[JR West] About the Reading Drama “Owatte Hito”
JR West Press Release: October 23, 2025 About the Reading Drama “Owatte Hito” Original work: “Owatte Hito” (Kodansha Bunko) by Uchida Makiko; Script and direction: Sasabe Hiroshi Starring: Nakai Kiichi, Kimura Midoriko
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masterpiece by Uchida Makiko, which depicts the life-changing event of “retirement” with a light-hearted touch, a mix of humor and pathos. This is a stage reading drama that asks the question: how should we live the second half of our lives?
【Comments】 ■ Comments from Kiichi Nakai “The Finished Man” will be performed again and again. I believe that a re-run is more powerful than the original, and a second re-run is more powerful than the first. I will once again re-examine what needs to be preserved and what needs to be revamped, and together with my beloved actress, Kimura Midoriko, I intend to turn Uchidate’s masterpiece into an even more enjoyable reading play. I hope you’ll feel free to come to the theater and enjoy “The Never-Ending Journey of a Married Couple” while saying, “I’m done.” I look forward to seeing you at the theater… ■ Kimura Midoriko’s Comment I am very happy that we are able to perform this play again. I previously worked with Takaichi on “Teacher’s Back,” and we shared a very special time together. After that experience, I have a feeling that a new relationship will be born between me and Takaichi in this performance. As I reread the original work and the script in preparation for the performance, I’m sure new ideas will sprout within me. With that in mind, I’m really looking forward to this challenge. Please come see it at the theater. ■ Comments from Uchida Makiko (from the premiere) When I wrote my novel “The Finished Person,” I can’t tell you how many readers said that to me. “I must be the model for the main character.” There’s no model. I created the main character. The fact that so many people identified with the character speaks to how different the psychology and circumstances of men after retirement are from when they were still working. Nakai Kiichi plays this sadness and struggle, while Kimura Midoriko plays the wife who lives her own life unrelated to her husband. As the original author, I couldn’t be more excited. I’m sure that “overwhelmed people” all over the country will watch it and think, “After all, I was the model.” That’s what we call a huge success. ■Comment from Hiroshi Sasabe Sosuke Tashiro’s life, which had been going smoothly, came to a sudden halt just before turning 50. “Retirement is like a pre-funeral,” he laments every day — but then love and work come along. Life begins again, and it’s like a roller coaster ride. Kiichi Nakai plays the role of Sosuke head-on, Midoriko Kimura plays the wife, mistress, daughter, and madam with ease, toying with them. The sadness and humor of life are brought to life on stage by these two master actors. [Performance overview] Title Reading Drama “The Man Who’s Over” Original Work Makiko Uchida, “The Finished Person” (Kodansha Bunko) Cast Takaichi Nakai, Midoriko Kimura Script Hiroshi Sasabe Performance date and time 3/20 (Friday/Holiday) 15:30 Saturday, March 21st, 11:30 AM / 15:30 PM Venue Kyoto Theater (inside Kyoto Station Building) Ticket fee All seats reserved: 9,500 yen (tax included) Planning and Production Major League Baseball / Sunrise Promotion Organizer Kyoto Theater / Sunrise Promotion / Kansai TV Tickets on sale now Saturday, December 13th, 10:00 AM Ticket Sales Kyoto Theater Online Tickets https://kyoto-gekijo.com/ Ticket Pia https://w.pia.jp/t/owattahito/ E https://eplus.jp/owattahito/ Lawson Ticket https://l-tike.com/owattahito/ Performance official website https://ml-geki.com/owattahito/ Contact us Kyoto Theater 075-341-2360 (Weekdays 10:00-18:00)
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