Akira Shirai's Othello

Akira Shirai's Othello, a William Shakespeare's classical tragedy rearranged by this talented stage director/actor in a contemporary style, has successfully disturbed the mind of the modern audience.

It has a tricky dual structure where the actors perform the characters of the play under the direction of Mr. Shirai, and this element has made this work unique, modern, and more realistic, and today's audience can relate to them easily.

In Othello, Iago plays an important role in the plot. He reflects the archetypal villain, and has the biggest share of the dialogue. It is Iago who manipulates all other characters at will, controlling their emotions and trapping them in an intricate net of lies. Masaaki Akahori, an up-and-coming playwright/actor, plays this role well enough, but hopefully he should improve his articulation a little better so that the audience can more focus on this challenging, intense production.

Othello runs at Setagaya Public Theater, Tokyo until Sunday, June 23, followed by performances in Nagoya, Hyogo and Niigata, Japan.

See more
http://setagaya-pt.jp/theater_info/2013/06/post_313.html
http://setagaya-pt.jp/en/theater_info/2013/02/othero.html

Gérard Presgurvic's Musical "Romeo and Juliet"

Gérard Presgurvic's musical Romeo and Juliet is scheduled to run from September 3 through October 5 at Tokyu Theatre Orb in Shibuya, Tokyo.

The musical is directed by Shuichiro Koike, a talented playwright and theater director from the Takarazuka Revue Company, and performed by young popular actors including Yu Shirota as Romeo, Rina Frank as Juliet and Kazuki Alex Kato as Tybalt.

The musical was a big hit in 2011 and is coming back this fall with the new cast.

 
See more:
http://romeo-juliette.com/
http://theatre-orb.com/lineup/13_rj/

 

Tail Friends-2: Dogs and Cats Stories

As a recitation play, "Shippo no Nakamatachi"  (Tail Friends) performed last December was very well received, Tail Friends-2 has been produced and will run from April 23 through May 5 at Eco Theater in Ebisu, Tokyo.

A lot of young, popular actors including Kazuki Alex Kato and Ren Yagami will perform in the play which features the reality of pets where people buy a dog or a cat before thinking and end up dumping them.

See more:
http://dogtocat.exblog.jp/20135066/

Kazuki Alex Kato Will Perform in the Tragedy of Othello

Kazuki Alex Kato will perform in Othello, a tragedy by William Shakespeare, at Setagaya Public Theater, Tokyo from Sunday, June 9 through Sunday June 23.

The work revolves around four central characters: Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army; his wife, Desdemona; his lieutenant, Cassio; and his trusted ensign, Iago. Because of its varied and current themes of racism, love, jealousy, and betrayal, Othello is still often performed in professional and community theaters and has been the basis for numerous operatic, film, and literary adaptations.

This time, Othello is restructured by Akira Shirai, a talented stage director/actor, from the modern perspective and Toru Nakamura will play the leading role of Othello.

See more
http://setagaya-pt.jp/theater_info/2013/06/post_313.html
http://setagaya-pt.jp/en/theater_info/2013/02/othero.html 

Yuhsei Tajima Performs in the Opportunity of Efficiency

Yuhsei Tajima has been performing in The Opportunity of Efficiency at New National Theatre Tokyo (NNTT) from April 9 through April 28.

This play, newly written by a Welsh playwright, Alan Harris and directed by John E. McGrath, artistic director of the National Theatre Wales (NTW), just premiered at the NNTT in April.

The Opportunity of Efficiency runs April 9-28 at the New National Theatre Tokyo, a 2-min. walk from Hatsudai Station on the Keio New Line. 


See more:
http://ameblo.jp/tajima-yusei/page-1.html#main
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2013/04/11/stage/welsh-approach-to-national-theater-is-efficiently-different/#.UW-0vYK3qUc
http://nnttplay.info/with3/kouritsu/

Interview with Actor Goro Mutsumi

Brett Homenick of G-Fan Magazine recently interviewed Goro Mutsumi, a Japanese film and television actor with more than 25 films to his credit, including Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974), Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975) and The War in Space (1977). 

Mr. Mutsumi is perhaps best known for his voice-over acting of the starring role as Dr. Richard Kimble (played by David Janssen) in the American TV series The Fugitive (1963-1967).

