OKUNI

出雲の阿国

A woman who created Kabuki

歌舞伎を作ったのは女性です。

Experience OKUNI: The Woman Who Created Kabuki, the vibrant true story celebrating the fearless Okuni, who in 1603 defied societal norms and gender roles to create Kabuki, Japan’s iconic art form.  Witness how Okuni and her mostly-female troupe portrayed both men and women with bold performances and flamboyant costumes, captivating audiences on the riverbanks of Kyoto.  Despite her groundbreaking success, the rise of imitators and strict morality laws led to women being banned from Kabuki, an art form that remains male-dominated today. Join us as we honor the extraordinary journey of a woman who broke barriers and shaped a theatrical legacy that endures for over 400 years.  With a captivating blend of authentic dance, live music, and dialogue, OKUNI will be performed in Japanese with subtitles and thematic narrations in English.

Conceived by and starring Japanese-born, NY-resident actress Ako, recently seen in FX/Hulu's Emmy Award-winning series Shogun, Okuni also features well-known Tokyo-based actor Yasushi Kimura and musician Fumi Tanakadate.

1603年、京都の四条河原で「天下一おくに歌舞伎」を興行した、出雲出身と言われる踊り手、おくにのお話です。

女性でありながら男性の役柄を演じたり、新しい発想で当時の観客を魅了しました。

現在は、男性のみで演じられる歌舞伎を作ったおくにの物語を、Amaterasu Zaが日米両語でお届けします。