In a bizarre twist, a new kabuki production of Final Fantasy X commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Final Fantasy series has been announced. The play will open at the IHI Stage Around Tokyo in Toyosu, Tokyo next year in spring.
In the past, various contents that transcend genres, such as science fiction movies and animations, have been performed as kabuki plays, but this is the first time a kabuki performance is based on a video game.
▍About the Stage
Final Fantasy X kabuki play will be staged at IHI Stage Around Tokyo, a stage that extends 360º around the perimeter of the theater, with a huge circular auditorium in the center.
That’s not all, however, as the auditorium itself is located on a huge platform that rotates all of the seats, combining the stage, images, and music in a revolutionary way, so that the audience can enjoy an unprecedented sensation and sense of immersion.
▍Famous Kabuki Artists Come Together!
The cast for this memorable first performance includes Onoe Kikunosuke V as the main actor, a very famous figure who has appeared not only on stage but also in dramas such as Grand Maison Tokyo and Shimomachi Rocket, as well as in a wide variety of films and TV dramas.
The cast also includes Nakamura Shidō II, who continues to take on the challenges of kabuki; Onoe Matsuya, a promising young actor in the kabuki world who is active in a variety of fields, including dramas, musicals, and variety shows; and finally, Bando Yajuro, who passionately plays Hojo Tokimasa in the NHK historical drama Kamakura no Dono no 13 nin.
▍Scriptwriting Handled By Hiroyuki Yatsu!
The script of the Final Fantasy X play is written by Hiroyuki Yatsu, who has produced many hit dramas ranging from heartwarming humanistic dramas to profound human dramas, including the serial TV novels Ochoyan and Mitazono, the Housekeeper.
The production will be co-directed by Kahori Kanaya, who has successfully staged “Dragon Quest Live Spectacle Tour” and B’z’s Dome Tour, and is known in the industry for her dynamic yet sensitive and captivating direction.
▍Comments
Comment from Yoshinori Kitase, the producer of the Final Fantasy series:
When I first heard about this project, I was filled with skepticism, but I still remember just how moved I was when Onoe Kikunosuke V directly expressed his passion to me, so I decided to greenlight it. I can’t stop being excited about what will come of this collaboration between Kabuki, a traditional Japanese performing art, and the mass entertainment genre that is video games.
Comment from Onoe Kikunosuke V, the main actor:
This kabuki play was crafted with the hopes of fusing the classic game that is Final Fantasy X and Kabuki, a traditional Japanese performing art, creating a bridge between the two.
This will be our first attempt to stage a kabuki performance at the IHI Stage Around Tokyo, and we hope to cherish the shocking and moving feelings we had when we played the game when it was first released, and we extend the invitation to both those who love the game as well as those who have never seen a traditional kabuki play to see the performance.
The images projected on the huge 8-meter/26-feet high screen will color the stage, and we believe you will enjoy an immersive experience as if you were in the world of Final Fantasy X! It is precise because we live in such an era that we want you to see this heart-wrenching story.
▍Final Fantasy X Kabuki Play Story
The people of Spira live in fear of the great threat of Sin, the gargantuan being that might as well be death itself. They seek solace in the Remiem Temple, and the summoners set out on a journey to bring peace to Spira, believing in the temple’s teaching that the ultimate summoning, which can be activated at the cost of one’s life, is the only way to defeat Sin.
However, even with the ultimate summoning, Sin does not perish completely, and is resurrected after a certain period of time. Even so, the Eternal Calm provides a fleeting respite for the people. Yuna, a young girl from the village of Besaid was one of the summoners who decided to bring about the Eternal Calm once more. She then meets Tidus, a young boy who has wandered from the world of Zanarkand, and although he is at a loss in this strange world, he joins Yuna as a “guard” to protect the summoners in order to find answers on how to return to Zanarkand once more.
The destruction of the defeated squad to confront Sin, the revelation of Sin’s true identity, and the betrayal of the temple…shocking events repeatedly strike Tidus and his friends during their journey, but they overcome them and try to tie together their own story.