
The Life of HOKUSAI
“The Life of HOKUSAI” is producing a completely new art experience entertainment which has merged live performance and art exhibition with the theme of “Katsushika Hokusai”
The World-renowned painter “Katsushika Hokusai”
In recent years, a book about his life has been published, and a dramatization and film version of his life have also been announced, attracting attention from around the world. We have planned a completely new theatrical artwork based on Hokusai, a master painter, combining live performance and the latest digital projection live performance.
PROJECT SUMMARY
The storytellers of this non-verbal stage work are; Internationally acknowledged performance artist Katsumi Sakakura, Dancer Kato Karasu, Satsuma Biwa player Kamata Kunsui, Taiko drummer Kobayashi Taro and Actress Manase Haruka. Tsugaru Shamisen player Yoshida Brothers is making a special appearance.
The combination of the live performance with the state-of-the-art projection live technique resulted in the novel performing arts style that the world had never seen before. This artwork to commemorate the 260th anniversary of Hokusai’s birth was made so relevant by inviting Kentaro Shimizu, the multiple international film festival winner as the director of the stage and documentary film, and Noshi Okazaki, who has a passionate global fan base as a character designer.
Hokusai’s message to us 200 years ago is so meaningful and necessary in today’s world. “The Life of HOKUSAI” sends out a new Japonism to the world!
STORY
“What significance does it have to win the recognition as an established painter?” “Have I sent my loved one away peacefully?
Hokusai had such inner dialogues as he drew the dragon in his last piece, “Dragon over Fuji” What did Hokusai find there?
DESCRIPTION
Hokusai painted many pictures with the motif of dragons. However, none of his dragons holds a Cintamani stone: a wish-fulfilling jewel (Note: 1). Even the dragon in his last piece, we do not see the stone. This performance, which unlocks this mystery based on historical facts, is depicting Hokusai’s true character and delivers a message to people all over the world about what matters in our lives, which we tend to lose sight of in this chaotic world.
(Note: 1) A pearl of treasure that is said to make any wish come true if held. Dragons are usually drawn with a jewel (a globe like a crystal ball) in their hands in artworks.




About Katsushika Hokusai
Stage Production Staff
Executive Producer Sugimoto Shin
Stage Producer Ban Norifumi
Composition Katsumi Sakakura
Directed by Katsumi Sakakura
Choreography Katsumi Sakakura
Katsumi Sakakura
The Life of HOKUSAI
Performing arts program commemorates the 260th birth anniversary of HOKUSAI
Katsumi Sakakura
Born in 1963 in Nagoya city, Japan. An artist who expresses the peculiar "movement, rhythm and spirituality" of Japanese traditional culture as an integrated art form. As the world's first artist to synchronize video and performance, he invented "Projection Live", which is highly acclaimed even abroad as an originator. He has been invited from 41 countries to perform in 21 TV programs.
He has performed at global events such as the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan and the IOC International Olympic Committee General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur. He has given lectures titled "What is real Japanese COOL?" in Japan and abroad (The University of Tokyo, Moscow University, SOAS University London, Aoyama Gakuin University, Nagoya Gakuin University, etc.), and has spoken at TEDxTokyo to share the beauty of Japan with the world.
Katsumi Sakakura (Performer)
Kato Karin (Dancer)
Kamada Kunsui (Satsuma biwa player)
Kobayashi Taro (Taiko player)
Manase Haruka (Actress)
Special appearance
Yoshida brothers (Tsugaru shamisen player)
Character Design Okazaki Takashi
Music Fukuhiro Shuichiro
Art and Costume KIRIE
Assistant Choreography Kato Karin
CG Production Animation Cafe
Stage Director Shimojuu Takuya
Sound Yoshimura Takahiro
Lighting Nakamura Yoshio
Production Otani Hiroki
Title Cooperation Miho (calligrapher)
Music Collaboration Waccha
Still photography
Kanesaka Ryosuke
Hirabayashi Katsumi
Material Collaboration
Sakai Eiji (Hanzou, Inc.)
Woman's body calligrapher
Satoru Kobayashi Sanzaemon
Technical Assistance Panasonic Corporation
Sponsorship Zion Co., Ltd.
Planning and Production Global Business Labo, Inc.
Video Production Staff
Executive Producer Sugimoto Shin
Producer Jeong Yeongsu
Director Shimizu Kento
Assistant Director Atanas Ibba Mantchorov
Cameraman Tsuji Takeshi
Sound Tuning and Effects Murata Momoko
Stage Video Recording Rim Entertainment, Inc.
Stage Video Distribution Global Business Labo, Inc.
Advertising/Public Relations Rim Entertainment, Inc.
Film Production Rim Entertainment, Inc.
Planning and Production Global Business Labo, Inc.
