The Japan Foundation, Bangkok, in collaboration with ICONSIAM, proudly presents Kabuki performance entitled “RENJISHI” and “RAKUDA” starring the legendary kabuki actor, Nakamura Kanzaburo. After the cancellation of the event, due to the Covid-19 situation in 2020, Cinema Kabuki is now back to charm Thai audience with the fascinating performances of Kabuki.
Kabuki theatre was inscribed in 2008 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (originally proclaimed in 2005) by UNESCO. With gorgeous costumes, stunning makeup, and powerful dramas, kabuki has been appreciated as the ultimate theatrical art form in Japan. Live productions are now being recorded with the highest resolution cameras for screening in cinemas on state-of-the-art 4K digital projection systems with 6-channel surround sound.
On this occasion, we bring two performances, “RENJISHI” and “RAKUDA”, which will be consecutively screened as one screening on Wednesday, 8 December 2021 at Icon Cineconic (6th floor of ICONSIAM), following the opening event and music performance, “Sarashi-fu Tegoto” and “Tori no Yoni” of Koto, Japanese traditional string instrument at 19.00 hrs. Exclusively for this year, another two public screenings are added on Saturday, 11 and Sunday, 12 December 2021 at 10.30 hrs. in the morning.
WHAT IS CINEMA KABUKI?
Kabuki Theatre, with origins dating back to the 1600s, has remained steeped in tradition while constantly innovating. Live productions, featuring some of today’s greatest Kabuki stars, are now being recorded with the highest resolution cameras for screening in theatres around the world.
Since 2005, Kabuki production company Shochiku Co. Ltd. has released Cinema Kabuki which offers English speakers the unique opportunity to experience full-scale Kabuki performances by some of Japan's biggest stars in high definition on the big screen with English subtitles. This, however, is no regular screening; Cinema Kabuki allows the audience to vividly experience the excitement of the live stage through the full use and wide-range capability of high-definition (HD) images and 6-channel sound. Enjoy the authenticity of Kabuki as if you were sitting in the best seat of the Metropolitan Opera House!
