After Lee Sang-il’s hit film “Kokuho” brought the artistry of kabuki to the screen, actor Nakamura Takanosuke is bringing the craft itself abroad — complete with makeup brushes, wigs and all the intricate tools of the trade.
With “Kokuho” now introducing kabuki to new international audiences, Takanosuke, 26, will tour Europe this spring with “Meet Kabuki: The Art of Onnagata Europe Tour 2026,” a program that includes performance as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the world of onnagata — male kabuki actors who specialize in female roles. Hosted by the Japan Foundation, the show will travel to Paris, Rome and Cologne from April 9 to 23. It is the first major kabuki tour of Europe backed by Shochiku, Japan’s leading kabuki company, since 2018.
Takanosuke will demonstrate the makeup and costume application process onstage in the show — offering a rare glimpse behind the curtain, even by Japanese standards — followed by a performance of “The Wisteria Maiden,” a quintessential onnagata dance also featured in “Kokuho.” The opening performance in Paris will include an additional element, “Shakkyo” (“The Stone Bridge”), a sequence in which Takanosuke transforms from a woman into a lion spirit.
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