Taking on the challenge of "Macbeth": playing 20 different characters and running through 100 minutes.

--Actor Kuranosuke Sasaki

Actor Kuranosuke Sasaki, who is in high demand on both stage and television, will be taking on the challenge of the stage production of "Macbeth" starting July 12th. He will be playing over 20 characters all by himself!

The play is set in a hospital, where Kuranosuke plays a patient who begins to narrate Macbeth. Surveillance cameras display the patient's movements on monitors, allowing the audience to relive the story of Macbeth through the patient's perspective—an innovative production. This Macbeth, originally performed at the National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) and generating much buzz, is being brought to Japan by the original director, Andrew Goldberg, and is a monumental undertaking as a one-man show lasting approximately 100 minutes, with the full cooperation of the NTS in everything from set design and lighting to sound.

Before the main rehearsals began, Kuranosuke engaged in workshops with Andrew and practiced on his own, and also stayed in Scotland for the photo shoot of his photobook, "The Moving Forest - A Journey Through Scotland's 'Macbeth'." There, he experienced "unfriendly nature"—the howling winds, the ever-changing sky, the invisible life force as if witches and fairies from Shakespeare's stories were lurking—and by feeling the power of the forest firsthand, he said that the trip allowed him to touch upon the feelings of Macbeth when he cried out, "Unmoving earth!", and the origins of Shakespearean plays. "I think I now understand a little bit why there are so many 'cries' in Shakespearean plays," Kuranosuke said.

This is a huge challenge. First, he tackles the enormous amount of dialogue, saying, "No matter which page you turn, it's nothing but my lines," but he also conveyed the appeal of the play by quoting various lines, saying, "There is a Macbeth and Lady Macbeth inside everyone. The characters are relatable because they have human weaknesses, such as hesitating and regretting decisions they've made. However, the thrill of watching the play lies in the fact that they cross the line of killing someone." It looks like it will be an unmissable 100 minutes to see how Shakespeare's classic play, which has been performed for over 400 years, will be revived on stage by Kuranosuke Sasaki.


While spending his days in tension leading up to the performance, he apparently spends his days off between rehearsals solely on maintaining his physical health. His motto is to always incorporate "things that are good for the body," whether it's food or the things around him. He has the face of a stoic actor, but apparently he sometimes enjoys shopping at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , guided by a stylist. We're curious to know what he buys... "I buy things like loungewear (laughs). I also tend to buy a lot of things related to relaxation, like bath salts. It's great that they have everything from loungewear to suits and socks!" he says, seemingly enjoying his brief respite. He also apparently sometimes visits "CHALIE VICE" on the 8th floor Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building .

Whether awake or asleep, Kuranosuke exudes the spirit of an actor, and in 2014 he took on the challenge of Super Kabuki, and this year he's doing a one-man Shakespearean play, as if he's setting himself big challenges. When asked where his driving force comes from, he vehemently denied it, saying, "I have absolutely no intention of deliberately challenging myself with difficult tasks!" According to Kuranosuke, it's all about "connections." "In Kabuki, I had the chance to work with (Ichikawa) Ennosuke, and this time I was given the opportunity to work with everyone at NTS, it's all about fate." Perhaps his gratitude and appreciation for these encounters and connections is what attracts new encounters. "If I could take it easy, I would (laughs)," he jokes, but no, Kuranosuke has the power of an actor to attract rare encounters. We can't help but look forward to him showing us many different "faces" in the future.

Photo by Kazan Yamamoto