#Japan #Tokyo #Akasaka #Terayama Shuji #Karouju

Akasaka Arts Festival 2025

The Akasaka Arts Festival 2025 is set to captivate audiences with a special performance on October 22, 2025. Held at the Akasaka Sacas Plaza's purple tent, the event will celebrate both the 90th birthday of renowned playwright Terayama Shuji and the 85th birthday of celebrated author Karouju. This vibrant festival showcases the art and culture that define Akasaka's rich history.

Tickets for this spectacular event are currently available through Confetti, managed by Long Run Planning Inc., located in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The official ticket sales page can be accessed at Confetti's Akasaka Arts Festival 2025 page.

Performance Details

The festival promises to be a diverse display of talents, featuring performances from various artists embodying multiple genres. The lead group, Okubo Chiyotayu's troupe, has gained recognition since its inception in 2020 with a dynamic reading and live performance of Terayama's work. Every year, they have expanded their repertoire, incorporating reading dramas, dance, song, and outstanding performances from various artists.

Key performances include:

• - 14:00 Matinee Show: Introduction to Terayama Shuji’s reading drama and the paper play “When You Let the Balloon Fly”. The matinee will start at 13:00 for check-in, with doors opening at 13:15.
• - 17:45 Evening Show: Featuring “Tokawa Jun avec Okubo Kei Live” and Terayama Shuji’s reading drama, the evening performance will open for check-in at 17:15.

Highlights of the Performances

The matinee will offer a rich program of classic performances, including:

• - Terayama Shuji Reading Drama: Expect performances filled with emotion, featuring original music from the rock musician Spider Tetsu. Special appearances will include Kan Mikami, who is back to celebrate the 51st anniversary of the film “Death in the Countryside”. Additionally, the morning will see Flower Meg debut with the troupe, singing “Dream Opens at Night” to music from Kan Mikami.

Other exciting highlights include:

• - A speech from Hagiwara Sakumi, reminiscent of the theatrical roots of Japan, and performances by contemporary stars like Hiroshi Kami as 'Black Lizard', and Takahiro Okubo presenting his unique take on national discourse. The performance closes with a powerful rendition of “Imagine” by Yasuhide Yamazaki, featuring an impressive band arrangement.

The paper play segment, “When You Let the Balloon Fly”, crafted from Terayama's youthful works, showcases the art of storytelling with visual flair through the beloved medium of Kamishibai.

Getting Your Tickets

Tickets vary in price depending on the type of seating and performance times:

• - Matinee: From ¥4,500 for general seating, with U25 tickets available for ¥2,500.
• - Evening: Starting at ¥5,500 for general seating, with U25 options once again at a discount.

Special discounts for Confetti users offer a one-time discount of ¥1,000 on stair seating options. Patrons can reserve tickets with ease and no membership is necessary for on-the-day payment.

To find out more or to reserve tickets, visit the Confetti ticket purchase page.

Conclusion

Join us for this fantastic celebration that merges literature with performance art, in a gathering that honors two great figures of Japanese culture. Let's meet at this nostalgic and beautiful festival in the beloved Akasaka! Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this unforgettable event!