© 2026 The Couch Critic
Status
Released
Release
1976
Runtime
2h 20m
"Stephen Sondheim's kabuki retelling of the opening of Japan to the West."
In 1853 Japan, the story follows the Westernization of Japan, mainly through the story of Kayama, a samurai, and Manjiro, a fisherman. The lives of both men are radically changed by the coming of American ships to Japan.
30 Cast Members
Mako
Reciter/Shogun/Jonathan Goble
Soon-Tek Oh
Tamate/Samurai/Storyteller/Swordsman
Yuki Shimoda
Abe, First Councillor
Sab Shimono
Manjiro
Isao Sato
Kayama
Alvin Ing
Shogun's Mother/Observer/Merchant/American Admiral
Ernest Harada
Physician/Madam/British Admiral
James Dybas
Second Councillor/Old Man/French Admiral
Mark Hsu Syers
Samurai/Thief/Soothsayer/Warrior/Russian Admiral/British Sailor
Patrick Kinser-Lau
Shogun's Companion/Dutch Admiral/British Sailor/Girl
Ernest Abuba
Samurai/Adams/Noble
Larry Hama
Williams/Lord of the South
Jae Woo Lee
Fisherman/Sumo Wrestler/Lord of the South
Freddy Mao
Third Councillor/Samurai's Daughter
Tom Matsusaka
Imperial Priest
Conrad Yama
Grandmother/Sumo Wrestler/Japanese Merchant
Kenneth S. Eiland
Ensemble
Timm Fujii
Son/Priest/Girl/Noble/British Sailor/Ensemble
Haruki Fujimoto
Servant/Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry
Joey Ginza
Ensemble
