As part of its 2014-2015 Performing Arts Season, Japan Society presents Yokohama Rosa, the second theater production within the Society-wide series Stories from the War, marking the 70th Anniversary of the end of WWII. This represents the North American premiere of this one-woman play conceived by and featuring legendary actress Michiko Godai, which is performed annually in Yokohama on the anniversary of the end of WWII in Japan. Yokohama Rosa is written by the late Giho Sugiyama (1932-2004) and directed by Ichiro Onishi. This production plays two performances only at Japan Society (333 East 47th Street): Saturday, April 25 at 7:30pm and Sunday, April 26 at 2:30pm.
Artist Michiko Godai first encountered a mysterious old woman frequently seen on the streets of Yokohama, referred to by locals as "Merii-san" (or, "Madame Mary"), in May 1991. Inspired by her sparkling eyes, Godai set out to explore her story. Through interviews with people in town with whom Merii-san interacted, such as bartenders, owners of a local dry-cleaner and cosmetic shop and hair salon employees, Godai pieced together details of her personal history and in collaboration with playwright Giho Sugiyama, created the tragicomedy Yokohama Rosa - a theatrical account of one woman's story and its dramatic intersection with the events of WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. In Yokohama Rosa, Michiko Godai travels back in time, vividly imagining moments in Merii-san's life - from her days as a new bride in Hiroshima, to her turn to prostitution to survive in Yokohama, and through her encounters with love and heartbreak and life on the streets. Performed in Japanese with English subtitles, with live music.
Yokohama Rosa was first presented in April 1996 in Mitsukoshi Theater (Tokyo). Since then, there have been over 100 performances of Yokohama Rosa throughout Japan. Since 2003, the play has been performed annually on August 15th, which marks the end of WWII in Japan, at the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse in Yokohama. This program marks the first time the piece will be performed outside Japan.
Michiko Godai was born in Yokohama and studied theater at the Toho Gakuen School of Music. Godai participated in Tadashi Suzuki's SCOT Theater Company and Shinkokugeki Theater Company, and has performed at the National Theatre of Japan, Imperial Theatre, Shinbashi Enbujo Play House and Kabuki-za Theater. In 1999, she founded Yokohama Yume-za Theater Company which produces and presents works dedicated to the exploration of her hometown, the City of Yokohama. Notable works and performances include Kiseki no Utahime Watanabe Hamako, Endless Dream, Hasegawa Shin no Kokoro no Onna, Sanrinsha no Otokotachi, Yake Ato no Hamlet, Toroika no Onnatachi, Ippon Katana Dojoiri, Endless Dream~Yokohama no Yuyake and Double Out. Her film appearances include Yokohama Merii (dir. Takayuki Nakamura), Death Note (dir. Shusuke Kaneko), Death Note: The Last Name~ (dir. Shusuke Kaneko) and Pride (dir. Shusuke Kaneko). Her television credits include Dokuganuyu Masamune, Semi Shigure and Ichiban Boshi. She has been honored with the Shinkokugeki Annual Award (1977), the Hojo Hideji Award (1978), Yokohama Culture Encouragement Award (1996), Kanagawa Image-up Award (2001), 29th Matsuo Entertainment Award for Excellence (2008), 46th Hasegawa Shin Award (2011) and the Yokohama City Award for Cultural Merit (2012), among others.
Playwright Giho Sugiyama (1932-2004) was born in Niigata Prefecture and studied Film at Nihon University. From 1960, Sugiyama primarily worked on the scripts of historical TV dramas such as NHK's popular Taiga Historic Drama series. In 1985, he was the lead script writer for Nihon TV's Chushingura (or, The Forty-Seven Ronin) which became the first episode of the annual Nenmatsu Jidaigeki Historic Drama Special series. Sugiyama headed scriptwriting for the series until 1993, leading eight episodes. He also managed the Dorama Banku Theater Company whose repertoire includes the acclaimed Yokohama Rosa.
This production features Michiko Godai with Yoko Sugiyama (flute), Hiromichi Sakamoto (cello) and Ken Kuriki (percussion). Set Design is by Naotsugu Kawaguchi. Lighting Design is by Haruhiko Takayama, Etsuko Chihara and Kaori Ono. Sound Design is by Naoto Iwano. Video images by Masahiro Hamajima.
The Society-wide series Stories from the War, running through August 2015, marks the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII with programs including a theater series, film series, lectures and education programs, encouraging reflection on the events, figures and issues surrounding the war and its impact on the people of the United States and Japan from today's vantage point. As part of Stories from the War, the three-part series Stories from the War: Reflecting on WWII through Theater delivers three theatrical offerings, which commenced with Miwa Yanagi's Zero Hour: Tokyo Rose's Last Tape (January 29-31). Yokohama Rosa marks the second production in the theater series, to be followed by a double-bill of New and Traditional Noh: Holy Mother in Nagasaki and Kiyotsune (May 14-16). About the theater programs, Japan Society's Artistic Director Yoko Shioya remarks, "Theater is one of the most powerful and immediate mediums to unpack and address complicated and challenging topics. At a time critical to Japanese politics and the U.S.-Japan relationship, these productions bring to life vivid and timeless personal stories, and offer a platform for discussion through a contemporary lens."
Since the inception of the Performing Arts Program in 1953, Japan Society has introduced nearly 700 of Japan's finest performing arts to an extensive American audience. Programs range from the traditional arts of noh, kyogen, bunraku and kabuki to cutting-edge theater, dance and music. The Program also commissions new works to non-Japanese artists, produces national tours, organizes residency programs for American and Japanese artists and develops and distributes educational programs. "At once diverse and daring, the program stands toe to toe with some of the most comprehensive cultural exchange endeavors today." --Back Stage.
Yokohama Rosa plays as follows: Saturday, April 25 at 7:30pm (followed by MetLife Meet-the-Artists Reception) and Sunday, April 26 at 2:30pm. Tickets: $35/$28 Japan Society members.
Tickets & Information: Tickets for performances and related events at Japan Society can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 212-715-1258 or in person at Japan Society (M-F 11:00am - 6:00pm and Sat-Sun 11:00am - 5:00pm). Japan Society is located at 333 East 47th Street, between First and Second Avenues (accessible by the 4/5/6 at 42nd Street-Grand Central Station or the E at Lexington Avenue and 53rd Street). For more information, call 212-832-1155 or visit
http://www.japansociety.org
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