Pacific Overtures (1976)

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

In 1853 Japan, the story follows the Westernization of Japan, mainly through the story of Kayama, a samurai, and Manjiro, a fisherman. 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

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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