Page 115 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

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A uniquely Japanese theater prices are reduced. Many cinemas
experience is Takarazuka, a also have Ladies’ Day, usually
company divided into five on a Wednesday, when ticket
troupes and composed prices for women are reduced
entirely of women. With to ¥1,000. Some American and
their own state-of-the-art European films may take up to
Takarazuka Theater in three months to reach Japan.
Yurakucho, they perform Non-Japanese films are usually
adaptations in Japanese of shown in the original language
Western musicals and historic with Japanese subtitles.
love stories, and are famed In Shibuya (see pp100–101),
for their lavish produc tions. Bunkamura sometimes shows
Nihon Buyo Kyokai stages Japanese films with English sub-
regular performances of titles and occasionally screens
traditional dance. Usually at independent and European films.
Movie poster in Shinjuku, one of Tokyo’s the end of May, the Azuma Also in Shibuya, the Theater
centers for cinema Odori, an annual production Image Forum, designed by archi-
of dance, drama, and music, tect Masaharu Takahashi, uses the
Kyogen is Japan’s oldest form of brings Tokyo’s geisha most advanced digital techno-
drama, and includes acrobatics community on stage at logy. The centrally located Toho
and juggling. Now the Shinbashi Cinemas Chanter shows art-
played to comic Enbujo Theater. house and independent movies.
effect, Kyogen is often Buto – a unique For mainstream movies, try
performed as part of and compelling art United Cinema Toyosu, which
Noh, or as individual form – is contempo- is one of the largest in Tokyo,
plays between Noh rary dance combined with 12 screens. It is possible
plays. Another with performance to hire children’s seats and even
theatrical tradition is art. Developed in the blankets here. Marunouchi
Rakugo, a form of story- 1960s, performances Piccadilly in the Mullion
telling which literally feature shaven- Building in Yurakucho (see pp70–
means “falling down”. headed dancers, 71) has five screens, while Ebisu
Dressed in a kimono Poster advertising a almost naked, Garden Place (see p107) has two.
and using a minimum Japanese theater painted with makeup. A popular choice is the
of props, storytellers sit production Slow, simplistic cho- nine-screen Toho Cinema
on zabuton cushions in reography seeks to Roppongi Hills in the
small theaters such as Suzumoto create beauty out of the self- Roppongi Hills complex.
in Ueno and pass on tales old imposed grotesqueness. Fans of Japan ese cinema
and new. Manzai, or stand-up should visit the National
comedy, is a Kansai tradition Film Center.
that can be found in Tokyo, Cinema The annual Tokyo
with Shinjuku’s Lumine the Movie-going is not cheap in International Film Festival is
Yoshimoto a convenient venue. Japan, costing about ¥1,800 held in October/November.
per person. However, on Other worthwhile festivals
Cinema Day, usually the first include the Tokyo International
International and day of each month, ticket Lesbian & Gay Film Festival.
Contemporary Theater
and Dance
The theater scene encompasses
everything from Shakespeare
(at the Tokyo Globe) and
Broadway musicals to comedy,
classical ballet, and modern
dance, with the main venues
in Shinjuku, Shibuya, and
Marunouchi. The level of
performance is usually high.
The Tokyo Comedy Store
offers non-Japanese and
Japanese the chance to
show off their comedy skills
in English: two laughter-
packed hours on the fourth
Friday of the month at
Crocodile in Harajuku. Live performance by the Tokyo Comedy Store

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