Netsuke are small Japanese ornaments that were traditionally attached to items like tobacco pouches or small bags, which were hung from a kimono sash. They were both practical and decorative.
I went to see the musical Wicked. In Japan, it’s performed by the famous theatre company Shiki Theatre Company. The movie version was just released recently , but I really loved the Japanese stage version. The Japanese cast gave an absolutely amazing performance.
最近、映画版も公開されましたね。日本人キャストの舞台も素晴らしかったです。
Sometimes it’s hard to capture the exact nuance when lyrics are translated between a foreign language and Japanese. For example, in the Japanese version of Defying Gravity, one of my favorite song , the chorus “It’s time to try defying gravity….. you can’t pull me down” is translated as: “誰にも止められない 自由を取り戻すの,” which means “No one can stop me — I’m taking back my freedom.”
It’s a powerful line, but it feels slightly different from the original English lyrics. Still, I think the message comes through beautifully in its own way.
In Japan, many Broadway musicals are performed with Japanese casts, and they’re really worth seeing. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend checking one out!
