The Setagaya Public Theater will stage a play that recounts the records
and actual journals and chronicles of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima
and Nagasaki and how it affected the children.
The play is titled “Konoko-tachi no Natsu” (These Children’s
Summer) and is compiled & directed by Koichi Kimura. The play is
staged every summer (around early to mid-August when the actual
bombings occurred) and is read by six well-known actresses (Kazuko
Kato, Hiro Komura, Norie Takahashi, Yoshiko Tokoshima, Mizuki
Nishiyama and Hideko Hara). It premiered in 1985 and has toured over
393 cities throughout Japan for 772 performances so far.
This year, for the first time ever, they have decided to have English
simultaneous translation on Saturday Aug 18 for the 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
performances.
Sayuri Suzuki, who interprets for many movie stars when they visit Japan,
translated the play into English over 20 years ago, and is now working
on it for the reading. She and two other interpreters will be reading
the English translation in time to the actresses on stage. Foreign members
of the audience can listen to the translation through earphones.
“It is quite heart-wrenching and sad but at the same time, deeply moving
and a significant message for peace that I think we all need to hear,”
Suzuki says.
For information on tickets and reservations, visit http://setagaya-pt.jp/theater_info/2012/08/_1945_1.html#