Latest news with #Shochiku
The Irish Sun
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
The European city with £15 flights that feels like ‘going to Japan without the cost'
JAPAN is 8,000 miles away from the UK - but what if we told you there's a version of the incredible city much closer to home? 7 There's a Little Tokyo in Düsseldorf Credit: Alamy 7 There are markets, restaurants and cafes in two streets Credit: Alamy Little Tokyo is full of shops, cafes and restaurants that will transport you to Japan. You'll find the miniature Japanese city between the main station and city centre down two streets called Immermannstraße and Klosterstraße. Little Tokyo can be bustling, especially for anyone looking for something delicious to eat. There are places to pick up ramen and noodle dishes, sushi, as well as izakaya tapas, even baked goods. Read More on Holidays One of the most popular restaurants in Little Tokyo is Takumi which has very high ratings on The menu includes various types of ramen, soups and gyozas. The market Shochiku sells fresh fish and even has sushi counters. There are lots of shops in the city that sell Japanese books, manga, and origami paper. Most read in City breaks Another popular spot is Lime Light Karaoke Box which is in the basement of the Clayton Hotel. You can go there for a sing song in a private room that is rented out by the hour. Sample the atmosphere of welcoming Dusseldorf 7 Flights to Düsseldorf are as cheap as £15 with Ryanair Credit: Alamy 7 There's a yearly celebration for the Japanese community Credit: Alamy One day a year, the Japanese community gathers in Little Tokyo to celebrate Japan Day. It's known as Europe's largest Japanese cultural festival and is usually celebrated at the end of May. There are lots of events like music, dancing, food festivals, and it all ends with a fireworks display. Little Tokyo is a popular spot with tourists, one visitor said: "One of the must-visit places in Düsseldorf is undoubtedly this lively street that has become a hub for lovers of Japanese cuisine and culture. "Along this bustling street, you will find several top ramen locations, each offering a slightly different style and flavor, making it a perfect spot for ramen enthusiasts eager to sample a variety of authentic dishes." Another added: "My wife and I have been missing the charm of Japan, so we decided to take a two-day, one-night trip to Düsseldorf." They continued to add that they were "enchanted" by the Japanese alleyways and that it transported them to the outskirts of 7 There's even a Japanese garden in Düsseldorf Credit: 7 It has its very own 'Garden of Reflection' Credit: Japan is known for having beautiful gardens with bright flowers and plants . Düsseldorf has its own version of those too and it's literally called Japanischer Garten. The garden was created in the 1970s and has pine trees, Japanese maples that surround a pond. It's also called the 'Garden of Reflection' and is considered a good place for quiet and to relax. Sun Travel found flights from Here are even more 7 Düsseldorf has its own Little Tokyo with shops, restaurants and celebrations
The Sun
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
The European city with £15 flights that feels like ‘going to Japan without the cost'
JAPAN is 8,000 miles away from the UK - but what if we told you there's a version of the incredible city much closer to home? Düsseldorf has the third largest Japanese community in Europe, and the city even has its own Little Tokyo. 7 7 Little Tokyo is full of shops, cafes and restaurants that will transport you to Japan. You'll find the miniature Japanese city between the main station and city centre down two streets called Immermannstraße and Klosterstraße. Little Tokyo can be bustling, especially for anyone looking for something delicious to eat. There are places to pick up ramen and noodle dishes, sushi, as well as izakaya tapas, even baked goods. One of the most popular restaurants in Little Tokyo is Takumi which has very high ratings on Tripadvisor. The menu includes various types of ramen, soups and gyozas. The market Shochiku sells fresh fish and even has sushi counters. There are lots of shops in the city that sell Japanese books, manga, and origami paper. Another popular spot is Lime Light Karaoke Box which is in the basement of the Clayton Hotel. You can go there for a sing song in a private room that is rented out by the hour. Sample the atmosphere of welcoming Dusseldorf 7 7 One day a year, the Japanese community gathers in Little Tokyo to celebrate Japan Day. It's known as Europe's largest Japanese cultural festival and is usually celebrated at the end of May. There are lots of events like music, dancing, food festivals, and it all ends with a fireworks display. Little Tokyo is a popular spot with tourists, one visitor said: "One of the must-visit places in Düsseldorf is undoubtedly this lively street that has become a hub for lovers of Japanese cuisine and culture. "Along this bustling street, you will find several top ramen locations, each offering a slightly different style and flavor, making it a perfect spot for ramen enthusiasts eager to sample a variety of authentic dishes." Another added: "My wife and I have been missing the charm of Japan, so we decided to take a two-day, one-night trip to Düsseldorf." They continued to add that they were "enchanted" by the Japanese alleyways and that it transported them to the outskirts of Tokyo. 