Never Sleep

Futaro Yamada’s novel “The Yagyu Ninja Scrolls” is a historical epic that masterfully weaves fiction into fact: Takarazuka will take on the challenge of adapting this work for the stage for the very first time.

Castle of the White Heron Nearly 1,000 years ago, in the ornate capital of Heian-kyo, there was a young, fair-skinned man of noble birth by the name of Abe no Yasunari, who was also a diviner. His foe was Tamamo no Mae. She was a bewitching magical fox who deceived the hearts of men. Time passed. Places changed. Now, the decisive day approaches at the splendid, renowned fortress known as the Castle of the White Heron. At times with grace, at times mysteriously, this revue of a Japanese tale depicts the fate of the diviner and the magical fox, in conflict and drawn to each other over the course of reincarnations spanning a millennium. Outsiders in the Renaissance While Leonardo da Vinci is celebrated as an all-around genius, there is still much about his life that remains unknown. One theory is that the inspiration for his creations was his love for a woman. This production depicts the affection and hatred between da Vinci and the figures in his life.

This musical romantic comedy tells the story of a man and a woman born into different social classes who meet by chance and overcome conflicts and obstacles as they build their relationship.

Published by Kodansha in 1999, Katsuhiko Takahashi's 2000 Yoshikawa Eiji Literature prize-winning novel Fiery Enmity: Hero of the North (The Legend of Aterui) will be adapted to the stage. In the 8th century, while expanding its dominion to the Tohoku area, the Yamato Imperial Court seeks to conquer Ezo. Aterui, the young leader of Ezo, stands up to protect his hometown and joins forces with his allies in the hopes of defeating the imperial forces. However, triumph leads to more battles and before long, the fate of the Emishi people falls into the hands of Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, the imperial army's trump card. Aterui's drive to protect the pride of the Emishi people will be entangled in fierce battle within this spectacular musical work.

Based on The Tale of Genji.

At 16, the young samurai Maki Bunshirou is in love with Fuku, a daughter of another good family. He spends his year working in the court as a page, and also training in sword-work in the dojo. Then one day his father is caught up in a failed rebellion against the lord and disgraced. After his father commits ritual suicide to atone, Bunshirou's life becomes much darker as his family lives in shame. He is separated from Fuku, who is sent to the capital, Edo. Slowly, Bunshirou begins to regain an honorable position. Then he begins to hear rumors that Fuku has become a concubine of a lord in Edo...

Meiji Era Japan. While en-route to Tokyo to join the Enouza theater, Takagorou disappears in Yokohama. Though his sister and the family and inn servants search everywhere, there is no sign of him. His meeting is the next day, and time is running out, so his twin sister Otaka decides to secretlytake his place and join the kabuki troupe for him, to hold his place until he returns.

A member of the U.S. House of Representatives, leading a delegation of stage artists, comes to Moscow and a female russian government official welcomes his entourage. The congressman is hoping, through the results of the visit, to make a name for himself in order to move up to the Senate. Meanwhile, the female government official - whose nickname is "Iron Lady" - keeps a watchful eye on the him in suspicion of espionage. As a result, the two get along like cats and dogs.

Based on the tale of Hamamatsu Chunagon.

Zeami perfected the performing art of Noh. He had two sons, Motomasa and Motoshige, who were destined to inherit the Kanze school. Driven by ambition as Noh actors and entangled in a forbidden love with a woman connected to the Southern Court, their destinies unfold dramatically.

The time is the Azuchi-Momoyama Period. While Yukariko is a woman, she is by nature masculine and, as she was raised in a family with no heir, she learned general martial arts. Then an unexpected story is told to Yukariko, whose father died suddenly. It is said that because Yukariko is the daughter of the daimyo of Aki, and twins with the current feudal lord, she was given to an adoptive family in secret. As a matter of fact her brother the feudal lord, Midorio, is ill, and in order that the other provinces may not know, she is told that he wants her to serve as his substitute....

In the late 630's in Asuka, Soga no Kuratsukuri, who was born the son and heir of the powerful minister Soga no Emishi, is now grown up and regarded as one of the best and brightest to manage the imperial government. He is studying hard at the T'ang Dynasty. This school is reserved for the sons of nobles and influential families such as Prince Karu, Ishikawamaro, Prince Yamasiro no Oe, Prince Furuhito and Nakatomi no Kamatari. They are earnestly studying Chinese thought and political doctrine in the hope of carrying out governmental reforms in Yamato. Among all the others, Kuratsukuri and Kamatari are regarded as excellent and treated with deference. However, Kuratsukuri is the heir of the head family of the Soga clan, whereas Kamatari was born into a family of rather lowly status. The family is in charge of affairs pertaining to the Shinto religion. The two men are naturally quite different in political standing, and Kamatari is secretly jealous of Kuratsukuri.

"The late Edo era. A tale of a new, dangerous area & those washed up on the wrong side of the river, that draws on the pathos and beauty of the world of Edo."

The beginning of the Heian Era, there was a young nobleman named Ariwara no Narihira serving in various government posts, such as Keeper of the Archives. This gentleman had great poetic ability, a handsome honor, was valorous, and was generally of an open and natural nature. This Narihara meets the beautiful Princess Takaiko, who is working as a dancing girl at one of the imperial flower banquets...

-- The Tale of Genji -- Hikaru Genji was born to Kiritsubotei when he was Emperor, as the second imperial Prince. Since childhood, he has harbored feelings of love for Fujitsubo-no-Nyogo, the Empress of Kiritsubotei. -- Melodia -- This performance comprises a number of musical pieces played to passionate as well as beautiful melodies and rhythms that generate excitement. They all are part of passionate and beautiful tunes that brim with love, dreams, hopes, passion, sorrow and an energy that knows no bounds.