From popular media to traditional art forms, Japanese culture and entertainment are no strangers to the world. Kabuki, which is characterized by heavily stylized performances, elaborate costumes and dynamic stage sets, is among the most well-known classical styles of theatre not only in Japan but also overseas. An art form that requires a tremendous amount of skill, much of kabuki has been passed down to generations for centuries. Historically, it had always sought to entertain the common folk, and to this day kabuki continues to consider contemporary audiences as it carefully introduces innovation while steadfastly upholding its strong cultural heritage. 

It’s a principle that is present in Takizawa Kabuki, a production by one of Japan’s most prominent idol talent agencies, Johnny & Associates, and currently led by the nine-member boy band, Snow Man.  

Originally starring former singer and actor, Hideaki Takizawa, the show has been staged annually since 2006 and features an extravagant mixture of traditional and modern performing arts. The typical highlights of Takizawa Kabuki include sword fights, aerial acrobatics, fukkin-taiko (abdominal taiko), pop and contemporary song and dance numbers, comedy, and historical plays, making it a showcase that can be described as quintessentially Johnny’s. 

For the years that Takizawa had helmed this eponymous play as the lead actor and eventual director, various talents under Johnny & Associates have served as the supporting cast. Among these talents are the members of Snow Man, a unit well-regarded for their dance and acrobatic skills. 

The original six members – Hikaru Iwamoto, Tatsuya Fukazawa, Daisuke Sakuma, Ryohei Abe, Ryota Miyadate, and Shota Watanabe – have been part of Takizawa Kabuki since its early days, when they had still been trainees (better known in the industry as Johnnys' Juniors). Under Takizawa’s tutelage, they had grown as performers to challenge bigger and bigger roles through the years, not only within the play but also in other areas of entertainment. In 2019 – coinciding with the addition of Koji Mukai, Ren Meguro, and Raul to the group – Snow Man took on the mantle as the principal stars of the show, which has since been rebranded as Takizawa Kabuki ZERO. 

Aside from Takizawa Kabuki ZERO, Snow Man, who had officially made their CD debut in 2020, are active in various TV shows and movies, radio programs, modelling, other stage productions, and their own YouTube channel, avenues in which they gain much recognition and continue to grow their already impressive fanbase. However, it cannot be denied that Takizawa Kabuki is at their core. As the new torchbearers, they’ve brought their own flavour to the show, as they take charge of more responsibilities in the production, and just as Takizawa had done for them, play a more vital role as mentors to Juniors who act as their support.  

Soon, they hope to take Takizawa Kabuki outside of Japan again, years after they had first joined Takizawa when he held the show in Singapore in 2015. Back then, Takizawa had talked about bringing snow where it hasn’t been before; one can’t help but imagine that as a sort of foreshadowing for what is to come. 

Bandwagon had the opportunity to ask Snow Man about Takizawa Kabuki, how it feels to take on a legacy, and through it, what they hope to tell the world about Japanese entertainment and culture. 

It’s been more than three years since you took over Takizawa Kabuki from Hideaki Takizawa. What has changed since then in terms of your relationship with and feelings towards the show? Would you say it has gotten easier or more challenging doing the show as the years have gone by? Are there any lessons or realizations you can share from your experiences so far?

#SnowMan gets ready to take the stage at yesterday's opening of Takizawa Kabuki ZERO 2022!

"It is an honor to lead this incredible show once again, and we look forward to enjoying a bright new spring with our fans both on and off the stage!"#滝沢歌舞伎ZERO2022#JohnnysUpClose pic.twitter.com/svv9fFR6zQ

— Johnny & Associates (@johnnys) April 6, 2022

Fukazawa: Takizawa Kabuki is a very important work for Snow Man, as it’s a stage that reminds us of where we came from. It’s been four years since Snow Man took over as the lead actors, and Takizawa-kun, Snow Man, the rest of the cast and staff are always working very hard to show an even better version each year and level it up for a new audience experience. Basically, there’s never an opportunity for us to simply get used to the stage, as each time is a sequence of new and exciting challenges. Also, while being a live show we think a lot about our base in Japan, but we are very willing and interested in doing shows overseas. We want more people to see Takizawa Kabuki, rooted as it is in the traditional culture of Japan, as well as the power of our group's charisma and dynamic!

Miyadate: By inheriting Takizawa Kabuki, I personally have come to feel strongly about the pleasure of making audiences enjoy the stage experience. This is not an easy show to do, and every single show is a challenge for me, as I’m always trying to read how to move the audience through our performance. By barreling through all of the struggles of rehearsals, I’ve learned how to appeal what I’m doing more, especially from the abilities and talents of the others, who have been at this longer than I have. I would love to be on stage forever as a person who can make audiences happy and smile.

Similarly, how has your relationship with each other changed since then?

