'demon Slayer' To Be Adapted Into Noh Play
Details on the adaptation of popular Japanese manga series "Kimetsu no Yaiba," or "Demon Slayer," into a traditional Japanese Noh performance were announced on Tuesday.
The cartoon by Gotouge Koyoharu is set in Taisho-era Japan, about a century ago. It features a boy's battles with demons. Its film adaptation set a box-office record in Japan.
The actors and producers of the performance held a news conference on Tuesday to provide details on the Noh adaptation, which was announced last year.
Actors Ohtsuki Bunzo, who has been designated by the government as a person of cultural merit, and Nomura Mansai were among them.
Bunzo's disciple, Ohtsuki Yuichi, is cast as the protagonist, Kamado Tanjiro, as well as his sister, Nezuko. Mansai will play the main antagonist and head demon, Kibutsuji Muzan, as well as Tanijro's father and Tanjiro's crow. Bunzo will play one of the strong demons, Rui.
Mansai will also serve as stage director and Bunzo as supervisor.
The Noh performance will last just over two hours and depict part of the original story.
Mansai said the story is well-suited to Noh as its theme is demons, which are often a key feature of Noh plays.
He said the play will likely provide a perspective different from the animation or a musical adaptation.
Mansai said he sees some challenges ahead, such as how to express "water breathing," one of the breathing styles of the protagonist and another character.
But he said everyone involved will share their ideas to create an exciting show that will dispel the stagnation and the feelings of entrapment brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.
The performance is scheduled from July 26 to 31 at the Kanze Noh theater in Tokyo. The event will then go to Osaka in December.