The non-verbal performing art “The Life of Hokusai – Triumphant Return to Japan,” depicting the life of the genius artist Katsushika Hokusai, has been announced! Former Takarazuka actress Saou Kurama will take on the role of Hokusai’s wife! NAPOS UNITED, Inc. Press Release: October 31, 2025 The non-verbal performing art “The Life of Hokusai – Triumphant Return to Japan,” depicting the life of the genius artist Katsushika Hokusai, has been announced for a performance! Former Takarazuka actress Saou Kurama will take on the role of Hokusai’s wife! This work, which has received acclaim in various European countries, will make its long-awaited triumphant return to Asakusa Public Hall in April 2026! “The Life of Hokusai” brings to life the life of Katsushika Hokusai, known as the “mad artist,” through a combination of “theatrical art” and “technology.” -Japan Triumphant Return Performance-” will be held at Asakusa Public Hall on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
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incorporating movements from Japanese martial arts. Leading Japanese taiko drummer Taro Kobayashi and Satsuma biwa player Kamada Kun’sui will add musical excitement to the non-verbal performance. The role of Hokusai’s daughter, Oei, which will be adapted into a film in 2025 and attracting much attention, will be played by internationally acclaimed Canadian contemporary dancer Kato Karin. Furthermore, former Takarazuka Revue member Saou Kurama will join the cast for the first time in this triumphant return performance as Hokusai’s beloved wife, Koto. Saou commented on her appearance, “I hope that through my performance on stage, people living in this era will once again be able to feel the splendor of his life and art, as he was the man who sparked the artistic trend known as ‘Japonisme’ around the world.” This talented and expressive cast will take on the challenge of a triumphant return performance in Japan.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/96962/13/96962-13-f3113875a43f6ae5d51dc7747ba7c1ed-1411×900.jpg State-of-the-art digital projection live performance vividly displays Hokusai’s ukiyo-e prints.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/96962/13/96962-13-db2b35bfffa43a32a5cb0ef306cfa694-2122×1487.jpg A fusion of traditional Japanese performing arts and cutting-edge technology, this film depicts Hokusai’s life, filled with love and madness.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/96962/13/96962-13-3b2f09c46c289700d2a39aa9a6485cbc-1350×900.jpg Performing artist Katsumi Sakakura portrays Hokusai’s life in this dialogue-free production. ■Highly acclaimed overseas, including at the Edinburgh Festival! Invited to International Art Festivals in Four European Countries This work was created in Japan in 2020, but due to the spread of COVID-19, the premiere was performed without an audience. Eight 4K cameras were used to record the approximately 90-minute “stage video work” and “documentary video work.” The “stage video work” was submitted online to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in the UK in 2021, where it was the only Japanese work to receive a four-star rating. Subsequently, in 2022, it won the “Cool Japan Matching Award 2022” sponsored by the Cabinet Office. In 2023, it successfully held its first overseas trial performance in Bologna, Italy, garnering widespread attention from European media. This led to the work being invited (nominated) to four international performing arts festivals in Spain, Romania, Estonia, and Turkey in 2024, and in 2025, the work was performed at the Orient Museum in Portugal, as part of a Japan-Turkey cultural exchange program organized by the Turkish Consulate, and during the Japanese Cultural Month in Bulgaria, organized by the Embassy of Japan in Bulgaria. “The Life of Hokusai” was born in Japan in 2020, the 260th anniversary of Katsushika Hokusai’s birth. Several years have passed since the Japanese premiere, which was held without an audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, we are pleased to announce a triumphant return to Japan on October 31st, Katsushika Hokusai’s birthday. “The Life of HOKUSAI – Triumphant Return to Japan” will be held at Asakusa Public Hall in Tokyo on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Advance ticket reservations will begin on Friday, October 31st at noon. We hope you will keep an eye out. ■”SOKUIN,” a documentary film following the stage production process, is now available for free on YouTube In celebration of this triumphant return to Japan, Amazon Prime will be releasing the documentary film “SOKUIN,” which follows the production process of “The Life of HOKUSAI” (currently streaming in the UK, US, and Japan), for free on YouTube until the end of March 2026.