Japanese film and Kabuki production company Shochiku has reportedly launched a Kabuki video streaming service to reach more international audiences and expand its fan base.
Kabuki is a traditional Japanese dance-drama performance known for its distinct stage and costume designs. Shochiku told the press that the performance had been impacted by the pandemic, decreasing ticket sales. Now, the art form goes online.
Kabuki Goes Online
The entertainment company is currently trying to boost the number of global fans of the traditional Japanese performing art and draw visitors to the nation's Kabuki theaters, as first reported by Nikkei Asia.
Shochiku's "KABUKI ON DEMAND" allows viewers to learn about kabuki and the ancient performing art's 400-year history. First launched in early November, this first-ever kabuki streaming service outside Japan will premiere in nine countries.
The Kabuki stream offers three famous plays for audiences in Taiwan, Australia, the U.S., Canada, Britain, Spain, France, Germany, and Italy. Each performance can be rented separately at affordable prices starting at 800 yen, or $5.75. The streaming service aims to prevent the proliferation of illegally uploaded Kabuki videos.
The three titles featured in "KABUKI ON DEMAND" are "Sagi Musume" (Heron Maiden), a legendary dance story performed by Tamasaburo Bando, a widely recognized female Kabuki performer, and "Benten Musume Meo No Shiranami" (The Five Thieves). Another featured performance is "Kurumabiki" (Pulling the Carriage Apart).
The last two shows mentioned will start their streaming periods on Oct. 31, 2023. The videos are presented in Japanese with English subtitles and audio. Visit their official website to learn more about the shows.
The entertainment company has not established a sales goal for the service and has stated that it will wait for user feedback before examining future availability, pricing, and title additions.
In August 2020, Shochiku launched its domestic Kabuki streaming service. Nikkei tells us that Shochiku posts about 10 videos, most of which were staged a month ago. The most popular shows see roughly 1,000 transactions.
According to reports, Shochiku is having trouble staying afloat and anticipates reporting a group operating deficit of 340 million yen for the year ending in February 2023.
At the beginning of the year, the firm predicted an operating profit of 600 million yen, but it has since revised its earnings prediction since the pandemic prompted the cancellation of numerous live Kabuki performances.
How to Watch
It is worth noting that the stream is only supported on PC, following recommended PC specifications. The show recommends the user use the latest version of Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge for Windows 10. Meanwhile, it is best to use the latest version of Google Chrome or Safari 12 for MacOS X version 10.11 or later.
The company also suggests that you try playing the test movie to ensure you are in the correct environment to watch the performance smoothly. Check out this link for a more detailed walkthrough.
