Samurai Sword Soul: UTSUYO KAKURYO

Samurai Sword Soul, celebrating their tenth anniversary, are presenting UTSUYO KAKURYO: PASSING BY THE OTHER SHORE at the HERE! Theater.

Photographer Brian Krontz and I attended the dress rehearsal where Brian shot these production images. The play, performed in Japanese with English titles, combines elements of dance, sword-fighting, film, and Bunraku puppetry in a story that is part domestic drama and part morality play. It’s also something of a ghost story, and is peopled by Ninjas and wandering warriors. Honor, factional conflict, and revenge are major themes, and the tale unfolds with humorous interjections as the characters make life-or-death decisions.

Above: Yoshi Amao is the founding force behind Samurai Sword Soul

Above: some of the actors involved in the narrative are (left to right) Lisa Itabashi, Yu-Taniguchi, Jiro Ueno, Shieri Yamafuji, Asuka Morinaga, Atsunori Umihei Hiyamizu, and Koji Nishiyama.

Following are some of Brian Krontz’s images from the dress rehearsal. Click on each photo to enlarge:

Yoshihisa Kuyama, as a wandering rogue warrior

Yoshi with Takemi Kitamura, a beauteous spirit

Beware the Ninja!

Lisa Itabashi and Jiro Ueno

Yoshi Amao

Yoshi’s the victor…but the fight is far from over

Lisa Itabashi

Atsunori Umihei Hiyamizu

Lisa Itabashi and Koji Nishiyama

Yoshi with Jiro Ueno

Asuka Morinaga

Above: Yu-Taniguchi and Yoshi Amao

Yoshihisa Kuwayama

Takemi Kitamura

Umihei and Takemi

Apparition

Yoshi Amao

All photography by Brian Krontz.