September 13, 2022

Kabuki Actor Nakamura Shidō and Virtual Singer Hatsune Miku toEntertain Audiences around World with“Cho Kabuki”Stage Performance
via Streaming, Presented by Shochiku＜Kabuki × Virtual Singer × NTT’s ICT Technology＞"Cho Kabuki" presented by Shochiku Co., Ltd. will be streamed from Kyoto, Japan, toforeign countries over the internet from 12:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 5, to 11:59
p.m. on Tuesday, October 11 (JST). It is an extraordinary Japanese stage performancethat fuses Kabuki, a traditional Japanese theatre with more than 400 years of history,
and a globally popular virtual singer that leads Japan’s pop culture, as well as Japan's
cutting-edge technology.
The "Cho Kabuki" stage performance will co-star Nakamura Shidō, a charismatic figurein the Kabuki world, and virtual diva Hatsune Miku. The impassioned Kabuki
performance to be staged and recorded live at Kyoto's Minamiza Theatre, the most
historic Kabuki theatre in Japan, on September 25, 2022, will be subsequently
streamed online for audiences around the world with realistic sensations and English
subtitles.

<On-demand Streaming Details>
An on-demand streaming event of “Cho Kabuki 2022 Powered by NTT”, recorded
live at the Minamiza Theatre in Kyoto, Japan.
*This is a recording of the performance on Sept. 25 (Sun.) 3:30 p.m. (JST).
*Streamed with English subtitles.
*The streaming will cover countries and regions across the world except Mainland
China and Japan ( available in Hong Kong and Macau )◆When:From 12:00 a.m., October 5 (Wed.), to 11:59 p.m., October 11 (Tue.) (JST)◆Time: On demand, around 1 hour and 30 minutes in running time.
◆Cost: JPY2,000 ( tax excl. ).
◆Register here: https://shochiku-bd.zaiko.io/e/chokabuki2022

September 13, 2022

<What’s Kabuki>
Kabuki is a world-famous traditional Japanese performance art that will wow you with
its grandness, from the performances to the costumes and makeup. Kabuki has morethan 400 years of history, yet it is still the leader in live entertainment and Japaneseculture today. The variety of productions ranges from the traditional classics toinnovative Kabuki that integrates leading technology: themes vary from the pursuits ofunwavering human drama to humorous and witty comedy, as well as dances filled withstylized beauty, in the infinite repertoire.

<About “Cho Kabuki”>“Cho Kabuki” is a special stage
performance that combines Kabuki
theatre with the cutting-edge ICT
technology of Nippon Telegraph andTelephone Co. (“NTT”). The uniqueperformance will not only feature a hostof popular Kabuki stars including
Nakamura Shidō, but will also include
the world’s biggest virtual diva,Hatsune Miku. Don’t miss out on thisbrand-new form of Kabuki featuring a fusion of the real andvirtual worlds.

<About the on-demand program>
Cho Kabuki “TOWA NO HANA HOMARE NO ISAOSHI”
Taking inspiration from classical Kabuki plays about thefamous political upheaval that took place in Japan in theyear 645, as well as from one of Hatsune Miku’s
representative songs named ‘The Disappearance ofHatsune Miku’, this is an original work newly written for “ChoKabuki”.
The play centers on the tale of the hero Kanawa no Gorō
Imakuni, played by Nakamura Shidō,
who defeats Soga no Iruka, a villain who
plans to usurp the throne. In love with
Imakuni is Princess Odamaki, played byHatsune Miku, who joins him in opposing
Iruka. Her true form is revealed as thestory portrays her sad and ephemeral
fate.
Following the conventions of classicalKabuki, the hero Imakuni wears red‘kumadori’ makeup, while the villain Iruka
wears blue ‘kumadori’, as they do battle
in a spectacular ‘tachimawari’ fightSeptember 13, 2022
scene. Other scenes include an elegant dance performed by a kimono-clad Hatsune
Miku, something that can only be seen in Cho Kabuki, as well as a scene using the latest
digital technology to show multiple avatars of a magic white fox that come to Imakuni’said. The struggle between Princess Odamaki and Iruka is also presented using 3Dvolumetric video technology. In this way, classical Kabuki and the latest ICT technology
is fused together to create a work in which one exciting highlight follows another.
At Imakuni’s invitation, the audience will switch on their penlights so that the stage andthe auditorium become one as the story progresses, another staging idea that is uniqueto Cho Kabuki.
Promotional video for “Cho Kabuki” stage performance (in Japanese):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO_K0PQBzNQ
Cast:
Nakamura Shidō ( Kabuki actor )Hatsune Miku ( virtual singer )<About the Minamiza Theatre, Kyoto>
The founding of the Minamiza Theatre goes all theway back to the beginning of the Edo Period(1596-1615). It is said that Izumo no Okuni
performed 'Kabuki odori' ('Kabuki dances') in Kyoto
in 1603 which attracted great attention, and during
the same period, the dry bed of the Kamo Riverdeveloped as a 'Theatre town' filled with the bustle
and excitement of the people.
The Minamiza Theatre started around this time,and has stood at this place for over 400 years
always remaining at the center of entertainment,including Kabuki.

Contact:Business Planning and Development Department
Shochiku Co., Ltd.
Official Web site: https://planning-development.shochiku.co.jp/en/
Email: sh_engeki_kg_event@shochiku.co.jp