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/96962/13/96962-13-4f8487e9420f5482b95e6984441b3210-370×516.jpg Documentary film “SOKUIN” [Japanese version with English subtitles] https://img.youtube.com/vi/Pea2yolCkAU/sddefault.jpg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pea2yolCkAU 《Performer introduction》 Katsumi Sakakura (Performing Artist)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/96962/13/96962-13-16dbdf0357a02527f4163fc7dccb20f3-1806×2700.jpg [Sakakura Katsumi Comment] There are many mysteries surrounding Hokusai’s works. Why do we sense such tremendous vitality in the raging waves of “Under the Great Wave off Kanagawa”? Why does the “dragon” he painted lack the jewel it should have? Why did “Hokusai Blue” come into being? In my quest for answers, I read literature and visited art museums, trying to approach Hokusai by unraveling these mysteries and “play” him well. However, I was only scratching the surface and my attempts were unsuccessful. However, in the process, I realized that Hokusai’s life and my own life have a surprising number of similarities. We both forget to eat and sleep when absorbed in something, are bad at socializing, can’t keep our rooms tidy, love insects and animals, have a hard time with numbers, were late bloomers who only gained recognition in our fifties, and are light drinkers with a huge sweet tooth. The most poignant moment came when I learned that Hokusai’s wife, Koto, had passed away after 29 years of marriage. I remembered the same experience of nearly losing my wife to sudden illness after 29 years… At that moment, I no longer “played” Hokusai; I “became” Hokusai himself. The boundaries between myself and Hokusai vanished, and the mysteries hidden in Hokusai’s paintings were suddenly revealed, and I was able to connect with them and decipher their true meaning: “What is truly important to you?” – a universal message of love. “The Life of Hokusai” is a stage for conveying this message of love to the world, and the day has finally come when it can be delivered to everyone in Japan. Katsushika Hokusai is a man of global pride for Japan. Please receive his message. TARO KOBAYASHI (Japanese drum player) TARO KOBAYASHI
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/96962/13/96962-13-43fc1e6b7ad13cf81f9058fbc08c24d5-1800×2700.jpg [Taro Kobayashi comment] I am very happy that “The Life of Hokusai” will be held in Asakusa, where I spent my training and where I am currently based. The role of expressing Katsushika Hokusai’s works, character, and historical background through the sound of Japanese drums is so profound that it requires more than just my life’s experience, but I will do my best, so I hope you will enjoy it. Kunsui Kamada (Satsuma biwa player)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/96962/13/96962-13-97fbc1592c7a6867591ca1e790754f86-960×960.jpg [Kamata Kunsu Comment] On April 18, 2026, Asakusa Public Hall will host a triumphant return performance of “The Life of Hokusai.” Since its international premiere in Bologna, Italy in 2023, this work has received high praise both at home and abroad, and this Asakusa performance marks both the culmination of that work and a new beginning. Katsushika Hokusai represents to me a “traveler of wind and brush.” Weaving his life through music is not simply a biography, but an attempt to touch the very roots of art. This work aims to evoke Hokusai’s spirit in the present day through the fusion of Satsuma biwa and contemporary music. Asakusa is a place where Edo culture lives on, and the atmosphere of Hokusai’s era still lingers. This triumphant return performance here will truly be a moment that can be described as “Hokusai’s homecoming.” As someone who lives between tradition and innovation, I personally find it deeply meaningful to be on this stage. I hope that this performance will be a step towards broadening the possibilities of traditional performing arts, and that it will resonate with younger generations and people overseas. Music has the power to transcend time and connect hearts. I hope that you will join us in feeling the breath of Hokusai’s life and art. We are making preparations with all our heart. We look forward to seeing you there. Karin Kato (Contemporary Dancer)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/96962/13/96962-13-048ecd73ca5683153c29ed2b2d851ee6-3900×2596.jpg [Kato Karin comment] I’ve been playing the role of O-Ei since the production’s inaugural year in 2020, and I’m incredibly honored to finally be performing in Japan after the European tour. We’ve all worked really hard to get to this point. O-Ei is filled with a variety of emotions and conflicts: her love for Hokusai as a daughter, her respect for him as a teacher, and the insurmountable presence he embodies as an artist. I will devote my whole being to portraying the conflicts and way of life of O-Ei, born from a genius known as a “mad artist.” I hope to deliver a production that moves everyone and reminds them of what is most important to them. Sao Kurama (actor) Kurama Sao