He has also appeared in numerous television shows, especially "Jidaigeki " or  period dramas including O-Edo Sohsamo (Great Edo Dragnet: 1971-1982), Mito Kohmon (1980-2011) and Abarembo Shogun Series (1983-2000), in which he specializes in villains.

NHK TV Drama Series - Math Cop Zero

Keisuke Kato will costar in the NHK TV drama series Math Cop Zero airing Mondays at 9:10am-9:20am and 3:30pm-3:40pm (rerun).

This educational short drama geared toward 5th and 6th graders will be run on NHK E-Television from April 8th for a year. Don't miss it!

See more:
http://www.nhk.or.jp/sansuu/keiji/
http://ameblo.jp/kato-keisuke/entry-11507683370.html
http://ameblo.jp/kato-keisuke/entry-11500466323.html?frm_src=thumb_module

http://cgi2.nhk.or.jp/navi/detail/index.cgi?id=13h2020130408

Samurai Performances at St. Patrick's Parade Tokyo 2013

St. Patrick's Parade Tokyo 2013 was held in Omote-sanndo, Tokyo Japan on Sunday, March 17th. 

Exciting "Tate" (Sword-fighting) performances were presented by the Tate troupes, Katanaya Ichi led by Dai Mizuno and Abe Dojo by Takeaki Abe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

J-Musical "Senbon Sakura" (Thousand Cherry Blossoms)

Kazuki Alex Kato is starring in a Nico Nico musical, Senbon Sakura (Thousand Cherry Blossoms) written based on an extremely popular vocaloid song, Senbon Sakura sung by Miku, a female singing synthesizer developed and marketed by Yamaha. Kaito, a male vocaloid, is the starring role in the musical, that will be played by Alex.

Senbon Sakura will be performed at Hakuhinkan Theater in Ginza, Tokyo from Thursday, March 13th through Sunday, March 24th.

See more 
Kazuki Kato, Senbon Sakura, Utattemita
Musical Senbon Sakura
http://natalie.mu/music/news/85090
http://www.asahi.com/culture/update/0110/TKY201301100287.html

Nettai Danshi (Tropical Boys) on Stage

Keisuke Kato, a young promising Kamen Rider actor, costarred with a young actress, Azusa Okamoto in a heartwarming musical comedy "Nettai Danshi" (Tropical Boys). The final performance at the Space Zero in Tokyo was such a blast and generated full houses.

 

 

We visited Keisuke backstage after the show.

Bonus!

Hanging with Alex

Brett Homenick of G-Fan Magazine was in town and stopped by English Avenue Daikanyama, chatting with Kazuki Alex Kato, an actor/singer who will star in the musical "Senbon Sakura" @ Hakuhinkan Theater in Ginza, Tokyo in March. 

 

  

        Alex is signing a DVD slipcover of Kamen Rider THE NEXT for Brett.

 

When Alex is not too busy performing on the stage as a singer or on the screen as an actor, Brett enjoys getting to see the star of Monster X Strikes Back and Kamen Rider: The Next whenever possible.

Interview with Toho Star Yohsuke Natsuki

Brett Homenick of G-Fan Magazine interviewed Toho star Mr. Yohsuke Natsuki, who is best known for his roles in the TV series "Seishun towa Nanda" and "G-Men 75" as well as in the movies including "Yatoh Kazenonaka wo Hashiru"( Bandits Run through the Winds).

Mr. Natsuki kindly spent hours talking about his memories of Toho Studios!

 

 

He told us many different anecdotes about his movie productions, 

their directors and fellow actors.

 

 

 Brett with Toho star Yosuke Natsuki in his office. 

 

Mr. Natsuki sent us a beautiful autograph thank-you card after the interview! 

What a great guy he is!!

What a great time it was!!

 

Kazuki Alex Kato in Conert in Shibuya, Tokyo

Kazuki Alex Kato, an actor/singer/vocalist of a music duo JOKER, concluded his nation-wide tour with a concert at Shibuya-AX, Tokyo on January 27 with great success.


Following the release of their first album "OVER" in December 2012, JOKER hit the road on a concert tour which started in Sendai to promote the album.

See more http://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000086830

 

 

Alex and the band members took photos of their great audience (1,600 people!) with big smiles. 

Everybody at the concert was soooo happy!!!!!