Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on March 2010

Known abroad for his appearances in Takeshi Kitano and Hayao Miyazaki films, Akihiro Miwa is familiar to Japanese mainly as the outspoken transvestite agony aunt of daytime “wide shows.” But the 75-year-old Miwa is also a veteran of the stage, and has recently been reprising the famous modern noh plays of his onetime lover, legendary author and suicidal would-be rightwing coup leader Yukio Mishima. Among the nine noh-inspired works Mishima wrote between 1950 and 1962, Aoi no Ue and Sotoba Komachi are perennial favorites for their portrayals of strong women swayed by powerful emotions. For the current production, Miwa serves not only as director, stage designer and composer, but also appears in the lead roles opposite popular actor Shogo Kimura (Takeshis’).

Aoi no Ue/Sotoba Komachi
Akihiro Miwa reprises the lead roles in this pair of modern nohgaku by Yukio Mishima. Apr 6-May 9, various times, ¥7,000 (A)/¥10,500 (S)/¥20,000 (Box, for two). Parco Theater, Shibuya. Tel: 0570-02-9999.