Japanese Literary Awards

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Shuichiro Koike

こいけ しゅういちろう

Koike Shuichiro

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1955-03-17 （Tokyo, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
playwright, stage director
Active Years
1977-
Affiliations
Takarazuka Revue
Influenced By
Jūrō Kara, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (source for adaptations)
Influenced
Generations of Takarazuka actors and directors, Japanese musical theatre direction

Education

Keio Senior High School
Country: Japan
Keio University
Faculty of Letters
Period: 1973-1977
Year of Graduation: 1977
Country: Japan
Active in the university drama club. After graduation he joined the Takarazuka Revue as an assistant director.

Awards

Kikuta Kazuo Drama Award (Theatre Prize)
1991
Work: The Great Gatsby
Category: 演劇賞
Organization: Kikuta Kazuo Drama Award Committee
Result: winner
Kikuta Kazuo Drama Award (Grand Prize, as part of staff)
2000
Work: Elisabeth (Takarazuka production)
Category: 大賞
Organization: Kikuta Kazuo Drama Award Committee
Result: winner
Mainichi Art Award (Koreya Senda Prize)
2000
Work: Elisabeth (direction)
Organization: The Mainichi Newspapers
Result: winner
Kikuta Kazuo Drama Award (Grand Prize, as part of staff)
2009
Work: The Scarlet Pimpernel (Takarazuka production)
Category: 大賞
Organization: Kikuta Kazuo Drama Award Committee
Result: winner
Kikuta Kazuo Drama Award (Grand Prize)
2010
Work: Elisabeth / The Kingdom of the Four Gods Ver.II / Casablanca / Cabaret (script & direction)
Category: 大賞
Organization: Kikuta Kazuo Drama Award Committee
Result: winner
Medal with Purple Ribbon
2014
Organization: Government of Japan (Cabinet Office)
Result: recipient

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Valentino ~Wandering of Love~

1986 Bou musical

A drama staged at the Takarazuka Bow Hall. Marked his debut as a director.

lovehuman relationships

Elisabeth -Rondo of Love and Death- (Takarazuka version)

1996 musical

Adapted and directed the Austrian musical for Takarazuka, centering the story on the character of Tod and achieving major popularity.

love and deathfatepower and loneliness
Adaptations
  • [stage (Takarazuka)] Elisabeth -Rondo of Love and Death- (Takarazuka version) / 小池修一郎 (1996)

The Scarlet Pimpernel (Takarazuka production)

2008 musical

Staged the Japanese premiere, adapting and directing the production and receiving high acclaim.

love and redemptionheroismidentity

Napoleon -The Man Who Never Sleeps-

2014 spectacle musical

An original large-scale production featuring grand stage design and collaboration with international composers.

glory and downfallthe price of power

Romeo and Juliet (Takarazuka version, rock musical adaptation)

2010 musical (adaptation)

Adapted and directed the Japanese premiere of a French rock musical, portraying youthful passion and tragedy.

romanceyouthtragedy

Bibliography

  • All Interviews: How the Musical 'Elisabeth' Was Born (co-authored)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
visually dramatic directionemphasis on adaptation and reworking of source materials
Recurring Motifs
love and deathlarge-scale ensemble choreographydramatisation of historical figures

Legacy

As a leading director of the Takarazuka Revue, he raised standards for musical direction by adapting international works for Japanese audiences and reinterpreting classics for Takarazuka. His hits influenced succeeding directors and performers.

Quotes

  • I felt a freshness in how performers could fully become Japanese or foreign characters depending on the material.
    Source: Jukushin.com interview (2020) (2020)

Trivia

  • Joined the Takarazuka Revue as an assistant director in 1977.
  • Since 1996 he consistently adapted and directed the Takarazuka version of 'Elisabeth', making it a major hit.
  • Awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 2014.
  • Served as overall director for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2007 World Athletics Championships in Osaka.