Meeting the Phantom of Nissay Theatre! Japanese Famous Actor Masachika Ichimura's Solo Play 市村座（Ichimura-za）

My Love for Musicals

For me, going to see stage performances, especially musicals, is an absolute delight. Apart from the theatrical production "Theater of the Heart" by the Shiki Theatre Company, my first-ever musical experience was watching "Wicked" by the Shiki Theatre Company during my elementary school days (Elphaba played by Megumi Hamada and Glinda by Miyuki Numao).

I have a fondness for stories where the protagonist faces challenging situations that can be mentally exhausting, yet they confront them with determination. Productions like "Rebecca," which I saw at Theatre Creation, resonated deeply with me.

However, in recent years, I have been following the performances of Masachika Ichimura-san. His portrayal of the Phantom of the Opera in the revival of "Love Never Dies" was absolutely outstanding.

During "Love Never Dies," I couldn't help but wonder why his gaze towards Christine was so heartrending, and it made me feel uncertain about my own fluttering emotions. 

Perhaps it's because I strongly associate him with his comedic roles in TV shows like "Omoshiro Ojisan" (Funny Uncle) that seeing him in such serious roles like the Phantom was a striking contrast. I also saw him in "Scrooge" (A Christmas Carol) during my previous musical theater visit to Nissay Theatre.

Coincidentally, that day happened to be the birthday of the beloved muscle-bound entertainer, Shinji Takeda. During the after-talk show, we all ended up doing squats together, creating one of the most bewilderingly fun experiences I've had in recent years.

Masachika Ichimura's Solo Play "Ichimura-za"

This edition of Ichimura-za marks a significant milestone in Masachika Ichimura-san's 50-year acting career. Although Ichimura-za is a one-man show, his two sons also make appearances as members of the company.

I vividly remember his eldest son, Yuta, from his performance in "Oliver!"—the first musical I saw after the COVID-19 pandemic. Yuta played a member of a group of boys who make a living through pickpocketing. He had grown into a tall and slender handsome young man. I truly hope to continue supporting his future endeavors.

As for his second son (since he is not engaged in show business and his name is not mentioned in various media, I suppose it's better not to disclose his name), he is currently in the fifth grade of elementary school. He excelled in both recitations and singing on stage, displaying a remarkable level of maturity. It's irresistible to see glimpses of his fifth-grade charm mixed in with his solid performance.

I hope to see them both perform together on the musical stage in the future. Although they are currently focused on their studies, I sincerely hope they continue pursuing acting.

Highlights of "Ichimura-za"

The standout highlight of this edition of Ichimura-za is the second act, where Masachika Ichimura revisits all the productions he has been a part of through music and songs without any breaks. He delivers a non-stop performance that carries on until the very end.

From the past recordings of productions like "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Awakening from a Dream," which I had only heard on audio, to early works that I had no knowledge of, he truly covers them all.

There are scenes featuring the father and sons performing together, as well as dance sequences, making the performance rich and captivating. The show flies by in no time.

Since it has just premiered and there are still nationwide performances ahead, I highly recommend this production to anyone who is interested in "witnessing the legend of the musical world."

Lost on the Way to "Malaysia"?

By the way, I often visit the theater district in Hibiya or Theater Orb in Shibuya at least once a month. However, I recently realized something. I don't remember the route from Yurakucho Station to the theaters.

If I'm heading to Nissay Theatre from Hibiya Station, it's fine, but when it comes to Yurakucho Station, whether it's the Imperial Theatre or Tokyo International Forum, I have to consult a map to figure out the direction.

Today, I needed to pick up tickets along the way, so I walked towards Hibiya and stopped by a Seven-Eleven convenience store.

There aren't many options for convenience stores in that area, but I stumbled upon one near Seven-Eleven, right above the Kagoshima Antenna Shop. It turned out to be the Tokyo office of the "Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board."

Who would have thought it would be here?

I had always assumed that the Japanese page was managed by staff who can speak Japanese and are located in Malaysia, so I was a little surprised to learn about the existence of a Japanese office (apparently, there are offices in Osaka and Tokyo).

I found their blog intriguing, so I'm planning to give it a read.