Pacific Overtures (1976)

Stephen Sondheim's kabuki retelling of the opening of Japan to the West.

In 1853 Japan, the story of Kayama, a samurai, and Manjiro, a fisherman, sets the backdrop of the Westernization of Japan. The lives of both men are radically changed by the coming of American ships to Japan.

Release: 1976-09-06

Runtime: 140 min

Rating: 9 / 10

Cast

Mako

Reciter/Shogun/Jonathan Goble

Soon-Tek Oh

Tamate/Samurai/Storyteller/Swordsman

Yuki Shimoda

Abe, First Councillor

Shogun's Mother/Observer/Merchant/American Admiral

Ernest Harada

Physician/Madam/British Admiral

James Dybas

Second Councillor/Old Man/French Admiral

No Image

Mark Hsu Syers

Samurai/Thief/Soothsayer/Warrior/Russian Admiral/British Sailor

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Patrick Kinser-Lau

Shogun's Companion/Dutch Admiral/British Sailor/Girl

Ernest Abuba

Samurai/Adams/Noble

Larry Hama

Williams/Lord of the South

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Jae Woo Lee

Fisherman/Sumo Wrestler/Lord of the South

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Freddy Mao

Third Councillor/Samurai's Daughter

Grandmother/Sumo Wrestler/Japanese Merchant

Son/Priest/Girl/Noble/British Sailor/Ensemble