Guests' comment 2016

Khairi (Singapore)

Saw the evening 5th December at Kabuki-za Theatre and attended Kabuki-za Gallery tour

Kazui-san's tour was an excellent introduction to Kabuki! It was friendly, succinct and concise. It was also personalised as I was the only one in the tour. Thank you for your tea and dessert recommendation too. It was really a taste of Japanese culture. If I hadn't engaged your tour services, I'll certainly not realise the subtleties of the kabuki stage and performance like the narrator and his shamisen player, the room for the live music, the hanamichi, and the person with the clapper, amongst many things.

Leggo (Manila, Philippines)

Kabuki-za Gallery tour and saw the evening 16th November show at Kabuki-za theatre

Thank you for the guided tour! Surprisingly, I enjoyed the performances. I especially liked the stage and the elaborate costumes! The actors look all so regal! I also like how I got to watch three different types of performances and I like how one is slightly different from the other and yet they're all so enjoyable to watch. Yes, the first two were more on dialogues but I like it anyway. The last one was fun to watch. The dance looks elaborate but the actor make it seem easy! I also like how the audiences seem so into the whole play! The experience was remarkable! Thank you, Kazui! I hope to get to watch another performance when I'm in Tokyo.

John (Virginia, USA)

Kabuki-za Gallery tour and saw the Matinee 12nd November show at Kabuki-za Theatre.

I enjoyed all plays today especially becuase of your research information and fine lecture. The lion dance program was very special. I hope to see you again. I will recommend you highly.

Daniel (Helsinki, Finland)

Saw the Matinee 11st November at Kabuki-za Theatre

Your lecture helped me to further understand the nature of the Kabuki art-form and was so very helpful for me to enjoy to the fullest! So many questions came to mind and I am absolutely hooked on this form of theatre! I could not stop speaking about it today and will continue to share with my fellow actors back in Finland and others that I work with to tell them what a special form of theatre it is!!!!

The seat was amazing! You had said it was a favourite and I understand now.

I was so immersed into the performance that I was thinking after each ACT, "It's over already?" The time flew.

Each of the stories that were presented were memorable.

To me, as the father of three sons the Seizoroi Kotobuki Renjishi was so special. The moment when the father watches his sons go down the runway and then follows. Just before he goes he has a look of pride and admiration for his young boys. I had tears in my eyes.

I was mesmerized the entire show. What a gift to see such masters of the art.

The food was great as well.

What an experience!!!!

Thank you again for your guidance and wonderful experience!

The seat was wonderful. I almost felt to be a part of the performance I was so close!!!

David (Bolton, UK)

Saw the Matinee 27th October show at the National Theatre

Cant' believe it but we stayed until the end. It was brilliant. Your information helped considerably as did the audio guide. Seats were excellent and gave us chance to see the actors up close.

Elizabeth and Peter (Sydney, Australia)

Kabuki-za Gallery tour and saw the Matinee October 18th at Kabuki-za theatre.

Your pre-performance lecture and gallery tour was excellent and really helped us understand and enjoy the whole performance. Thank you again for your all efforts, it really made the Kabuki one of the highlights of our Japanese holiday.

Eric (California, USA)

Kabuki-za Gallery tour and saw the Matinee 25th September at the Kabuki-za theatre

My wife and I thoughly enjoyed the Kabuki and can assure you that it was one of our highlights of our trip to Japan. If not for your knowledge and love for Kabuki that you imparted to us I don't think we would have enjoyed the Kabuki as much.

We plan on returning to Japan soon and will most certainly attend another Kabuki play. Thank you so much again for helping us understand the intricacies of Kabuki.

Eugina (Massachusetts, USA)

Kabuki-za Gallery tour and saw the Matinee 23rd September at Kabuki-za theatre.

We had a wonderful experience, thank you for sharing Kabuki with us. The lecture was helpful as we know what was going on in the performance (make up, gestures, etc.) and in the audience (screaming names). We followed your advice and got the guide/tablet and truly enjoyed the last performance. The fish treat, the paintings -- all of it was wonderful. Seats were comfortable too.

I am hoping we can experience your tour when we are again in Japan.

Thank you for such a great experience.

Albert (Florida, USA)

Saw the evening 7th September at Kabuki-za theatre.

I very much enjoyed my tour to Japan, and your assistance with the Kabuki ticket and explanation was most helpful. Than you so much.

Melinda (Budapest, Hungary)

Saw the Matinee 6th September at Kabuki-za theatre

I really enjoyed your tour and the theatre as well, it was such a unique experience. And I am happy that I took it.

Your explanation was really helpful, I think one can enjoy kabuki way better with these insights ,because there are so many symbols and a special language.

I can only recommend your tour, especially if someone is interested in the traditional Japanese culture.

Cheryl (New York, USA)

Kabuki-za Gallery tour, August 7

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your informative lecture about Kabuki theatre (and other theatre formats). We truly learned from it and appreciated the hands-on experience at the theatre gallery we visited. Hopefully, now that we have a better understanding of the details, we will have an opportunity to see a performance one day!

