Japan’s Fantastic Theatre
There is so much theatre in Japan! Of course, there are the great traditional styles. But there’s also an amazing world of “modern” or “Western-style” plays and musicals, many of which could never have been created anywhere but Japan. From the 110-year history of the Takarazuka Revue and the Imperial Theatre to the three decades or so of 2.5D, Japan has a fantastic variety of shows of the highest level.
There are original musicals by both Japanese and foreign composers. They feature all genres of both music and stories (and combining sounds and settings in unexpected but brilliant ways). There are also translations of great musicals from all around the world. Every year, there are productions of Korean musicals, Austrian ones, Czech ones, and more, most of which have never been produced in English. And there are productions of the greatest works from Broadway and the West End that have impressed even the Tony- and Olivier-winning creators of the shows.
But people around the world would never know about any of this. When you look on English information sites like Wikipedia, hardly any Japanese musicals have pages. When you google for theatre in Japan, all you get is tourist traps. If the industry wanted to keep this as a best kept secret, that would be one thing. But plenty of producers, actors, and others have expressed a desire for international recognition. They also want to benefit from tourism the way that the theatres in New York and London have.
That’s why I created this website. As an English-speaking fan, I thought it was the least I could do for the arts that I love. I’m just an English teacher, in no way affiliated with the industry. I don’t know everything, so if I say something wrong, please correct me.
Help Spread the Word
Of course, there are also things that the industry can do, like making it easier for foreigners to buy tickets, and releasing more proshots with subtitles. But they won’t do these things until they see that there’s demand out there. So, if you see a show on this site and you want to know more about it, please reach out to your favorite streaming services or tour organizers and ask them to provide these services! And please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or thoughts that you might have!
I hope you enjoy!