“Backyard in RyCom” Stage Play on U.S. Soldier Incidents Set for Revival, Okinawa Included in Performance Schedule

The stage play “Backyard in RyCom” will be reprised at the KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theatre in Yokohama, Kanagawa, from May 24 (Friday) to June 2 (Sunday).

The production, produced by KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theatre, draws inspiration from the non-fiction work “Gyakuten” written by Chihiro Isa, which chronicles the U.S. soldier incidents that occurred in Okinawa during the American occupation in 1964. Developed over the course of a year by the young Okinawan playwright Takuya Kaneshima, the play explores the events surrounding a magazine reporter named Asano, who hails from the mainland and is tasked with investigating the U.S. soldier incidents. Directed by Mai Tanaka, who has roots in Okinawa, the story unfolds as a lively mystery that intertwines the past, present, and future of Okinawa.

When it premiered in 2022, the 50th anniversary of Okinawa’s reversion to mainland Japan, it won the “30th Yomiuri Theatre Grand Prize” for excellence, was nominated for the “26th Tsuruya Nanboku Drama Award,” and was a finalist for the “67th Kishida Kunio Drama Award.

The first production of the play was highly acclaimed for the fact that half of the actors were from Okinawa, and this year’s cast includes veteran actors Ameke Michiko, Kurashita Honami, and Kanda Ao, all of whom are from Okinawa. Yuichiro Nakayama, an original member of the Asagaya Spiders who has appeared on numerous stages, will join the cast as the main character Asano.

For this revival, the play will be performed in Okinawa, which was strongly desired at the time of the first performance. After performances in Kyoto and Fukuoka, the play will be performed on June 23 (Sunday), the “Memorial Day” for the war dead of Okinawa, with a big AKIRAKU performance in Naha City.

I feel extremely honored to be able to stage a revival of this production. It has been two years since the initial performance, and the tragedy in Ukraine has yet to come to an end. Recently, distressing situations have arisen in the Gaza Strip as well, adding to the ongoing challenges. It’s disheartening to witness.

Here in Okinawa, where I reside, things continue to progress steadily and dignifiedly, with little change to the established norms. After the recent Osprey crash off the coast of Yakushima, the same aircraft continued to fly without incident for about a week before entering a period of rest. By the time this message is made public, they will likely be gracefully soaring through the skies once again.

With the conclusion of the festivities marking the 50th anniversary of the return to mainland Japan, the world continues to evolve in ways that may not always be favorable. I hope this production has some positive impact in this ever-changing world, but, well, who knows.”

Writer Takuya Kaneshima Comment

This is a revival staged in the winter of the 50th anniversary of Okinawa’s return to mainland Japan. Starting with Mr. Kaneshima’s lines, we aim to infuse even more energy into the performance collectively. Characters who love singing, dancing, drinking, playing the sanshin, and gathering for conversations will be featured. Please come and see them. Experience the reality presented on both sides, Okinawa and Kanagawa, 1964 and 2024, over there and here, in the theater.”

Director Maiko Tanaka comments