Stories marks the first in an ongoing series dedicated to uncovering the forgotten tales that sleep within Yokohama.
Each story recalls people who once lived, loved, and dreamed in this port city, their memories flickering like distant lights on the sea.
This premiere program presents two short pieces, Hamako and Chew Piano.
Hamako is set in the 1920s at the fabled “Ukiyo Hotel,” where a legendary courtesan captivated an entire era.
Her story is told through the eyes of her devoted maid, Yae.
The role of Hamako is performed by Coppelia Circus, a burlesque dancer and costume artist whose unmatched presence and deep love for people and art breathe life into this forgotten queen of Yokohama’s nights.
Chew Piano follows Kuniko, a girl who risks her life to protect a rare piano made in Yokohama’s Chinatown during the wartime air raids.
Portrayed by Azusa Fujikura, a veteran musical creator, her sincerity and purity embody the enduring power of faith in music.
Music is by Kazune Tanaka—composer, arranger, music director, and pianist—who fuses authentic jazz with the rhythm of storytelling.
Onstage, Tanaka performs as both musician and character, moving fluidly between sound and narrative.
Mitsuharu Ouchi, Tanaka’s longtime collaborator, plays the saxophone as a “wordless storyteller,” expressing melancholy, strength, and timeless brilliance through his tone.
The bass, supporting the story with its low tones—Akira Kirisawa.
Moving between the deep breath of the double bass and the sparkle of the electric bass,
rock’s impulse, jazz’s freedom, and musical theater’s passion—all are spun into a single narrative from his fingertips.
Sound crosses boundaries, melody speaks—its resonance gives the stage another voice.
Together, these five artists weave a cabaret-style musical that glows with intimacy and allure, illuminating hope amid the ashes of Yokohama’s past.
Stories will continue to gather and revive the city’s untold memories—one story at a time.