7 7 Japan is known for having beautiful gardens with bright flowers and plants. Düsseldorf has its own version of those too and it's literally called Japanischer Garten. The garden was created in the 1970s and has pine trees, Japanese maples that surround a pond. It's also called the 'Garden of Reflection' and is considered a good place for quiet and to relax. Sun Travel found flights from Edinburgh to Düsseldorf with Ryanair on July 16 for the cheapest flight at £14.99. Here are even more holiday destinations that you can fly to for under £15. 7
Yomiuri Shimbun
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Kabuki to Make Debut at U.K.'S Biggest Japan Festival
Intricate costumes, bold makeup, stunning sets — the distinct characteristics of Japanese kabuki theater have become recognizable worldwide. With the artform having been showcased the world over, Shochiku Co., kabuki production house, is offering a unique entry into the world of kabuki in its first appearance at London's Hyper Japan, the United Kingdom's biggest Japanese culture festival, in July. 'Under the theme 'Meet Kabuki,' we envisioned a first point of contact for international visitors with kabuki and designed our booth accordingly,' Shochiku official Shiori Fujimaki told The Japan News in an email interview. 'We believed it was vital that our guests do more than merely read explanations of kabuki on the walls — they should experience it firsthand.'Shochiku's 'Meet Kabuki' booth will offer three main experiences: a live painting performance by a kabuki set design expert, where visitors will be able to marvel in real time at the craft behind creating kabuki's elaborate staging; a costume experience where visitors can see up close, and even try on, authentic kabuki attire used in performances, complete with a photo op; and a special kumadori makeup experience. Kumadori normally gives kabuki actors their dramatic facial expressions, but the festival version will involve painting a kabuki portrait onto the back of a visitor's hand. Additionally, visitors will be able to try their luck at drawing kabuki-themed omikuji Japanese fortune-telling slips, with traditional ukiyo-e-inspired fans also available as souvenirs. Kabuki has been performed at major venues in the United Kingdom, notably the Barbican Theatre, former home of the Royal Shakespeare Company. In fact, the birth of kabuki and the first Shakespeare performances occurred around the same time, Fujimaki noted. Both also originated as popular theater forms for everyday people, but have since grown to serve as touchpoints of their countries' traditions. Despite kabuki's global renown and significance to Japanese culture, for many of the festival's visitors this will be their introduction to the form. With this in mind, 'We are not seeking an academic understanding of kabuki's origins or history, but rather inviting you to appreciate its artistry and unique qualities,' said Fujimaki. First held in 2010, Hyper Japan touts itself as bringing the best of 'Japan's now' to the United Kingdom. In this way, highlighting a traditional art form like kabuki might seem to focus more on the past than the present or future of Japan. But, with how kabuki 'seamlessly connected the past with the present,' said Fujimaki, 'We believe that by showcasing the storied influence of kabuki on a wide array of Japanese entertainment, alongside its collaborations with anime and manga, its role as the wellspring of Japanese pop culture will come to light.' Shochiku is also committed to a forward-thinking approach with kabuki, with accessibility as the main aim. 'While grand-scale kabuki performances remain attractive … we are currently streaming kabuki overseas, enabling viewers worldwide, including in the U.K., to enjoy this traditional art form effortlessly. Our goal is to secure an international audience and continuously create opportunities for audiences to encounter kabuki both digitally and live.' While seeking to offer an engaging and uniquely in-depth experience at the festival, when asked what Shochiku hopes to achieve with their inaugural appearance, Fujimaki concluded that 'if one day, someone is inspired by our efforts to go and see an actual kabuki performance in either Japan or U.K., I believe we can say our work has been a success.' The Hyper Japan festival will take place from July 18-20 in London at the Olympia Events venue. General admission tickets start from £24 ($33) depending on the day, with two- and three-day pass options available.
