"Stephen Sondheim's kabuki retelling of the opening of Japan to the West."
In 1853 Japan, the story follows the Westernization of Japan, mainly through the story of Kayama, a samurai, and Manjiro, a fisherman. The lives of both men are radically changed by the coming of American ships to Japan.
Reciter/Shogun/Jonathan Goble

Tamate/Samurai/Storyteller/Swordsman

Abe, First Councillor

Manjiro

Kayama
Shogun's Mother/Observer/Merchant/American Admiral

Physician/Madam/British Admiral

Second Councillor/Old Man/French Admiral

Samurai/Thief/Soothsayer/Warrior/Russian Admiral/British Sailor
Shogun's Companion/Dutch Admiral/British Sailor/Girl
Samurai/Adams/Noble

Williams/Lord of the South

Fisherman/Sumo Wrestler/Lord of the South
Third Councillor/Samurai's Daughter
Imperial Priest
Grandmother/Sumo Wrestler/Japanese Merchant
Ensemble
Son/Priest/Girl/Noble/British Sailor/Ensemble
Servant/Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry
Ensemble
Ensemble

Ensemble
Ensemble
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Ensemble
Shogun's Wife/Ensemble

Observer/Ensemble
Priest/Girl/Boy/Ensemble
