With elaborately planned scripts and a worldview filled with decadent beauty, playwright-director Kenichi Suemitsu is increasingly prominent on the theater scene.
Suemitsu is busy directing popular works, such as the theatrical version of the popular game "Touken Ranbu Online" and also working on the Trump series, his original work that celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. He regards the series as his lifetime's work. What are the thoughts of a man who enthralls fans with his imagination?
Two young men cuddle up to each other in what looks like a cocoon, looking beautiful and ephemeral. There is also an abysmal mood of disquiet. Such is the poster for "COCOON: Tsuki no Kageri, Hoshi Hitotsu" put up in and around Tokyo. The poster advertises "COCOON: Tsuki no Kageri" (Cocoon: The moon shade) and "COCOON: Hoshi Hitotsu" (Cocoon: A lone star), two productions commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Trump series, directed by Suemitsu since its first production in 2009.
The two shows have been shown alternately at a Tokyo theater since May 11. "Specter," another play from the series, was revived in Osaka and Tokyo in March and April.
Suemitsu was also involved in a new work from the theatrical adaptation of the TV animation "K" series, which ended in March, while the latest "Touken Ranbu" show is set to open in June. His schedule book is packed with script-writing and directing engagements.
"I somehow find time to do them all," Suemitsu said, smiling wryly.
The Trump series is a brutal, epic saga of the Vamps (vampires), humans and dhampirs, born as being between vampires and humans. The vampires live in a strict class society where discrimination is rampant. The dhampirs are fated to live a short life. The story revolves around their veneration of the legendary being called Trump -- True of Vamp -- who is believed to be immortal and the ancestor of the vampire species. When a vampire bites somebody, the assailant can control the victim's behavior. This element adds a twist to the story.
The entire series is exceptional in that multiple shows from the series, which all share the same setting, have been staged and organized by different companies and groups. Starting with production by Suemitsu's own theater unit, Peacepit, the series' shows have also included "Trump" and "Specter," which features young actors from Watanabe Entertainment Co., as well as "Lilium -- Shojo Junketsu Kageki" (Lilium: Girls pure opera) featuring members of pop girl idol groups Morning Musume and S/mileage (now Angerme). Each production is an independent work, but characters and historical links are shared with other shows. By watching various productions, one can appreciate the stories more.
"I think far ahead when making plot threads for the Trump series. Will it be in five or 10 years [when a particular work is finally performed]? I wonder when all the plot threads will be completed. I've already written the lines in the final scene," Suemitsu said.
Reflecting on life and death
Suemitsu was born in 1976 in Osaka Prefecture. After making his mark as an actor in the now defunct Planet Pistaccio theater company, he formed Peacepit in 2002 as a platform to show his own works.
The Trump series' first show had its premiere in 2009 at an Osaka fringe theater with a seating capacity of 150. Suemitsu said he never expected that the show would grow into such a popular franchise, with DVD releases and its own live viewing events.
Around the time when he started Peacepit, fringe theaters in the Kansai region were considered to have lost steam.
"I felt frustrated and, through trial and error, endeavored to produce a successful show," he said. "I chose the title Trump before making the story because of the word's meaning of 'powerful card.'"
The cast members in the first production were in their 30s on average. They forced themselves to play young characters in a beautiful and gothic production, which was actually a kind of joke by Suemitsu, who is good at comedy.
He took inspiration from Tim Burton films for the series' aesthetics, and Osamu Tezuka's epic manga "Hi no Tori" (The Phoenix) for views on life and death.
"There are mortals and immortals in the story, and they are all unhappy. I want to do shows that don't say either of them are good. There's no life or death, no good or evil, no beauty or ugliness," he said.
The series evokes medieval Europe, not only because of the gothic stage sets and costumes, but also because of the class society in the story, by which the characters are differentiated according to their origins. The inferiority complex that comes with this is at the core of the story.
"Maybe the story reflects my own negative thoughts and inferiority complex. I've never thought I'm talented. When I see other people's shows, I feel nothing but jealousy," Suemitsu said.
Now 42, he moved to Tokyo about five years ago, as he started getting more engagements in the capital.
"Is there anything I want to achieve? No. At the end of the day, no one can achieve anything. You may say, 'Even after I die, it will be all right if my works remain,' but they won't exist in 10 billion years' time. There's really no difference between 10 billion years and one second. It's an accumulation of moments. It doesn't mean anything, however great the works or music you leave behind. It's just about fulfilling each and every moment," he said.
That's why he thinks: "Theater is fun. It disappears the moment you show it. When the actors' performances spark, or when the lighting is beautiful, I can be happy every day."
The world of Trump has a history of 15,000 years. There is no doubt that the cocoon holds the key to the story. In the series, vampires in the "cocoon" period -- which is supposed to be the adolescence of humans -- have caused many troubles.
"They have a different texture from the previous shows," Suemitsu said of the productions.
The Tokyo performances run through May 26 at Sunshine Theatre in Toshima Ward. The Osaka performances will take place from May 30 to June 5 at Sankei Hall Breeze in Osaka. The live viewing of "COCOON: Tsuki no Kageri" will be held at selected film theaters across the country on May 23, and "COCOON: Hoshi Hitotsu" on May 24. Visit trump10th.jp for more information.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
