Details

The plot of Amaterasu draws heavily on the stark contrasts of emotion and society in both Japan and Britain. While Britain retains its 'Britishness' with the aid of the spoken word, Japan is traditionally a visual culture, and is so portrayed by dance, vivid costume, drums, and the traditional Kabuki and Noh art forms. To add further to the sense of the visual, Tomio Mohri employs a unique cast of Japanese actors with a strong background in fashion, including the Hollywood actor Masaya Kato (Golden Samurai, Godzilla, Brother) and the supermodel and actress Sayoko Yamaguchi. Essential to the Japanese stage tradition is the inclusion of Taiko drums, which will played by one of the world's top female drummers, Miyuki Ikeda. The story, which revolves around the principle actor's character Sir M, re-enacts the ancient tale of the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu and is based on an allegorical portrayal of life and death through the central theme of light. According to the legend, which stems from the eighth century, Amaterasu, the ruler of the heavens, goes into hiding after her brother destroys her empire. Amaterasu is eventually tricked by her own reflection and is lured out of hiding by the gods in order to dispel the darkness which has descended upon the earth. In this adaptation of the original myth, the role of the Shakespearean actor is woven into the plot, where it blends the worlds of myth and reality.