The world premiere of Kenji Sakai’s new opera The Tale of the Heike – Taira no Kiyomori will take place on October 4 (Sat) and 5 (Sun), 2025, at Sonic City Concert Hall in Saitama, Japan. Rental materials, including the full score and parts, are now available from us.
The opera is based on The Tale of the Heike, one of the most important works in classical Japanese literature. This work focuses on the dramatic life of Taira no Kiyomori and his relationships with the women around him.
The script is written by Kumiko Tabuchi, a well-known screenwriter of the NHK Taiga drama Atsuhime. The music is composed by Kenji Sakai, an award-winning composer with international recognition, including the prestigious Prix de Rome. The production will be directed by Tetsu Taoshita, conducted by Tatsuya Shimono, and will feature a star-studded cast including Hibiki Ikeuchi, Miharu Kawagoe, and others. In addition, Yusei Yagi (FANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBE) will make a special appearance as the Biwa Hōshi (also known as "lute priests"), the traditional storyteller of the tale, which has already attracted great attention from both opera fans and a wider audience.
A concert version of the opera will also be held in Hyogo Prefecture—a region closely associated with the Heike clan—on November 1 (Sat) and 2 (Sun) at the Hyogo Performing Arts Center Grand Hall.
Don’t miss this exciting world premiere!
Kenji Sakai
Kumiko Tabuchi
■Concert detail
New Production / Commissioned Work, World Premiere
Commissioned by Sonic City Open 35th Anniversary Project
Opera “The Tale of the Heike ─ Taira no Kiyomori ─”
(Opera in 2 Acts / Sung in Japanese)
Date: 4 October 2025 (Sat.) / Open: 14:00
5 October 2025 (Sun.) / Open: 14:00
Place: Sonic City (Saitama)
[Staff & Cast]
Libretto by Kumiko Tabuchi
Composed by Kenji Sakai
Production: Tetsu Taoshita
Conductor: Tatsuya Shimono
Taira no Kiyomori: Hibiki Ikenouchi (Bar)
Taira no Tokuko: Miharu Kawakoshi (S)
Taira no Tokiko: Kaori Ikeda (MS)
Sakiko: Mae Hayashi (MS)
Minamoto no Yoshitsune / Ushiwakamaru: Toshiyuki Muramatsu (CT)
Minamoto no Yoshitomo: Yusuke Kobori (T)
Taira no Shigehira: Kazuma Kudo (T)
Emperor Takakura: Yoshiaki Shindo (T)
Minamoto no Yoritomo: Kosuke Takahashi (Bar)
Emperor Go-Shirakawa: Yoshiaki Kimura (B.Bar)
Biwa hōshi: Yusei Yagi
Orchestra: Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra
Chorus: Nihon Opera Kyokai / Suginami Children Chorus
Assistant Stage Director: Mao Sunagawa
Set Design: Hiroko Matsuo
Lighting Design: Naoto Inaba
Costume Design: Shingo Tokihiro
Sound Design: Yoichi Yamanaka
Sword Fight Choreography: Koichiro Taki
Choir Conductors: Kyohei Tomihira, Yuta Yano
Choreographer: Yuka Yamada
■Concert Style in Hyogo
Opera “The Tale of the Heike ─ Taira no Kiyomori ─”
(Opera in 2 Acts / Concert Style)
Date: 1 November 2025 (Sat.) / Open: 18:00
2 November 2025 (Sun.) / Open: 14:00
Place: Hyogo Performing Arts Center Grand Hall (Hyogo)
[Staff & Cast] Libretto by Kumiko Tabuchi
Composed by Kenji Sakai
Production: Tetsu Taoshita
Conductor: Yuki Kakiuchi
Taira no Kiyomori: Takeshi Iwata (Bar)
Taira no Tokuko: Miharu Kawakoshi (S)
Taira no Shigehira: Kazuma Kudo (T)
Taira no Tokiko: Kaori Ikeda (MS)
Emperor Go-Shirakawa: Kenichiro Himi (Bar)
Emperor Takakura: Yoshiaki Shindo (T)
Maeko: Mae Hayashi (MS)
Minamoto no Yoritomo: Yuto Nukui (Bar)
Minamoto no Yoshitsune: Seiichi Kamimura (CT)
Biwa hōshi: Yusei Yagi
Orchestra: Kyoto Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra Special Symphony Orchestra
Chorus: Kyoto Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra Special Chorus / The Little Singers of Takarazuka
Assistant Stage Director: Mao Sunagawa
Seiichi Kamimura Costume Design: Shingo Tokihiro
Choreographer: Yuka Yamada
■Work details
Opera “The Tale of the Heike ─ Taira no Kiyomori ─”(Opera in 2 Acts)）
Commissioned by Sonic City
Instrumentation：2(II=picc).2(II=eh).2(II=Ebcl).2-4.3.3.1-timp.perc(3)-hp-celesta-Satsuma Biwa, Shinobue, Kozutsumi, Ozutsumi, Shime Daiko-str
Duration：approximately 130 minutes
*Parts on hire.
Contact Us Composers and Repertoire, Hire Library
Zen-On Music Co., Ltd.
2-13-3 Kami-ochiai, Shinjuku-ku,
Tokyo 161-0034, Japan
Tel.: +81-3-3227-6283
Fax.: +81-3-3227-6288
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