br />
music chart. Their music, which manages<br />
to evoke both traditional Japan and hyper<br />
modern <strong>Tokyo</strong>, is a perfect counterpoint to<br />
this tale of a time-transplanted samurai.<br />
The two performers who will bring<br />
the lead characters to life are Elina and<br />
Yuko Saotome. Elina, who plays Kokoro,<br />
has starred on stage and screen, and has<br />
recently returned from a stint in New York,<br />
further developing her craft as a dancer.<br />
Yuki Saotome, her counterpart, made his<br />
stage debut with Japan’s leading theater<br />
troupe, Gekidan Sujaku, when he was<br />
one and a half years old. After years of<br />
performing in traditional Japanese theater,<br />
Saotome is now known as one of Japan’s<br />
quickest and most talented sword play<br />
performers.<br />
And although the celestial lovers of<br />
Tanabata, Orihime and Hikoboshi, only get a<br />
day to spend with one another, audiences will<br />
be able to enjoy the adventures of Alata and<br />
Kokoro for many months to come. It’s a show<br />
that you don’t want to miss.<br />
ESSENTIAL INFO<br />
Alata hits the stage at Alternative Theatre<br />
on <strong>July</strong> 7.<br />
Tickets: www.alternative-theatre.jp/en<br />
Address: Alternative Theatre Yurakucho<br />
Center Bldg (Yurakucho Mullion) 7F, 2–5–1<br />
Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku.<br />
Scenes from the Alata stage rehearsal<br />
TOKYO WEEKENDER | JULY 2017 | 13