Japan Times
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Traditional performing arts are plugging into modern audiences
It could be a scene from a surreal dream — the animated virtual idol Hatsune Miku swaying her aqua pigtails on stage next to the renowned kabuki actor Nakamura Shido II. Since 2016, the unlikely duo have joined forces multiple times, and now they're back again — this time at the Osaka Expo, on May 24 and 25. The show is called 'Cho Kabuki,' literally 'super kabuki,' and it represents a growing movement within Japan's traditional performing arts to bring high culture to the general populace — with a helping hand from technology. Kabuki used to be entertainment for the masses and at times was even associated with prostitution and rowdy audiences. It's thought to have originated in the early 1600s from a female dance troupe that put on casual performances in Kyoto, though it subsequently became an all-male art form after women were banned from the practice. Major kabuki actors were celebrities who could set fashion trends, and their names were used to sell products ranging from kimono patterns to sake and food. It was only during the Meiji Era (1868-1912) that the image of kabuki began to transform, with its reputation as traditional high art and cultural heritage cementing in the early 20th century. Kabuki is visually striking — with colorful costumes, white face makeup and dramatic poses — but its slow pace, stylized acting and archaic language often alienate modern audiences. Speaking to The Japan Times in 2020, Shochiku's Ippei Noma likened 'Cho Kabuki' to more of a 'rock concert' by nature, a show that amped up the music, lights and audience participation. This also brought updates to the language and references to help it resonate with modern audiences. The upcoming 'Hanakurabe Senbonzakura Expo2025 Ver" performance tells a story set in the world of gods, where Miku stars as a princess, and sings and dances with Nakamura and other professional kabuki performers, who play spirits. | COURTESY OF CRYPTON FUTURE MEDIA VIA PR TIMES 'Kabuki is a form of entertainment for the common people that evolved while incorporating production methods that suited the times,' Daisuke Onozato, chief producer of the Kabuki Production Department at Shochiku writes in an email to The Japan Times. ''Cho Kabuki,' which combines traditional classical production with cutting-edge modern technology, is a prime example of this.' The 2016 show was the result of a collaboration between the telecommunications company NTT, media company Dwango and Shochiku, an entertainment and kabuki management company, aiming to utilize new technology to promote traditional culture. They decided to create a production with a new performer — Hatsune Miku, a virtual idol whose voice is created using Vocaloid software. This gave birth to the original piece "Hanakurabe Senbonzakura' (which combines 'Senbonzakura,' one of Miku's signature songs, and the classical kabuki play "Yoshitsune Senbonzakura"). Set in the world of gods, Miku stars as a princess, and sings and dances with Nakamura and other professional kabuki performers, who play spirits in a story of good vs. evil that spans a millennium. The upcoming 'Hanakurabe Senbonzakura Expo2025 Ver" performance in Osaka adds a technological twist and one more cultural collaboration. In partnership with Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom, NTT launched the world's first IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) international APN (All-Photonics Network) in August 2024, which boasts a faster and more stable transfer of information. The 'Cho Kabuki' stage in Osaka will be connected online to Jiutian Folk Arts Troupe in Taiwan, and the groups will perform together simultaneously in both countries. 'Audiences in both Japan and Taiwan will experience the performance as if it were taking place on a single stage, creating an immersive experience across distance,' says Kumiko Oomori, vice president of R&D Marketing Group at the Marketing Department at NTT. Kabuki has brought about technological innovations through the centuries. It popularized keren, visual tricks, which included revolving stages and trap doors and were introduced during the 18th century. Later, wire systems were developed to enable actors to 'fly' above the stage for supernatural characters or dramatic escape scenes. Against this backdrop, 'Cho Kabuki' can be seen as simply the art form in its 21st-century evolution. Shochiku, the company behind "Cho Kabuki," inspired further invention centered around kabuki. In 2019, Dart, a Tokyo-based company, created "Kabuki no Hikari,' an immersive media art exhibition based on acts from the kabuki play "Yoshitsune Senbonzakura.' | COURTESY OF DART 'Cho Kabuki' is already inspiring further innovation related to kabuki. Dart, a Tokyo-based company that connects businesses with artists and galleries, teamed up with Shochiku to produce " Kabuki no Hikari ,' an immersive media art exhibition based on acts from the aforementioned kabuki play "Yoshitsune Senbonzakura,' where the viewers can interact with the art through touching holograms and seeing their own shadows synchronize with the projections. 