King John(2020)

The Saitama Shakespeare Series concludes with “King John,” featuring Shun Oguri and Kotaro Yoshida. Originally starting in 1998 under Yukio Ninagawa, the series aimed to perform all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays. “King John,” initially the 36th play, was canceled due to COVID-19 but revived in December 2022, with performances in Tokyo, Aichi, and Osaka, ending on February 24 in Saitama. Shun Oguri starred as the young “bastard,” while Yoshida played the King of France in Tokyo and King John in Aichi, Osaka, and Saitama. The production maintained the “all-male” tradition, with male actors portraying all roles. This historical drama, depicting madness and war, marks the series’ 25-year conclusion.