Super Kabuki II: One Piece

Super Kabuki II: One Piece
Date premiered	2015[1]
Place premiered	Japan
Original language	Japanese

Super Kabuki II: One Piece is a Japanese kabuki play based on the popular manga One Piece featuring its protagonist, pirate captain Monkey D. Luffy, who is on a quest to become pirate king together with his crew. The play premiered in 2015 and was very successful.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]}

Production

In December 2014, a kabuki adaptation of One Piece was announced;^[11] after watching another kabuki production and meeting with Ennosuke Ichikawa, mangaka Eiichiro Oda was impressed and said he could trust Ichikawa with the adaptation.^[12] It was produced by Shueisha and Shochiku, with Oda supervising.^[13][14] On July 28, 2015, the cast and basic plot were announced.^[15][16] The theme song was performed by Yujin Kitagawa of YUZU, who was close friends with Ichikawa.^[17] Still images of the actors in makeup were released in late September.^[18]

The original production ran from October 7 to November 25, 2015, at the Shinbashi Enbujō in Tokyo's Ginza District.^[1] To appeal to both new and existing kabuki audiences alike, the dialogue was performed in modern Japanese, but traditional techniques were used for keren special effects, including chūnori and honmizu.^[19] Tickets for the Tokyo show went on sale starting on August 20, 2015;^[20] in total, 100,000 tickets were sold. Following the Tokyo run, additional productions were held in 2016: at Shōchiku-za [ja] in Osaka from March 1 to 25, and at Hakata-za in Fukuoka from April 2 to 26.^[21]

In early 2017, Shonen Jump confirmed the play would be staged again that year by releasing a colored print featuring Luffy in a samurai kabuki outfit.^[22][23] The play returned to the Tokyo Shinbashi Enbujō starting that October 6,^[24] but star Ennosuke Ichikawa broke his arm during the curtain call of a mid-day October performance and was replaced by Ukon Onoe. The second Tokyo show ended on November 25, 2017.^[25] In 2018, it was staged again at Shōchiku-za in Osaka (April 1–25) and then at Misono-za in Nagoya (May 3–27).^[26][27]

Cast

Typically in kabuki productions, one actor may play multiple roles; Ennosuke Ichikawa played three characters.^[28]

• Ennosuke Ichikawa – Monkey D. Luffy, Shanks, Boa Hancock
• Ukon Ichikawa – Whitebeard
• Minosuke Bando – Roronoa Zoro, Bon Clay, Squardo
• Hayato Nakamura – Vinsmoke Sanji, Inazuma
• Shun'en Ichikawa – Nami, Boa Sandersonia
• Seiji Fukushi – Portgas D. Ace
• Noritoshi Kashima – Brook, Sakazuki "Akainu"
• Kazuyuki Asano – Silvers Rayleigh, Emporio Ivankov, Sengoku
• Kôtarô Ichikawa – Hatchan, Sentomaru
• Juen Ichikawa – Avalo Pizarro
• Emisaburô Ichikawa – Elder Nyon
• En'ya Ichikawa – Jimbei, Blackbeard
• Emiya Ichikawa – Nico Robin, Marigold
• Omezô Ichikawa – Magellan
• Monnosuke Ichikawa – Tsuru

Plot

The play is an adaptation of the Paramount War saga,^[a][21] which depicts the battle between one of the Four Pirate Emperors, Edward Newgate (Whitebeard), joined by Luffy, against the World Government's Navy, supported by the Seven Warlords of the Sea. The Navy is attempting to execute Portgas D. Ace, Luffy's sworn brother, who is serving Whitebeard as his second unit commander and adopted son. It follows primarily Luffy's story, set in the Sabaody Archipelago, Amazon Lily, the prison Impel Down, and Navy Headquarters at Marineford.

Following a battle with the Navy on Sabaody Archipelago, the Straw Hat Pirates are scattered by Warlord "Tyrant" Bartholomew Kuma; Luffy ends up on the all-woman island Amazon Lily. Hearing that his brother Ace is scheduled to be executed, Luffy breaks into the high-security Navy prison Impel Down to rescue Ace with the help of Warlord Boa Hancock, allying himself with new and former friends and enemies, freed in the chaos caused by Luffy's break-in. However, Ace has already been taken on a ship to Marineford, Navy headquarters, by the time Luffy reaches the most secure area of Impel Down, where Ace was being held. Luffy chases the Navy and Ace back to Marineford, where he joins Whitebeard, who has arrived to free his adopted son Ace. Although Luffy succeeds in freeing Ace briefly, it comes at a terrible cost: Whitebeard is killed and his forces are scattered, and Ace dies while protecting Luffy.

Reception

^[29]

Film edition

Live productions of the kabuki play were recorded and a trailer for the resulting "Cinema Kabuki" film was released in September 2016,^[21][30] followed by the premiere on October 22.^{[31][32][33][34][35][36][37]}

The film also was presented by the Japan Foundation as a one-day release with free admission at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on November 27, 2016.^[38][39]

Notes

1. The Paramount War saga, also translated as the Summit War, spans manga chapters 490 through 597 (collected in volumes 50 through 61), adapted in the animated series in seasons 11 through 14 (episodes 385 through 516).

