Rediscover the Charm of Japan at Meijiza Through the Story of Sakura!

Rediscover the Charm of Japan at Meijiza Through the Story of Sakura!

Sakura - Japan in the Box's theme song is now available on iTunes!

STORY

Tokyo - a city of overflowing information, people rushing around, and ever-changing streets.

Sakura is a high school girl who can’t seem to find interest in anything and simply lets life pass her by. One day, a white fox suddenly appears in front of her. Chasing the white fox around the city, Sakura arrives at a certain building, and before she realizes it, she finds herself in another world. That’s when her cellphone suddenly lights up and “The Spirit of the Cherry Blossom” appears!

“I’ve been expecting you.”
The Spirit of the Cherry Blossom addresses Sakura, telling her that she is not alone, and that the Spirits of the Seasons will guide her.
“All is in your heart--” With these final words, the spirit disappears.

After The Spirit of the Cherry Blossom leaves, the world transforms into a dry and withered place. The white fox is back, and hands Sakura a protective charm to keep with her at all times. Her heart confused and unsettled like never before, Sakura follows the white fox.

Through her journey in this mysterious world, Sakura meets the spirits which govern the four seasons, and realizes what is truly important to her, and why the Spirit of the Cherry Blossom appeared before her.

CHARACTERS

The Spirit of the Cherry Blossom, Sakura

The Spirit of the Cherry Blossom invites the high school student Sakura to a mysterious world and introduces her to the Spirits of the Seasons. Reborn year after year since times of old, in the present, and in the future, cherry blossoms are the flowers that continue to protect Japan. The way cherry blossoms begin to bud after surviving the winter, blossom into full bloom, and then fall graciously represents the timeless concept that “the end is the sign of the beginning.” She guides Sakura toward her still unknown future self.

The Spirit of the Spring, Miyabi

The Spirit who rules over the land of spring. Miyabi greets Sakura dancing elegantly in the joy of spring, where plants bud, flowers blossom, and everything begins to open up. “Only you can make the withered cherry blossom bloom. If you take the first step toward that which you desire from your heart, the world will expand as far as you can dream,” says Miyabi in song. When Miyabi opens her fan, a wind carrying hope blows, and Sakura’s heart begins to open.

The Spirit of Summer, Choco

The Spirit who rules over the land of summer. Choco is an energetic girl with a free body and spirit, living in the world of summer festivals and the underwater palace of the Dragon King. Full of tricks and curiosity, Choco loves making sure people enjoy themselves. No matter what the situation, just enjoy yourself to the fullest! Choco’s pure smile opens the door to Sakura’s timid heart and she begins to experience from the bottom of her heart the joy of having fun.

The Spirit of Autumn, Rin

The Spirit who rules over the land of autumn. Rin is a female warrior who can battle the light and darkness through her fierce techniques. With never running away and believing in oneself as her moral values, Rin possesses both strength and flexibility. With all of her body and soul, Rin teaches Sakura the courage and preparedness she needs to stand up against insecurities and fear.

The Spirit of Winter, Setsuna

The Spirit who rules over the land of winter. Overflowing with the benevolent love of nature as magnificent as a snow-covered landscape, Setsuna draws close and shows Sakura’s own heart to her. Through her song she shows Sakura, who has still not taken a single step, that there are yet flowers in her heart longing to bloom, if she can abandon her indecision, her budding courage is ready for spring.

And so, the season of cherry blossoms comes again!

After Sakura’s journey through the four seasons, the four spirits become one in her heart. When she meets spring again, what will Sakura find there?

Watch “Sakura” to Find Out - Only at Meijiza!

The story you’ve just read is the plot of a new play, Sakura - Japan in the Box, which is being staged at a theater in Japan. You can only see it at Meijiza Theater in Nihonbashi, Tokyo.

Meijiza has a long history of over 140 years as one of Tokyo’s most representative theaters. And the brand new entertainment that Meijiza has prepared for night time in Tokyo is the stage performance Sakura.

The story and the characters may seem like they were made for a new anime series, but everything will be performed live on stage. Combined with the acting and staging, this performance conveys a brand new charm of Japan.

Sakura gets lost in a treasure chest containing all of Japan, known as “Japan in the Box.” What you can see here is a world which combines traditional arts such as kabuki, taiko players, shamisen players and sword fights, and animations which are representative of Japanese pop culture.

In such a world, portraying the path of the heart are the characters and story we’ve just introduced. To find out just how it happens on stage, you’ll have to make sure you pay a visit to the theatre in person!

What’s Special About Sakura - Japan in the Box?

The fusion between live performance and animation isn’t the only revolutionary aspect of the show.

In order to allow visitors from other countries to enjoy the performance, Japanese dialogue is kept to a minimum. Viewers can understand the story through the staging and acting alone.

During the songs, lyrics are displayed on screen in several languages. Through the accompanying smartphone app, you can follow along with all of the song lyrics as they occur.

Another characteristic of this play is that all of the performers are female. With the elegance and flexibility unique to the female gender, if you were expecting only fabulous singing and dancing performances, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find powerful taiko drum playing, action scenes, and more throughout the show!

The videos displayed on screen are designed to complement the actress’ performances. With the smartphone app, the audience can experience yet another layer added to the world of the show, culminating in the climax at the end. The three dimensional experience which goes beyond the synergy between the real and virtual is sure to amaze and move you.

Unlike most stage performances in Japan, at Sakura - Japan in the Box the audience is welcome to take photos during the show and share them on social media, too. In fact, if you add the hashtag #sakurameijiza to your post and show it to a staff member after the show, you can receive an original sticker! So please do share the scenes that moved you with your friends and followers.

Let’s Go See “Sakura” at Meijiza!

Sakura - Japan in the Box is a night time performance. Make sure to double check the performance schedule on the official website. There are unfortunately not that many night time events where foreign visitors can simply sit back and enjoy in Tokyo. That’s why Sakura - Japan in the Box is the perfect choice after a long day of sightseeing, either before or after dinner, prior to heading back to the hotel. It is also suitable for families and those who don’t speak Japanese, so anyone can enjoy it.

The 2017 shows are set to take place from January 16 until the end of March, with further dates set to be unveiled in the future. Sakura - Japan in the Box hopes to be able to continue showing until 2020, and wishes for the support of overseas visitors. The next time you visit Tokyo, please come watch Sakura at Meijiza Theater!

More Information on Sakura at Meijiza

Where to Purchase Tickets
- Reserve online through the official website
- Purchase through participating tour packages (Please check the details of your tour package.)
- Purchase through participating hotels (Please ask the hotel for more information.)

Access
For directions to Meijiza, please see the official website.
To view the exact location of Meijiza, see Google Maps.

Related Links
Facebook Page: facebook.com/sakura.meijiza/
Twitter: @sakura_meijiza
Youtube: SAKURA Meijiza
Pinterest: sakurameijiza

This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article sponsored by Meijiza.

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