This gripping stage play brings to life the rise of kabuki legend Nakamura Nakazō (played by Tatsuya Fujiwara), an orphan who defied Edo-era theater’s rigid hierarchies. From backstage struggles to dazzling performances, it’s a story of raw talent battling tradition—don’t miss this dramatic deep dive into kabuki history.

In the mid-Edo period, kabuki was at its peak. The Sakai-chō district of Nihonbashi, the heart of Edo’s theater scene, was home to the famed "Three Great Theaters of Edo" and a vibrant performing arts culture. It was in this flourishing world of entertainment that the fate of a young orphan quietly took shape.

He was adopted by a couple working at the Nakamura-za Theater—the husband a ballad singer, the wife a dance instructor. That child would one day become a legendary figure in kabuki history: the first Nakamura Nakazō (portrayed by Tatsuya Fujiwara). Under the strict guidance of his adoptive mother, Nakazō revealed an extraordinary talent in dance and set his sights on becoming a stage actor. But the kabuki world was bound by rigid hierarchies and deeply rooted traditions that favored lineage over talent, posing formidable obstacles on his path to success.

Refusing to give up, Nakazō started from the very bottom—as a background extra—determined to rise through the ranks on the strength of his performance alone. In a world rife with power struggles and behind-the-scenes rivalries, he devoted himself to honing his craft. Yet what awaited him was not recognition, but the cruel reality of exclusion and bullying behind the curtain...

• Stage & Dance