'Chairman Sakamoto of Shochiku, a company that continues to work on kabuki, once said, 'Nothing will spread if we just preserve tradition as it is. Tradition can only be passed down through innovation,'' says Yuki Yamamura from Dart. 'This made a deep impression on me, and I hope to be able to provide this experience to our customers.' First held in Shibuya in early 2019 for a limited time, Dart is currently in discussions to offer "Kabuki no Hikari' to new venues. Blending innovation and tradition may not be as straightforward in the world of noh theater, considered Japan's oldest major theatrical art form. Centered on minimalism and restraint, performances take place on a simple square wooden stage and movements are highly codified, where one action of a performer might unfold over several minutes. The practice is informed by both Shinto and Buddhism and still incorporates spiritual elements. This is why Technoh Lab, a performance that is a combination of noh and techno music — as the portmanteau name hints — may sound borderline heretical. Launched in 2022, the event night is held periodically in Suigian, a restaurant and bar in central Tokyo that showcases Japanese traditional performing arts. It's the brainchild of Hidetomo Kimura, an artist famed for his Art Aquarium exhibitions. In addition to kagura, a Shinto ceremonial dance, and Nihon buyō, traditional dances performed at Suigian , Kimura wanted to bring noh to modern audiences, while respecting the original medium. 'If people think they'll see noh actors dance to techno, that's not what we're doing,' he says. 'I force them to see the real thing.' Suigian restaurant in Tokyo stages various traditional performances on their authentic noh theater stage, including a sporadic Technoh event that blends noh theater and techno music. | COURTESY OF SUIGIAN Technoh Lab is a creative collaboration between DJ Ken Ishii and noh master Manjiro Tatsumi, a recipient of the general designation of Important Intangible Cultural Property. It begins with a short techno set by Ishii to — in Kimura's words — create a 'club-like atmosphere.' Then, the noh performance begins with Tatsumi taking the stage and musicians playing all the instruments of a traditional performance: nohkan (noh flute), taiko (stick drum), kotsuzumi (small hand drum) and ōtsuzumi (large hand drum). The noh performance is gradually integrated with lighting, techno music and visuals, building to a crescendo of masked performers on stage moving to techno music. They then retire, and the evening continues as a regular techno set with different DJs taking the decks. Kimura believes that his approach reflects the core of noh as an art form open to interpretation. To him, noh is not an old form, but something inherently new and full of potential. 'Something that has continued for 650 years is not outdated, but there are always new teachings, including a spiritual aspect to it,' he says. Speaking to The Japan Times in 2020, Shochiku's Ippei Noma likened 'Cho Kabuki' to more of a 'rock concert' by nature, a show that amped up the music, lights and audience participation. | COURTESY OF CRYPTON FUTURE MEDIA VIA PR TIMES Purists might beg to differ, but there is also a movement within the world of noh to open this art form to broader audiences. Soraya Umewaka, a contemporary theater director and actor who hails from a noh family lineage extending back for over 600 years, has been involved with innovative productions over the past decade. In 2019, in collaboration with the Brazilian government, she produced and directed a multimedia production called 'Hell Says Noh,' which was based on Brazil's Cordel genre of pop literature and featured karate, capoeira and projection mapping. For Umewaka, 'minimalist aesthetics and emotional subtlety' are key elements that she tries to preserve when bringing new ideas to the world of noh. With this in mind, she believes there's scope to push the boundaries. 'The literary foundations of noh were established around 600 years ago, and scholars argue that the link between text and music solidified roughly 400 years ago. When this synergy is altered, the work may no longer be considered "noh" in a strict sense,' she says. 'Yet, in the broader world of art, anything is possible — and noh is no exception. Thoughtful new interpretations, supported by technology like projection mapping and VR, can make noh's symbolic language more accessible to contemporary audiences.' Technological tools aside, what will matter is whether experimental kabuki and noh performances continue to emotionally resonate with audiences. In this sense, high and pop art might simply be two sides of the same coin — one that is continuously co-constructed by the generation that experiences it. For more information on 'Cho Kabuki' go to . For more information on 'Techno Lab,' go to
