This historical drawing-room comedy depicts the relations between the Kimuras, who run a liquor store, and the Tazakis, priests at a neighboring shrine, from New Year’s Eve 1923 (following the Great Kanto Earthquake of September 1) to New Year’s Day 2024. Set in the living room and veranda of the Kimura family, the play condenses 100 years into 100 minutes with five generations of two families played by eight actors.
Though set in an era of life-changing events, encompassing earthquakes and war, the play portrays the life and death of ordinary citizens and the feelings of individuals swept up by the changing times through normal dialogue in their modest New Year’s celebrations.
Whereas the Kimura family serve as witnesses to the nation’s turbulent history as they shift over the years from liquor store to coffee shop to karaoke café, the Tazaki family are an unchanging guidepost, continuing to operate the shrine throughout the hundred years. The production is buoyed by its energetic staging and joyful singing and dancing of popular songs, linking the ephemerality of time, which passes equally among the contrasting families, to a faint sense of hope. The dynamic depiction of time and its passage offers an experience only possible in live theater.

*The sound has been muted in certain scenes for copyright reasons. Please watch with subtitles enabled.

2024
Komaba Agara Theater

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

＜Performance Credits＞
Performers: KIKUCHI Natsuno, QMOTO Kayo, KUMANO Shinya, SAKURAI Narumi, TAJIRI Shoko, NOMOTO Sachiro (Hanchu-Yuei), FUJIKI Yoichi (AnalogSwitch), YAMAKAWA Kyohei (Peachboys)

Author/Direction: ISHIZAKI Ryushi (The 20-Year-Old Nation)
Stage Designer: SAKAMOTO Ryo
Sound Designer: IKEDA Nobu
Lighting Designer: MATSUDA Keiichi
Stage Manager: KUBOTA Tomoya
Publicity Design: FUJIO Kantaro
Stage Photo: KANEKO Manaho
Pantomime Instruct: HOSOMI Shinnosuke (CAVA)
Movie Director: NEW VIDEO SYSTEM
Production Support: NII Tomoko
Planning Support: TSUKUDA Naoya (KamadoKitchen)
Company Crew: FURUKI Masaya (The 20-Year-Old Nation ),YUGUCHI Mitsuho (The 20-Year-Old Nation)

＜Subtitling Credits＞
Multilingual subtitling: Supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan

Chinese Translation (Simplified): Zhenzhen WU
Chinese Translation (Traditional): nonunique solutions
English Translation: YAMAGATA Mirei　
Spanish Translation: FUJI Karla

＜Promotional Text＞
ONOUE Sora

＜Company Website＞
https://www.20no-kuni.com