Fukazawa: To be honest, it hasn’t changed at all. Even before I debuted, he was always a kind and attentive senpai (senior), and I don’t think I would ever have become the man I am today were it not for him always being there for me and the rest of us. It’s also why Takizawa Kabuki is such an important place for me, having learned so much from the days when Takizawa-kun was the lead and we were supporting him, just as IMPACTors is now supporting us.

Miyadate: Takizawa-kun has taught us so much about being on stage. Even now, having debuted, there is still so much that I don’t know, and I would be blind to so much of what the stage has to offer were Takizawa-kun not here. I can’t imagine our relationship being ever-changing. He is someone who I respect very much and a very important person in my life.

Shortly after you’d begun starring in Takizawa Kabuki ZERO, your debut was announced, and with that, you as a group and individual entertainers have gotten more gigs across the industry. Some of you have also gotten acting roles outside of this production. Would you say doing Kabuki has helped you hone your skills in preparation for these other projects? And have these other projects helped further develop your skills for Takizawa Kabuki?

Watanabe: I definitely believe it helps. The atmosphere of Takizawa Kabuki is very different from any of our concerts, with a more compact stage that makes each of us stand out. The moves of Kabuki are also quite different from the dances of our usual performance, requiring a lot of different practice and new lessons we’re not as accustomed to. On the other hand, it’s a show I’ve participated in since I was a Junior, so there’s a certain aspect of nostalgia I feel each time we take the stage.

Raul: Because Takizawa Kabuki has run for so long, each year must push the limit beyond the last when it comes to feats of physical strength, acting, expression, etc., which of course requires a lot of mental strength from us. But because of this, it really influences how we approach any of our other work. Each number we perform and each scene we’re in can’t come into being without 100% effort, which is a lesson we take with us even after the final bow.

Just as you had supported Hideaki Takizawa in the years he’d been leading the production, your juniors, IMPACTors, are now supporting you in every show. What has it been like working with them and what do you hope they can gain from Takizawa Kabuki?

Mukai: I hope they understand how hard Takizawa Kabuki can be sometimes! But IMPACTors works really hard and supports us well. I’m not deeply connected with many Junior groups from Tokyo, but even still I can feel how hard they all work.

 Lately, Johnnys' Juniors on the whole have a lot more opportunities for work than previous generations did, including us, but I hope they don’t take it for granted. It’s important to do your best and never forget to be grateful for each and every opportunity. This is one of the biggest lessons that I hope we as Snow Man can impart to them.

Meguro: For us, each show we treat like it’s the only show we have and give it our best to fulfil the expectations of the unique audience in attendance. I want each person who comes to see us be truly glad they came, and I am happy to know that IMPACTors feel the same.

Sakuma: We learned so much about work, our commitment to entertainment, and more from Takizawa Kabuki, and I hope that IMPACTors can also get the same lessons out of it in the course of their own experience. Here, I know they’ll discover so much about what they can do and achieve, and be resolute and proud of themselves as a result.

In 2020, you released Takizawa Kabuki ZERO The Movie, which was later made available for international audiences to watch on Netflix. And next year, you’re planning on taking the production overseas as SUPER Takizawa Kabuki ZERO. What do you want international fans to learn about Japanese arts and culture, and also about Johnny’s, through Takizawa Kabuki? 

Iwamoto: What makes Takizawa Kabuki ZERO unique is that it includes so many different performances; from singing, dancing, acting, and even traditional arts like Kabuki that all come together as the epitome of modern Japanese entertainment. Through it all, I hope it raises awareness and interest in the entertainment culture of Japan and encourages people overseas to come to visit to learn more!

Abe: Japanese traditional entertainment “Kabuki” has been registered as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. Takizawa Kabuki ZERO is an extreme form of “WA” (Japanese-ness), which respectfully infuses kabuki with other arts that Johnny’s excels at. Thanks to Takizawa Kabuki ZERO, I hope to deliver the power and sensitivity of kabuki and excite fans both at home and overseas.

Finally, are there any fun or interesting anecdotes you can share with us from this year’s Takizawa Kabuki run?

Mukai: Every day, we order food on delivery, and right before it arrives, we play rock-paper-scissors. Whoever wins has to pay everyone’s share! 

Abe: Starting this year, we added a new performance integrating the traditional kabuki of “Renjishi.” Among professional kabuki actors, acting out “Renjishi” is a big honour, and I felt a lot of pressure and responsibility to do it properly. It was hard at first when we were practising as I kept getting really dizzy and my wig would fly off, but once we got the hang of it seeing all nine of us swinging the huge red wigs – about two meters long! – on stage was truly a sight to behold. I hope the audience enjoyed it too!

This is part one of Bandwagon’s special feature on Takizawa Kabuki ZERO. Watch out for part two, where we take a closer look at what happens behind the scenes and get to know the Johnnys' Juniors group IMPACTors.