The Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture production of the stage play 『Ganryujima』, which depicts the historic confrontation of the century between swordsman Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro, was performed at Honda no Mori Hall on February 25 (Sat.) and 26 (Sun.). While many audience members were intoxicated by the first regional performance following the Tokyo production that opened at the Meiji-za Theater, stage personnel were also impressed by the atmosphere of the venue.
The scene at the venue where the people involved in the stage 『Ganryujima』 roared
According to the 『Ganryujima』 stage official, the Kanazawa performance was fully booked, 「1,700 seats on one floor, a very nice and easy-to-see venue!」 The official name of the venue is Hokuriku Electric Power Co.
The official name of the venue is Hokuriku Denryoku Kaikan Honda no Mori Hall. The concert hall is located in a corner of Honda-no-mori Park near Kenrokuen Garden, where the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art and the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of History are located.
Designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa (passed away on October 12, 2007 at the age of 73), the hall features a fan shape that follows the shape of the former Ishikawa Kenrokuen baseball field, and has a seating capacity of 1707. The exterior walls are painted in Rikyu-nezumi, Kurokawa’s favorite color, to resemble a Kanazawa machiya (traditional townhouse).
The official comment of the 『Ganryujima』 stage tweeted, 「It was a very nice and easy-to-see venue!」 In fact, Toshihiko Takamizawa of the rock band Alfie, who performed at Honda no Mori Hall last December, leaked the following comment: 「This place is like a stadium…」.
Honda no Mori Hall’s website adds that the functional seating arrangement, with one slope spreading out in a fan shape, is 「a typical style of modern hall architecture by Kisho Kurokawa」 that can be easily adapted to any situation, from various concerts to plays, lectures, and ceremonies.
Synergy created by the collaboration of Ryusei Yokohama and Hayato Nakamura
In the stage production of 『Ganryujima』, Ryusei Yokohama plays Musashi Miyamoto and Hayato Nakamura plays Kojiro Sasaki, and the public’s reaction to the casting of swordsmen who recreate famous historical battles…
I am looking forward to seeing what kind of evolution will take place from now on as the regional performances continue until the big Chikyu-rakugo in Fukuoka.
Information on Honda Forest Hall
| Facility Name | Hokuriku Electric Power Company Hall Honda Forest Hall |
| Location | 4-17-1 Ishibiki, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture |
| Telephone number | 076-222-0011 |
| HP | http://www.hondanomori-hall.com/index.html |
