Tokyo Sunshine Boys
Encyclopedia
The is a Japan
ese theatrical troupe that was active from 1983 until about 1994. Since it disbanded almost all of its members have continued acting on theatre and in film.
as opposed to a then-popular philosophical art which arguably required a degree of education to appreciate.
The troupe finally hit it big in 1991 with their remake of the Reginald Rose
work Twelve Angry Men. It was rewritten into a comedy (since there is no such jury system in Japan) called 12 Gentle Japanese (Japanese title: Juuni-nin no Yasashii Nihonjin). The success of this play eventually encouraged the production of a movie directed by Nakahara Shun. However, since the play was registered as created by Mitani Koki as opposed to "The Sunshine Boys", the producers took over and held auditions for the cast. Only three of the then 13 Tokyo Sunshine Boys made it onto the cast: Aijima Kazuyuki
, Kajiwara Zen, and Kondo Yoshimasa.
From that point on, Mitani Koki as the writer for the Tokyo Sunshine Boys as well as the actors themselves, got flooded with offers to work on other tv dramas, plays and movies. As a result of an increasingly busy schedule for the individual member, the group finally disbanded in 1994 with a final performance called Tokyo Sunshine Boys no Min.
The group promises to get together again for a 30-year reunion in the year 2024 with a specialised performance of King Lear
which will star Kajiwara Zen.
, specialised in situation comedy
, a form of theatre originating in radio that got its laughs from the awkward situations their characters were placed in as opposed to the more traditional protagonist vs. antagonist plots. Mitani Koki had a special admiration for Neil Simon and Woody Allen
, both writers who also specialised in situation comedy.
The Tokyo Sunshine Boys grew in popularity due to their un-intrusive, lighthearted and easy-to-understand style. The topics of their plays never covered anything taboo or political in nature, and so were unofffensive to everyone. Their stories specialised in the creation of a work - be it a play, a radio drama, or a house - of people cooperating, a multitude of opinions being brought into consideration, and the pros and cons thereof. The plays always had a happy ending.
He also acted occasionally under the awkward pseudonym of Hitotsubashi Soutaro.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese theatrical troupe that was active from 1983 until about 1994. Since it disbanded almost all of its members have continued acting on theatre and in film.
History
The group was originally designed by screenwriter Mitani Koki, a young writer who at that time had aspirations of becoming a comedian. Although he starred in a number of the troupe's plays, he was primarily the resident playwright (座付作家). The main three actors were Nishimura Masahiko (who went on to win a number of Japanese Academy Awards and the Blue Ribbon award), Aijima Kazuyuki and Kajiwara Zen. All of the primary actors being about the same age, the existence of the group proved to be a milestone in the then-developing Japanese theatre field of Sho-Gekijo, or 'Little Theatre.' Sho-Gekijo mainly focused on making theatre accessible to the proletariatProletariat
The proletariat is a term used to identify a lower social class, usually the working class; a member of such a class is proletarian...
as opposed to a then-popular philosophical art which arguably required a degree of education to appreciate.
The troupe finally hit it big in 1991 with their remake of the Reginald Rose
Reginald Rose
Reginald Rose was an American film and television writer most widely known for his work in the early years of television drama. Rose's work is marked by its treatment of controversial social and political issues...
work Twelve Angry Men. It was rewritten into a comedy (since there is no such jury system in Japan) called 12 Gentle Japanese (Japanese title: Juuni-nin no Yasashii Nihonjin). The success of this play eventually encouraged the production of a movie directed by Nakahara Shun. However, since the play was registered as created by Mitani Koki as opposed to "The Sunshine Boys", the producers took over and held auditions for the cast. Only three of the then 13 Tokyo Sunshine Boys made it onto the cast: Aijima Kazuyuki
Aijima Kazuyuki
is a Japanese stage and film actor, and one of the original Tokyo Sunshine Boys, a theatrical troupe that lasted from 1983 to about 1994. He is currently seen in television dramas and onstage in Japan.-Biography:...
, Kajiwara Zen, and Kondo Yoshimasa.
From that point on, Mitani Koki as the writer for the Tokyo Sunshine Boys as well as the actors themselves, got flooded with offers to work on other tv dramas, plays and movies. As a result of an increasingly busy schedule for the individual member, the group finally disbanded in 1994 with a final performance called Tokyo Sunshine Boys no Min.
The group promises to get together again for a 30-year reunion in the year 2024 with a specialised performance of King Lear
King Lear
King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The title character descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological...
which will star Kajiwara Zen.
Unique Characteristics
The Tokyo Sunshine Boys, named after the play The Sunshine Boys by director Neil SimonNeil Simon
Neil Simon is an American playwright and screenwriter. He has written numerous Broadway plays, including Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, and The Odd Couple. He won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Lost In Yonkers. He has written the screenplays for several of his plays that...
, specialised in situation comedy
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
, a form of theatre originating in radio that got its laughs from the awkward situations their characters were placed in as opposed to the more traditional protagonist vs. antagonist plots. Mitani Koki had a special admiration for Neil Simon and Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
, both writers who also specialised in situation comedy.
The Tokyo Sunshine Boys grew in popularity due to their un-intrusive, lighthearted and easy-to-understand style. The topics of their plays never covered anything taboo or political in nature, and so were unofffensive to everyone. Their stories specialised in the creation of a work - be it a play, a radio drama, or a house - of people cooperating, a multitude of opinions being brought into consideration, and the pros and cons thereof. The plays always had a happy ending.
Members
The writer and director of most of the plays was Mitani Koki.He also acted occasionally under the awkward pseudonym of Hitotsubashi Soutaro.
Original Three
These were the original three Tokyo Sunshine Boys, and arguably the best actors in the troupe.- Aijima KazuyukiAijima Kazuyukiis a Japanese stage and film actor, and one of the original Tokyo Sunshine Boys, a theatrical troupe that lasted from 1983 to about 1994. He is currently seen in television dramas and onstage in Japan.-Biography:...
- Nishimura Masahiko (Multiple award recipient and currently one of the top names in Japan)
- Kajiwara Zen (currently works primarily with the Gekidan Shinkansen theatrical troupe)
Secondary Members
- Anan KenjiAnan Kenjiis a Japanese stage and film actor.He began work with the Tokyo Sunshine Boys in 1983, and since then has performed in a variety of roles mostly in television dramas.-Filmography:*Gokusen anime as the voice of Hiro Wakamatsu...
- Toshihito ItoToshihito Ito) was a Japanese actor and member of the Tokyo Sunshine Boys theatrical troupe. He was born on February 16, 1962 in Niigata, Japan. He died on May 24th, 2002 from a Subarachnoid hemorrhage in the brain....
(Died in May 2002.) - Kobayashi Takashi
- Koumoto Masahiro
- Matsushige Yutaka
- Miyaji Masako
- Obara Masato
- Saito Kiyoko (not acting anymore)
links
- Full list of Tokyo Sunshine Boys members with pictures, in English
- Mitani Koki and Sunshine Boys Data Park Japanese only