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/96962/13/96962-13-8cbad4bb745ed1382e9ecc5a4a604794-1144×1752.jpg [Sao Kurama comment] I am extremely pleased and honored to be playing the role of Hokusai’s wife. He was the man who sparked the artistic movement known as “Japonism” around the world, and I hope that through this performance, people living in this era will once again be able to appreciate the greatness of his life and art. I am also happy to be a part of this team that has lovingly built Hokusai. We look forward to seeing you at the theater. 《Organizer’s Comment》 Executive Producer Shin Sugimoto
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/96962/13/96962-13-f0597905517f25a3416aa8e63b3b1b2c-939×1225.jpg We are truly honored to be able to bring “The Life of Hokusai,” which has received high praise at art festivals around the world, back to Japan for a triumphant return. We would like to once again express our deepest gratitude to all of you for your kind support and cooperation in the production of this work. In today’s world, where Japanese anime and manga are acclaimed worldwide, I found myself drawn to Katsushika Hokusai as an opportunity to reexamine the uniquely Japanese aesthetic and spiritual culture that underpin them. This production, “The Life of Hokusai,” was born out of a strong desire to portray half of his life as a performing art. Through overseas performances, I have come to realize that the universality of the art Hokusai left behind, his lifelong passion for creativity, and the love of family that supported him resonate with people across borders. In addition, in 2022, we, together with Panasonic Connect Co., Ltd., were honored with the Cool Japan Matching Award, sponsored by the Cabinet Office, in recognition of our innovative “performing arts x technology” initiative. We hope to use this award as an opportunity to continue exploring new ways in which Japanese culture can resonate more deeply with the world. We would appreciate your continued support as we prepare for our triumphant return to Japan in April 2026. 《Performance Overview》 The Life of HOKUSAI -Japan triumphant performance-
[Performance Date] Saturday, April 18, 2026, 3:30 PM performance / 6:00 PM performance *Doors open 45 minutes before showtime [Venue] Taito Asakusa Public Hall (1-38-6 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0032) [Seating type] S seat ¥10,000 / A seat ¥8,000 / U23 ¥5,000 *Includes consumption tax ※Limited-time early bird bonus (original Japanese hand towel) available. Redeem the bonus in the theater lobby on the day of your visit. ※Some scenes may be difficult to see from A seats depending on your seat position. *U23 refers to those who are elementary school age or older and under 23 years old as of April 18, 2026. *Preschool children are not allowed. *Those under 23 must present a photo ID (My Number Card, driver’s license, student ID, etc.) that shows their age at the reception desk. Present this to exchange for your voucher. [For barrier-free reservations (inquiries), please contact hokusai_stage@napposunited.com] *For hearing-impaired guests, we will provide seats near the front where it is easier to see their mouths and facial expressions. After purchasing your tickets, please let us know at least one week before the performance. *If you require wheelchair seating, please notify the organizer at least one week before the performance after purchasing your ticket. Thank you. [Release method] 《Pre-sale》 October 31, 2025 (Friday) 12:00 to December 4, 2025 (Thursday) 23:59 《General sale》December 7, 2025 (Sunday) 10:00~ ・Ticket Pia https://w.pia.jp/t/hokusai/ Seven-Eleven storefront P-Code: 537-950 ・Lawson Ticket https://l-tike.com/HOKUSAI/ ・e https://eplus.jp/HOKUSAI/ FamilyMart store ・CN Play Guide https://www.cnplayguide.com/HOKUSAI/ ・Confetti
https://www.confetti-web.com/@/HOKUSAI ・Sunrise Ticket
https://sunrisetokyo.com/ticket/ Telephone reservation (operator) 0570-07-7020 *Weekdays 10:00-18:00 (closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) ・Foreign language reservation website HIS Visit Japan (Booking Site / Booking Site / 예약 사이트)
https://hisvisitjapan.com/ja-JP/product/A-1363?utm_source=the_life_of_hokusai&utm_medium=officialsite [Cast] Sakakura Katsumi (Performing Artist) Taro Kobayashi (Japanese Taiko Drummer) Kumo Kamata (Satsuma Biwa Player) Karin Kato
(Contemporary Dancer) Saou Kurama (Actor) [Screenplay, Script, and Direction] Katsumi Sakakura [Lighting] Hiroyuki Nakamura [Video] Animation Cafe [Video Transmission & Equipment] O-beron Inc. [Sound] Oshiro Sound Office [Music] Shuichiro Fukuhiro / Katsumi Sakakura [Stage Director] Takuya Shimoju [Production & Ticketing] Apple Inc. [Production Cooperation] Urakami Sokyudo Inc. / appare Inc. / Hansan Inc. [Character Design] Noriyuki Okazaki Miho [Music Support] Waccha [Supervisor] Mitsuru Urakami [Assistant Producer] Erica Rossi [Producer] Kazuo Nakamura [Executive Producer] Shin Sugimoto 【技術協力】パナソニック プロジェクター＆ディスプレイ株式会社 【素材協力】一般財団法人 北斎館／公益財団法人 太田記念美術館／岩松院／西新井大師 總持寺／ 国立国会図書館 【協賛】株式会社 ザイオン 【後援】株式会社 エイチ・アイ・エス 【共催】The Life of HOKUSAI製作委員会／株式会社グローバルビジネスラボ 【主催】株式会社ナッポス・ユナイテッド 【公演オフィシャルHP】https://napposunited.com/hokusai_stage/
【公演オフィシャルX】@Hokusai_world https://x.com/ Hokusai_world
【公演オフィシャルインスタグラム】@hokusai_stage
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