One does not need dance to live. In 1374, during the turbulent age when the Northern and Southern Courts were locked in conflict, the Northern Court’s shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, was becoming an increasingly dominant force. Born the son of Kanami, head of the Kanze troupe of sarugaku performers, Oniyasha drifts through his days with a […]

In Japan during the height of its economic boom in the mid-1950s, the circus was a form of entertainment that became a central part of many people’s lives. The best troupes are permitted to participate in the world-renowned “Circus Collection” festival, and many come from all over Japan to compete daily. The story centers on […]

Rakugo, a traditional form of storytelling, takes years for any apprentice to master and ascend to the top rank of shinuchi. Ever since she could remember, Akane Ousaki has been mesmerized by her father Tooru’s rakugo performances. Peeking in behind a sliding door, she would spend hours watching and mimicking his work. For Tooru, the […]

This omnibus adolescent drama is about a group of young girls who all attend a “girls-only musical school,” recounting the formative years they shared, at times shifting between different characters’ viewpoints and time. Awajima Musical School Training Camp, dubbed the “boarding house,” is where young girls gather from all over Japan to perform on stage. […]