When a group of refugees flee to safety, they are approached by an uncompromising inspector whose life depends on apprehending the fugitive among the group. Can the refugees cross the border? Recognized as a masterpiece of kabuki theater, the original Kanjincho tale dates from the 12th century with a story that swirls with deception, quick wit, high stakes, and a riotous, nail-biting climax as its centerpiece. Kinoshita Kabuki gleefully twists this bombastic traditional kabuki drama through the prism of contemporary theater in this hip, pop culture-drenched take on a surprisingly evergreen tale about transcending borders. Created by the brilliant young dramaturg Yuichi Kinoshita and led by the much-in-demand guest director Kunio Sugihara, Kanjincho is an international sensation that has cemented Kinoshita Kabuki’s place among the modern pantheon of theater companies.

This work is performed live in Japanese with English supertitles. The January 8 performance of Kanjincho will be followed by a reception; the January 9 performance will be followed by an artist Q&A session.

Note Regarding Seating: This performance takes place on a runway-shaped narrow platform built on the front edge of the Japan Society stage with audience members seated on both sides of the platform. Tickets purchased in the first two rows will be seated onstage, facing the standard audience seating area. Seats purchased between the third row and the back of the theater will be in standard auditorium seating. Both onstage and standard seating provide a full and excellent view of the performance and supertitles. For any questions regarding this seating configuration, please contact Japan Society.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Kinoshita Kabuki, a contemporary theater company based in Kyoto, Japan, was founded in 2006 by Yuichi Kinoshita. Inspired by Kinoshita’s own passion for classical Kabuki, Kinoshita Kabuki endeavors to reawaken interest in this traditional art among modern audiences. With this aim in mind, Kinoshita set out to stage Kabuki works as never before, adapting scripts through sharp colloquial language, incorporating pop culture, and utilizing classic themes to grapple with current societal issues, all while remaining deeply grounded in the original work. In order to approach Kabuki from a variety of perspectives, each piece presented by Kinoshita Kabuki features a new cast and an external director. After receiving accolades throughout Europe and East Asia, this production marks Kinoshita Kabuki’s North American debut.

Yuichi Kinoshita (creator and dramaturg) was born in Wakayama City in 1985, and began self-studying Kamigata Rakugo at a young age. He subsequently broadened his interest in classical performing arts while studying contemporary theatrical arts. In 2006, he founded Kinoshita Kabuki, a company that adapts and interprets the performance of classical plays as contemporary theater while maintaining the spirit of these classic works. His representative works include Musume Dojoji, Kurozuka, Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan, Shinju Ten no Amijima, Yoshitsune Senbonzakura—Tokaiya and Omonoura—, and Setsu Guppon Tsuji. His 2015 revival of Sannin Kichisa was nominated for the Yomiuri Theater Award for Best Work in 2015, and his 2016 performance of Kanjincho won him the New Artist Award at the Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival in 2016. He also received the Encouragement Award at the 38th Kyoto Prefecture Cultural Awards (2019).

Kunio Sugihara (director and stage designer) is a Japanese theater director and stage designer internationally recognized for dynamic, project-based productions that adapt classical and contemporary works. He was born in Tokyo in 1982 and raised in Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. In 2004, he established his production company, KUNIO, which has produced a variety of plays throughout Europe and Asia, assembling a new and unique cast and staff for each project. In 2006, Sugihara began a long-standing collaboration with Kinoshita Kabuki and has directed many of their productions. Sugihara is known for his skill in adapting classic pieces for modern audiences, and for bringing lengthy and challenging works to Japanese and international audiences through his unique direction and stage design. Such works include a celebrated Japanese production of Tony Kushner’s play Angels in America, contemporary full-length adaptations of the classic Japanese plays Tokaido Yotsuya Kaiden and Sannin Kichisa, and a Japanese-language adaptation of the monumental 10-hour epic The Greeks, which reconstructs ten Greek tragedies into a single tale.

CREDITS

FUNDING + SUPPORT

2025-26 Japan Society Performing Arts Season Support: Major support is generously provided by Doug and Teresa Peterson, Howard Gilman Foundation, Jun Makihara and Megumi Oka, and Robin B. Stern. Endowment support is provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund, John and Miyoko Davey Foundation, and a leadership gift from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Program support is provided by The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Hisamitsu America, Inc., Paula S. Lawrence, Akiko Mikumo, Hiroko Onoyama, Jeanette C. Takamura, Nancy and Joe Walker, Estate of Alan M. Suhonen, and other Performing Arts supporters. A heartfelt thank you to all who contributed in honor of Yoko Shioya’s 20th anniversary and ensure the continued success of the Performing Arts Program, including the Globus Family, Cheryl Henson, Laurent Hermout, Merit E. Janow, Eri Kakuta, Jun Makihara and Megumi Oka, Doug and Teresa Peterson, Richard and Momona Royce, Lyndley and Samuel Schwab, Shiseido Americas, Robin B. Stern and Jeffrey Stern, and Lance Stuart. All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. is the official airline of the Japan Society Performing Arts Program. Yamaha is the official piano provider of Japan Society.

Japan Society arts and culture programs are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Japan Society’s 120th anniversary initiatives and related programs are generously supported by Champion Sponsor, MUFG Bank, Ltd.; Advocate Sponsor, Mizuho Americas; and Friend Sponsor, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas).

Kinoshita Kabuki’s Kanjincho is supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, Japan Arts Council, and subsidized by JLOX+, with funding from The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan.

SOCIALS