Yukio Ninagawa

Greek tragedyShakespeare, a treasure trove of masterpieces

Kazuhiko Tange, "Greek Tragedy" - Recommended introductory book to learn the depth of Greek tragedy.

In this work, you will first learn about the origins of Greek tragedy and its flow in the introduction.

From there, the flow of the book, in chronological order, examines the depth of Greek tragedy through the works of Aeschylus, Sopocles, and Euripides, the major figures in Greek tragedy. I appreciated this because it explains very clearly how the content of tragedy changed over time.

Greek tragedies are well-known by name, but their contents are not well known. This is a recommended introductory book to learn the depth of Greek tragedy.
Yukio Ninagawa and Contemporary Theater

Akihiko Ogita, The Gekkai of Yukio Ninagawa: The Essence of Ninagawa's Direction as Seen from the Perspective of a Critic Who Has Followed the Stage for Many Years

In this book, you will get to know Ninagawa as only he could see him, as he has followed him all his life. How did his direction change as he matured from his debut as a director? And what is the essence of his theater that makes it so special?

However, this book is a bit difficult to read as an introduction to Ninagawa. It is recommended to read this book after seeing several of Ninagawa's stage productions or reading other books to get a feel for his personality and production process.

I highly recommend this work to anyone who wants to learn more about Yukio Ninagawa's direction and his personality. It was an extremely stimulating read.
Shakespeare, a treasure trove of masterpieces

Akihiko Ogita, "The Stage Speaks" - A book that provides background on the Shakespeare boom in Japan! Also recommended to learn about the currents of contemporary theater!

This book is the counterpart to "Contemporary Theatre in Japan," which was introduced in the previous article.

It was a pleasure to hear about the Shiki Theater Company, "Les Miserables" and other musicals that I also love.

And most importantly, it was a great opportunity to learn about the flow of Shakespeare's plays in Japan. The historical background of Shakespeare's boom in Japan was very interesting. The appearance of translator Takeshi Odajima and director Norio Deguchi, and the existence of the Shakespeare Theatre, of which Kotaro Yoshida was a member. The influence of Peter Brook, Trevor Nunn, and other prominent foreign playwrights. And the innovative direction of Yukio Ninagawa.

You can listen to Mr. Ogita's masterful commentary on these processes.
Yukio Ninagawa and Contemporary Theater

Akihiko Ogita, "Modern Theatre in Japan" - Recommended reference book to link and learn about postwar Japan and theater trends.

This book provides an overview of the history of the small theater movement from its beginnings in the 1960s to the theater of the 1990s through the bubble economy.

I was especially interested in the theatrical world during the era of the Security Treaty and student conflicts, when ideologies were raging, so it was very gratifying to learn more about these issues.

And what I felt anyway while reading this book was the enthusiasm of the theater people. And it is not an ordinary enthusiasm, but a fearsome seriousness of "fighting with all one's might.

This book was very interesting to learn about the relationship between the atmosphere of the times and the theater.
Yukio Ninagawa and Contemporary Theater

Synopsis and Impressions of "Shakespeare in Tempo XII" directed by Yukio Ninagawa - Enjoy the masterpiece by Hisashi Inoue in Ninagawa's world!

A musical drama "vulgar, obscene, chaotic, and full of energy."

This DVD is a perfect example of the essence of Ninagawa's direction. I believe that this production is the one that most clearly expresses Ninagawa's characteristics.

And the cast is still overwhelmingly gorgeous. Everywhere I went, I saw more and more actors in leading roles on this stage. I couldn't help but be stunned by the power of the performances. It was just too much!

It is a wonderful work that shows the greatness of the actors and the fun of theater. It is true that the time flies by. It is a very entertaining and entertaining work.
romanceYukio Ninagawa and Contemporary Theater

Synopsis and Impressions of "Romance" by Hisashi Inoue - A masterful comedic adaptation of Chekhov's life! I am jealous of this work..!

As I wrote in the title, as I read this piece I thought to myself, "What a brilliant piece of work...! I can't believe you produced such a work of art!" I was jealous.

This piece is just too good to be true. I love Chekhov too. But Inoue-san understands and loves Chekhov even more deeply. And he expresses his life and thought in such a fun and deep way. Every single episode in this play and the beauty of the stage development made me say, "I've been beaten! I can't take it anymore! This is too much! I could not help but sigh. How can they come up with such a joyful and beautiful play?

I have never experienced such a melting pot of jealousy while reading before.
Yukio Ninagawa and Contemporary Theater

Synopsis and Thoughts on "Musashi" by Hisashi Inoue - Can one break the chain of retribution? A play for the stage directed by Yukio Ninagawa

Still, this story is brilliant...!

First of all, it was bold to write a sequel to the duel between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro, which is well known to all Japanese people. Then, it was the exact opposite of what one would expect from a duel between these two brave men! Normally, one would be tempted to write a blood-curdling rematch. It's amazing!

The big circle at the end is also good. I was very moved by it. I'm sorry I can't tell you about it here because it would be a spoiler.

I love this piece. It was also a great opportunity for me to rediscover how fucking serious I am lol.
Yukio Ninagawa and Contemporary Theater

Synopsis and Impressions of "Musashi" directed by Yukio Ninagawa - A shocking stage performance about the latter days of Musashi and Kojiro's duel at Funajima! Overwhelming fun!

I was overwhelmed by the performances of Tatsuya Fujiwara, Shun Oguri, and the other actors. The tension in the serious scenes left me breathless, while the comical performances in the comedic scenes made me laugh.

I've seen some crazy stuff."

This is the only word that comes to mind.

I also take my hat off to the scenario that leads to the grand finale in the second half. It was so brilliant that I sighed. I can't help but feel the greatness of Mr. Hisashi Inoue.

Well, I have seen some extraordinary things. I am so glad I got to see this DVD.
Yukio Ninagawa and Contemporary Theater

Peter Brook, "A Space of Nothing" - Theatre theory of the director who revolutionized Shakespeare's plays. A major influence on Yukio Ninagawa.

The author, Peter Brook, is a British director and a hugely influential figure in the theater world.

He is especially known for his 1970 production of Shakespeare's "A Summer Night's Dream," which broke the world's hearts and revolutionized Shakespeare's plays.

The overlap between Peter Brook's and Ninagawa's theatrical theories was nothing short of amazing to read.

This book is also a great inspiration for thinking about life beyond the framework of theatrical theory. I now understand why this book has been passed down as a classic. I encourage everyone to pick up a copy.
Yukio Ninagawa and Contemporary Theater

Yoshihiko Amino, "Atypical Kingship" - Recommended to learn about medieval Japanese culture, which is also connected to Bakhtin's theory.

We have been studying "Shinran and Dostoevsky" as our theme, including world literature, but at the end of the day, it is also connected to Japanese history and culture. I am sure that by reevaluating Japanese history and culture after learning about other countries, we will be able to see something new. I am looking forward to it.

This was an interesting read, connecting Shakespeare, Yukio Ninagawa, Bakhtin, the Japanese Middle Ages, and various other figures and cultures. It is quite geeky, but also an interesting look into Japanese culture. Why not pick up a copy?