Japan American Society Opening Night Reception

After our opening night in Yokohama, Mr. Watanabe of  The America Japan Society sponsored a reception for us in the beautiful Landmark Hall Lobby.

Yokohama Arrival

We arrived into Yokohama, an old port town right outside of Tokyo, by Bullet Train.  The cityscape is beautiful.  And there is a giant Pokemon store, which was found very quickly.  The theatre, Landmark Hall,  where we are performing is on the 5th floor of the tallest building in Japan (to your left), the famous Landmark Tower.

Shimane Workshop

Goodbye Kyoto

Kyoto is completely enveloping.  It was very hard to leave this spectacular city. I hope there are many reasons for us to return many times.

Oliver at Chion-in

Kyoto Colors

Twilight tour of Pleasure Quarters

This was a very intimate visit to Hanamikoji-dori in Gion where you experienceda slice of  the intensely secretive world of the Geisha.

Post Show Talk at KUAD

Here is a snippet of video from a post show discussion with the audience and students.

Backstage

This is backstage of "Dogugaeshi" at KUAD, from the puppeteer's point of view, behind all the towers that are filled with screens.

Post Performances at KUAD

After our final performance in Kyoto we had to say goodbye to the fantastic staff and to a special member of Seki Hideya's crew, Ozaki. He was with us in Kanazawa as we loaded in for the first time and was pivotal to the tour,  traveling ahead of us to Kyoto and loading us in early, while we were still performing in Kanazawa.   Ozaki took care of us in Kyoto when Seki had to leave us for a few days.  We could not have pulled off the performances at KUAD without him!  Thank you for everything Ozaki.

Japan Times Review and Link

Writer Daniel Rosen joined the company for interviews in Kanazawa, and he wrote a wonderful feature on DOGUGAESHI that appeared in the print edition of The Japan Times.  Here is a link to the online article titled: FLIPPING SCREENS.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ft20071129a1.html

Touring Underneath a Kabuki Stage

We received a very special interactive tour of the underbelly of the stage where the mechanisms for the revolving turntable are stored as well as the lift for the Hanamichi used for the Kabuki performers.  We also practiced pulling the traditional Kabuki curtain.

Kyoto performances

We were lucky to have had sold out houses for our performances here.  Thanks to the hard work of a totally dedicated team, the show is looking its best.  A gem in the company is native son Poe, who is not only our associate lighting designer, but he is also our interpreter and tour guide. The stage was completely transformed and audiences connected to our Dogugaeshi.  

Yoshidaya Restaurant

we enjoyed several meals at the cozy, inviting and scrumptious Yoshidaya Restaurant.  Like home away from home;  I was introduced to this intimate and hidden enclave by Toru Camyada of the Dumb Type company when I was in residency here at the Kyoto Arts Center in 2004.  Hiroko, the adorable owner/chef treats you like you were family and constructs an entire meal for you from her seasonal menu as she shows you photos of her recent culinary expeditions.  We had salmon that was inspired by her recent trip to Turkey, it was so comforting and delicious.

Kyoto University of Art and Design

We are hosted by Kyoto Performing Arts Center at Kyoto University of Art and Design on the stage of the Shunjuza Theatre. Chie Otsuka organized these performances, and we are so grateful to have a tour stop in Kyoto,  it is incredibly beautiful and the university has an amazing roster of professors and visiting artists - many of which we were fortunate enough to experience during our stay.  In Kyoto audiences entered our special intimate seating and stage through the Hanamichi.

Sticker Booth Results!!

Arriving into Kyoto

The company arrived into Kyoto Station and wound their way up the mountain of Eastern Kyoto through Maruyama Park to Yoshimizu, a traditional japanese ryokan,  surrounded by magical woods, shrines and temples.  This is a photo that Oliver took on their first moonlit walk.

Post Show Kanazawa

The Kanazawa the staff was very kind and invited us to a traditional post-strike meal. But the BEST part was actually after dinner when we went to the local amusement arcade complex. Almost everyone piled into one massive photo booth, followed by an important session adding hearts and stars and sparkles with the computer interface outside.

And then, the Taiko drumming video game!