Your guide, Kazui's comment

Thank you for joining Kabuki-za Gallery tour. I was glad to have a chance to help your Kabuki experience at the gallery on the no performance day. I am looking forward to seeing you again and to having a opprotunity to provide you pre-performance lecture in the near future.

Kayla (California, USA)

Saw the evening show 11st July at Kabuki-za theatre

I wanted to comment you on a brilliant presentation about Kabuki. My husband and I thought it was goding to be a lecture but indeed it was a cultural and historic perspective on anything to do with Kabuki. It made the experience much more satisfying and understandable, It would have been enjoyable but after your presentation it became more personal as we knew who was who and what it meant-in a limited but meaningful way. Your enthusiasm and enthusiam and expertise conveyed and carried us through the event. We came away happy, cultually enriched and sprinkled with your connection with this art form.

Laurel (Newcastle, Australia)

Saw the Matinee 3rd June at Kabuki-za theatre (Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura: Ikari Tomomori)

This was a truly wonderful tour, and the highlight of our trip to Tokyo. Thank you, Kazui-San!

While I've previously experienced kabuki and enjoyed it very much, I found that everything Kazui-San taught us really enriched the experience. After understanding more about both the history of kabuki and the techniques used both on and off stage, it was much easier to wholeheartedly engage in the action.

I found the production fascinating (and unusual from a Western perspective) since every character in this act was sympathetic, and there was no "villain".

As someone who is interested in Japanese history, I found the interplay between truth and fantasy very compelling, and this has changed the way I now think when I read history. Without Kazui-San's thorough explanations about kabuki conventions, I might have found these changes confusing, but certainly would not be able to identify with the real historical figures portrayed in this show so well as I do now.

I was also very impressed with the way in which Kazui-San catered for a group with widely different knowledge bases (both about Japan in general and kabuki in particular). I attended the show with my father, who is very limited in his knowledge about Japanese culture. She ensured that all her explanations were both clear for a kabuki "beginner", and in-depth enough to be interesting for someone with some background knowledge.

Kazui-San purchased us the most amazing tickets: sixth row, immediately next to the hanamichi runway. I really couldn't have hoped for better!
She really went above and beyond to ensure that my father and I had a fabulous time at the kabuki. I'll certainly be booking another tour next time I'm in Tokyo!

Lyn (Sydney, Australia)

Saw the evening show 7th May at Kabuki-za theatre

I just wanted to let you know how much we liked the Kabuki. The seats you got us were just great and we had a good veiw of the stage - althoug you said missed some of the entry stage. Still they were very suitable.
I had seen Kabuki many years ago but did not really enjoy it as much as I did this time. I really loved it and was so happy we made the time to see it. I particularly liked to historical drama but as you said the last dance program was fabulous. We all enjoyed it.

Your Kabuki guide, Kazui's comment.
Thank you for your nice comment and for giving me a chance to your family! I like see the performance with my family.

Laura (Philippines)

Saw the Matinee 7th April at Kabuki-za theatre

My sister and I enjoyed the show despite language barrier. The set, costumes and make up were amazing. Seats were comfortable too. Only regret is not getting the visual guide. Information you gave prior to show helped us understand and appreciate kabuki better. Again thank you.

Your Kabuki guide, Kazui's comment.
Thank you for your nice comment. I am glad to know my lecture helped you understand and appreciate Kabuki better. As for the English devices, some my guests use and sume don't prefer to use because I provide the English summaries in advance. I should have to tell you that the rental booth is opened until the theatre closes and you can rent them anytime you want.

Michael (Townsville, Australia)

Saw the evning show 25th March at Kabuki-za theatre

Thank you for the photos taken during our afternoon.

We enjoyed the performance very much, my girlfriend especially. The second play in particular was outstanding. The English guides were distracting but necessary. Sometimes we would forget to read the next page as we were looking at what was happening on the stage. If we were in Japan longer we would have liked to go again and focus more on the actors and their facial expressions. I also enjoyed the ceremony. It was interesting to see the actors speak out of character. They are so different when they are acting, I was wondering if they ever spoke normally.

We enjoyed your lecture and tea as well. Reading the material you provided us beforehand definitely helped to follow the story. Your history and information on Kabuki was very interesting also and got my girlfriend and I very excited to see the performance. I don't think we would have appreciated or been able to follow what was happening if we didn't get your background on Kabuki beforehand. We were very happy with the tour and suggest it to anyone who is new to Kabuki.

I actually only heard of Kabuki for the very first time at the start of this year. I was on holiday in Fiji where there was an English spoken Japanese television channel. In one of the programs they featured a Kabuki play and I thought I would like to see one when I travelled to Tokyo. When I saw your lecture on trip advisor I was very keen to meet you as I had never even heard of Kabuki prior to this and my girlfriend only that week when I told her what I had booked.

Thank you very much for such a pleasant afternoon!

Your Kabuki guide, Kazui's comment.
Thank you for your wonderful comment. I am happy to know my lecture was helpful and you two enjoyed the name taking ceremony as well as the plays. Actors speak very formally in the ceremony. The ceremony is hold not very often. I hope your holiday in Fiji March 2016 Kabuki are your nice memories this year.

