HITOMI HASEGAWA
Shimmei-za

Small theater troupes are called “Thaishu Engeki (popular drama)” in Japan.

Their performance style is remarkably unique showing dramas and dances wearing flashy costumes and wigs. Stages at local hot-spring facilities and small theaters all around Japan are the places where you can find them.

Their usual routine is to perform at one location for about a month, then pack everything they own and load it onto large trucks and move to next location.


I spent number of days shooting off-stage scenes such as dressing at
backstage, dining, sleeping, and so on.
Then a thought grew slowly and gradually in my mind that for them, life as being actors, their “stage” is really their “home”.

They present themselves graceful and attractive to the eyes of people who come see them on stage, in contrast, they dress in rush as if they are on a battle field behind the stage.

Right after the last curtain is down at one place, they will depart to the next place, then to the next and to the next...

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