References

1. Rogers, Krista (12 October 2015). "One Piece kabuki adaptation officially opens in Tokyo, cast photos begin to surface online". SoraNews24. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
2. "Crunchyroll - Yuzu Member Yuzin Kitagawa Provides Theme Song for "One Piece" Kabuki". crunchyroll.com. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
3. "Crunchyroll - "Cinema Kabuki One Piece" Teaser Posted for October 22 Release". crunchyroll.com. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
4. "Crunchyroll - Watch Four-Minute Digest Video of "One Piece Kabuki" Film". crunchyroll.com. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
5. "Eiichiro Oda's One Piece Is Bringin' Kabuki Back". TOKYOPOP. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
6. "Crunchyroll - "One Piece Kabuki" Face Packs Featuring Luffy and Shanks Offered". crunchyroll.com. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
7. "Crunchyroll - Dates & Performances Announced for "One Piece" Kabuki in Tokyo". crunchyroll.com. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
8. ""One Piece" in Kabuki Theater : Japanese Entertainment : Zaikei News". zaikeinews.com. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
9. "One Piece Kabuki Play's Video Preview Streamed - News". Anime News Network:UK. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
10. "One Piece kabuki play an amazing live-action show". Baka Buzz. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
11. "ONE PIECE to become a Kabuki play in the Autumn of 2015". Akihabara News. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
12. "One Piece becoming a kabuki play with the Straw Hat Pirates taking the stage in Tokyo". SoraNews24. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
13. Murai, Shusuke (22 December 2014). "Hit manga 'One Piece' to be adapted as kabuki". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
14. Melrose, Kevin (22 December 2014). "'One Piece' sets sail for kabuki stage next year". cbr.com. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
15. Ashcraft, Brian (29 July 2015). "One Piece Kabuki Is Really Happening". kotaku.com. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
16. "歌舞伎「ワンピース」市川猿之助がルフィ、ハンコック、シャンクスの1人3役" [Kabuki 'One Piece': Ennosuke Ichikawa plays the triple roles of Luffy, Hancock, and Shanks]. コミックナタリー (in Japanese). July 28, 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
17. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (August 28, 2015). "YUZU Member Yujin Kitagawa Performs One Piece Kabuki Play's Theme Song - News". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
18. Ashcraft, Brian (29 September 2015). "Live-Action One Piece, But... Different". kotaku.com. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
19. Saeki, Shinya (November 24, 2015). "Banking on 'One Piece' to reinvograte Kabuki". Nikkei. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
20. Wilson, Scott (11 July 2015). "Hold on to your straw hats, kids! One Piece to hit the kabuki stage this winter". SoraNews24. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
21. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (October 14, 2016). "Trailer for One Piece Kabuki Play's Theatrical Screening Highlights Appeal". Anime News Network. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
22. Peters, Megan (January 15, 2017). "One Piece Spin-Off Focusing On Ace Announced". comicbook.com. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
23. Ruse, Eddie (January 20, 2017). "'One Piece' prepping up for its 20th anniversary". en.yibada.com. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
24. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (October 22, 2016). "One Piece Kabuki Play Gets New Run in Tokyo in 2017". Anime News Network. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
25. Ressler, Karen (October 9, 2017). "One Piece Kabuki Play Star Steps Down After Breaking Arm". Anime News Network. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
26. Sherman, Jennifer (May 14, 2018). "One Piece Oto Utage Stage Production's Ad Previews Luffy, Band". Anime News Network. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
27. "May 2018". Kabuki 21. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
28. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (July 28, 2015). "One Piece Kabuki Play's Lead Actor Plays Luffy, Hancock, & Shanks - News". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
29. "The One Piece kabuki play is a perfect mashup". Geek.com. Archived from the original on 2016-11-16. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
30. Lafleuriel, Erwan (14 September 2016). "La pièce Kabuki de One Piece a l'air tellement épique - Comics & Mangas" [One Piece's Kabuki Film Looks So Epic]. IGN France (in French). Retrieved 2017-09-17.
31. "Crunchyroll - "One Piece Kabuki" Film Edition Trailer Posted for October 22 Release". crunchyroll.com. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
32. "One Piece Kabuki Was Such A Hit That Japan Is Showing It In Theatres". Kotaku Australia. 20 September 2016. Archived from the original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
33. "Crunchyroll - Japan Foundation to Hold Screenings of "One Piece Kabuki" Film in LA on November 27". crunchyroll.com. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
34. "One Piece Kabuki Was Such a Hit Japan's Showing It in Theaters". io9.gizmodo.com. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
35. "Trailer for One Piece Kabuki Play's Theatrical Screening Highlights Appeal - News". Anime News Network:UK. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
36. "Japan Foundation Hosts Free English-Subtitled Screenings of One Piece Kabuki Play in L.A. - News". Anime News Network:UK. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
37. "Cinema Kabuki: Supa Kabuki II — One Piece". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
38. "2016 / Hollywood Chinese 6 Theaters to host free screening of modern Kabuki story 'One Piece' in high definition, Nov. 27". Cultural News. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
39. "Manga Meets Kabuki". The Rafu Shimpo. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 2017-09-17.

External links

• Kabuki theater's most animated show: One Piece, trailer at TOKYOPOP TV