Since its beginning in 1994, ‘Cocoon Kabuki’ has continuously evolved. It has always breathed new life into kabuki classics from a new perspective creating sensational productions that have drawn audiences into its unique and exciting world.

This month’s program is ‘The Summer Festival in Old Osaka’ which was performed in 2004 in New York and in 2008 in Berlin where it received critical acclaim.
It was first performed as a Bunraku puppet play in 1745 at the Takemotoza Theatre in Osaka. The Bunraku puppet theatre was at its peak at that time and many masterpieces appeared which have been performed repeatedly. Among them, this play, which reflects the natural environment of Osaka and a strong sense of the season, became so popular that it was adapted for kabuki the month after its first performance and has often been performed both as kabuki and Bunraku ever since.

It features the themes of moral obligation and humane feeling, as exemplified by the chivalrous spirit of a man who makes strenuous efforts to guard his master to whom he is indebted, and a woman who is willing to sacrifice herself for her husband. The protagonist Danshichi who has vivid tattoos all over his body strikes various beautiful ‘mie’ poses accompanied by festival music in ‘The Backstreet of Nagamachi’, which is one of the climactic scenes imbued with kabuki’s unique stylish beauty.