Dontoyuke is set in a fictional world where the bereaved families of victims can help carry out executions through a “death row jury system”. A convict on death row is brought to a house in Tsugaru, Aomori. In this house lives a woman who has become the convict’s wife through an in-prison marriage. The execution is to take place here. This dense drama depicts moments leading up to the execution among the convict, the victim’s family, who are here for the execution, and the woman, who is in love with the idea of being married to a death row convict. Dontoyuke, conceived as a parody of the jury system, had its first performance in 2008 when the system was just about to take effect in Japan. It questions the concept of unreasonable murder by the nation, the never-ending hatred and desire for revenge by the victims’ families, and the regret and resignation of the death row convict. Playwright and director HATASAWA Seigo says that the death penalty system is like a “deep forest” with no end in sight the further one delves into it.

Watanabe Genshiro Shoten / HATASAWA Seigo
Watanabe Genshiro Shoten is a theater company led by playwright/director HATASAWA Seigo. After producing seven plays starting in 2005, HATASAWA launched the company in 2008. The company, based in Atelier Green Park in Aoyagi, Aomori City, has performed its plays all across Japan. They also hold theater workshops for local junior high and high school students.

2020
Watanabe Genshiro Shoten Shinmachi Main Store

Presented by: The Japan Foundation (JF) (https://www.jpf.go.jp/e/)
In cooperation with EPAD (https://epad.terrada.co.jp/)

＜Performance Credits＞
Written and Directed by: HATASAWA Seigo
Stage Manager: NAKANISHI Takao
Performers: OGAWA Hikaru, MIKAMI Yoei, KUDO Kazusa, TANAKA Koichi, KIMURA Tomoko, SATO Hiroyuki
Scenic Design by: YAMASHITA Shohei
Lighting Design by: NAKAJIMA Toshitsugu
Sound Design by: FUJIHIRA Mihoko
Dramaturg: KUDO Chinatsu
Video Documentation and Editing: Apple Vision Co.Ltd.
Associate Producer: AKIBA Satomi, SATO Hiroyuki, KIMURA Tomoko, NARAOKA Mayumi
Planning and Production: Nabegenwork limited liability company
Organized by: Watanabe Genshiro Shoten、Nabegenwork limited liability company
Supported by: Japan Arts Council

＜Subtitling Credits＞
Chinese Translation (Simplified): Shu LIN
Chinese Translation (Traditional): Muju TSAN
English Translation: William ANDREWS
French Translation: FUJIMOTO Satoko
Russian Translation: Inga IBRAKHIM
Spanish Translation: Karla TOLEDO VELARDE

＜Promotional Text＞
YONEYA Naoko