Robin (Pennsylvania, USA)

Saw the Matinee 24th March at Kabuki-za theatre, Kabuki short tour

Hi! Yes, we were fascinated, and feel lucky we could see such an historic piece. Your lecture made the experience 100 times more meaningful. It was completely worth it. Thank you!!! We watched some kabuki last night on TV and were delighted to see a child actor! Take care and thanks again.

Your Kabuki guide, Kazui's comment.
Thank you for your nice comment. I was gald to have a chance to guide you. You watched Kabuki TV program after you enjoyed the live performance. It sounds very good!

Elizabeth (Hungerford Berkshire, UK)

Saw the evening show 19th February at Kabuki-za theatre

Our small family group came to see the Kabuki in February 2016.

Beforehand, we had a lovely experience with you over afternoon tea,while you explained to us the mysteries of the Kabuki. The very interesting insightful talk you gave us enabled to get so much more from the whole experience.....The use of colour in costumes,the Kabuki family traditions, the movements of the actors and the meaning behind the audience participation were all so important to understand before the performance .

We would like to thank you for your talk and to tell you that seeing a Kabuki performance was one of many highlights of our Japan experience.

Your Kabuki guide, Kazui's comment.
Thank you for your wonderful comment. I also like to guide a family because I like to see the same performance with my family. I was glad to provide my lecture to you four.

Zack (Malaysia)

Saw the Matinee 21st January at Kabuki-za theatre

Many thanks for the tour that day. I just returned to Malaysia (and to work) today.
You were very informative on explaining the kabuki and its historical backgrounds, though sometimes I felt a little lost as I have never really studied Japanese old culture and her history.
The first program (about a famous geisha in a love parlour) was a little slow, but the actor who portrayed the lady has an amazing voice (with high pitch cryings). The songs are the highlights for this program.
The 2nd program (Nobunaga if I am not mistaken...about the hero and the horn that belongs to his brother) was better and more fun to watch.Many comedy elements in it, and again, I was impressed by the actor who portray the hero's wife. 'She' cried impressively after she was rejected by her husband to accompany him on the journey to war. The fighting scenes was good too.
The 3rd program about an old merchant trying to sell a famous sword to a Lord was my least favourite. Too much dialogue and I nearly fell asleep at times. The lady sitting beside me also fell asleep! Eventually the the Lord used the sword to cut the water container in half.
The final program is the best, though I can predict the outcome! About an old aunt visiting the famous demon hunter who cut the arm of a terrible demon. As expected, the aunt is the demon who came to retrieve her arm stored in a box. Started a little slow, but the tempo of the program is very good, with great music performance from the band who sat in the background stage. The climax is the fighting scenes, with great costumes to impress.
The stage is beautiful and its very comfortable to sit in. However, the seats pathway are too narrow and it is hard to walk in and out of my seat.
I bought some souvenirs too (Snoopy paper folders and some snacks).
I hope to see you again in the near future, and thanks for the photos.

Your Kabuki guide, Kazui's comment.
Thank you for your detailed comment. You enjoyed every moment at Kabuki-za theatre as I do always. I am happy my suggestion for intermissions was also helpful. Unfortunately seats on the third floor are not confortable like those on the first and second floors. The theatre is new but the sizes of audience seats on the third and fourth floors are old fashioned.....

Jasmine (Malaysia)

Saw the Matinee 18th Jauary at Kabuki-za theatre

This marks the third time I m following this tour & Kazui does not disappoint ^__^ Thanks to her, I sat in the the best seat in the entire theatre (directly beside the hamamichi). I love my seating position because I could see upclose the costumes & emotions conveyed by the actors. It was a complete privilege to be able to watch kabuki greats such as Tamasaburo Bando performing upclose. His performance as Ibaraki the demon was particularly mesmerizing!

I consider myself to be very fortunate to be able to catch good performances each time I stop for kabuki in Tokyo. Thank you Kazui for the very informative lecture this round. She emailed me the English summaries beforehand, which proved useful in understanding the play.

The only disappointing thing is the usage of the subtitles device. It takes the attention away from the stage performances. I was forced to switch between watching the stage & reading the subtitles. You ended up missing out details of the performances if you read the subtitles too slow... Not only that, renting it requires an ID & I was fortunate I always carry my passports around. I very much prefer the usage of the listening device previously so that I can concentrate on the stage performances.

Your Kabuki guide, Kazui's comment.
Thank you for your nice comment as last two times. Welcoming you as a repeater is great for me. English audio guide service was over last spring unfortunately. I think reading summary in advance help foreign audiences more to enjoy performance. I am happy to know the summaries I sent were good for you.

Duane (Singapore)

Saw the evening show 2nd Jauary at Kabuki-za theatre

Thank you very much for introducing Kabuki to us. I have learned a lot from your lecture and the performances have also taught us some things about Japanese history and culture.

Your Kabuki guide, Kazui's comment.
Thank you for your nice comment. I am glad to know my lecture was helpful and to celebrate new year with you on the first day of 2016 Kabuki performance at Kabuki-za theatre