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Kenji Sakai and Kumiko Tabuchi's Debut Opera, The Tale of the Heike – Taira no Kiyomori Premieres to Sold-Out Crowds in Saitama, Japan

Oct. 20, 2025

On October 4-5, Kenji Sakai's new opera The Tale of the Heike – Taira no Kiyomori was premiered at Sonic City Concert Hall in Saitama, Japan.

The opera is based on The Tale of the Heike, one of the most important works in classical Japanese literature. The opera focuses on the dramatic life of Taira no Kiyomori and his relationships with the women around him. Kumiko Tabuchi, a well-known screenwriter of the NHK Taiga drama Atsuhime, wrote the libretto. Composer Kenji Sakai is an internationally-recognized composer who has won many awards, including the prestigious Prix de Rome. The production was directed by Tetsu Taoshita, conducted by Tatsuya Shimono, and featured a star-studded cast including Hibiki Ikeuchi, Miharu Kawagoe, and others. In addition, Yusei Yagi (a Japanese actor and frontman of the J-pop group, FANTASTICS) made a special appearance as the Biwa Hōshi (also known as "lute priest"), the traditional storyteller of the tale, which was appealing to both opera fans and a wider audience.

A concert version of the opera will also be performed in Hyogo Prefecture—a region closely associated with the Heike clan— next month, on November 1-2 at the Hyogo Performing Arts Center Grand Hall.


Scenes from the Dress Rehearsal of Kenji Sakai and Kumiko Tabuchi's new opera, 
The Tale of the Heike – Taira no Kiyomori)

To learn more about Kenji Sakai visit zen-on.co.jp.

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