A Comedy That's Not Funny. A Comedy You Can Only Laugh At.

Masaaki Akahori, known for his films like "The Ravine of Gren」 and stage plays such as "The World," meticulously portrays the underlying awkwardness and absurdity of human nature, even delving into cruelty and madness to construct his distinctive world. His latest original work, "Nagareyama Bluebird," is a testament to this.

Set in Nagareyama City, Chiba Prefecture, this is a coming-of-age ensemble drama about four young people on the verge of falling through the cracks of society, and the uninspired adults who surround them.

A provincial city not far from Tokyo. Four young people linger within a three-kilometer radius of this town. Lacking the drive to move to Tokyo, unable to escape the town, these "failed" four and the worthless adults around them navigate a coming-of-age ensemble drama. It depicts the frustrating days of people burdened by their own gloom, and the sliver of hope glimpsed within.

The cast is led by Kento Kaku, who is active across stage and screen, alongside Taiga, who garners attention for his impactful and skilled performances; Tokio Emoto, known for his unique acting; and Tatsuya Wakaba, who captivates audiences with his versatile roles, all representing a generation of talented young actors from diverse backgrounds.

Furthermore, distinctive adult characters such as Sarutoki Minagawa, Yuriko Ono, Atsuko Hirata, Kyoko Miyashita, and Ryusuke Komakine provide strong support, with this unconventional cast tackling Akahori's rugged yet delicate world.

Regarding this work, Akahori Masaaki commented, "This 'Nagareyama Bluebird' is planned to be a futile coming-of-age ensemble drama about young people, set in Nagareyama City, Chiba Prefecture, a provincial city not far from Tokyo. When one hears 'coming-of-age ensemble drama,' one might expect stories filled with dreams and hope, like those often seen in TV dramas, but this story will likely not be like that. That said, I don't intend for it to be overly grim either. For young people in cities as far as Kyushu or Osaka, moving to Tokyo requires a once-in-a-lifetime resolve. However, since Nagareyama is only about an hour and a half from Tokyo, their resolve and determination to move might become a half-baked complex, even though psychologically they might not be that different. While depicting these young people who feel their own mediocrity, and those who cannot escape their town, I do hope to create a sliver of hope within it."

The story will focus on the four young men: Kento Kaku, Taiga, Tokio (Emoto), and Tatsuya (Wakaba). However, it seems likely that all the characters will turn out to be rather pathetic. Of course, they are probably all struggling earnestly with various internal conflicts, but on the surface, they may appear detached, calculating, cunning, or weak. For this production, I am not expecting polished performances from these four young actors. Instead, I want them to deliberately expose the foolish and weak parts of themselves that they would normally hide from others, right there on stage in front of the audience. I believe that takes great courage, and as a director, I want to draw out those unguarded expressions."

M&Oplays Produce "Nagareyama Bluebird"
Written and Directed by: Masaaki Akahori
Starring: Kento Kaku, Taiga, Tokio Emoto, Tatsuya Wakaba,
Yuriko Ono, Kyoko Miyashita, Ryusuke Komakine, Masaaki Akahori, Atsuko Hirata, Sarutoki Minagawa

Tokyo Performances
Dates: Friday, December 8, 2017 – Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Venue: Honda Theater
2-10-15 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Price: [Advance/Same-day] ¥7,000 (All seats reserved, advance) [U-25] ¥4,500 (For ages 25 and under, exchange for same-day reserved seating ticket, limited quantity, ID required, advance sales only at Ticket Pia)
Ticket Outlets: [Ticket Pia] 0570-02-9999 (P-code: 480-422)
Seven-Eleven, Circle K・Sunkus, Ticket Pia Stores
[eplus] http://eplus.jp/nagareyamabluebird/
FamilyMart Stores (FamiPort)
[Lawson Ticket] http://l-tike.com/bluebird/
0570-084-003 (Automated voice response, L-code: 34186) / 0570-000-407 (Operator support 10:00-20:00)
Lawson and Mini Stop Stores (Loppi)
[Confetti] http://confetti-web.com/nagare/
0120-240-540 *Toll-free (Reception hours weekdays 10:00-18:00)
[Honda Theater] Box office sales only

Regional Performances
[Shimane Performance] Thursday, January 11, 2018 Shimane Prefectural Convention Hall, Main Hall
[Osaka Performance] Saturday, January 13, 2018 – Sunday, January 14, 2018 Sankei Hall Breeze
[Hiroshima Performance] Tuesday, January 16, 2018 JMS Aster Plaza, Main Hall
[Shizuoka Performance] Thursday, January 18, 2018 Hamamatsu City Hamakita Culture Center, Main Hall
[Ota Ward (Tokyo) Performance] Saturday, January 20, 2018 – Sunday, January 21, 2018 Ota Civic Plaza, Main Hall