Latest news with #Kabuki
5 days ago
- Entertainment
Exploring centuries-old Kabuki theater in Japan and their booming Kawaii culture
ABC News' Juju Chang alongside Broadway's Don Darryl dives into the culture of Japan with a rare glimpse inside the world-renowned Kabuki theater, Kabukiza.
Newsweek
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Superstar Asuka In-Ring Return Update: Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Asuka remains one of the most popular Superstars on the WWE roster, with an exciting presentation, incredible in-ring ability, and multiple memorable title reigns. Asuka is just a Wrestlemania main event away from completing WWE. — Alastair McKenzie🏴 (@mckenzieas93V2) November 20, 2023 Unfortunately, Asuka has been missing from WWE television since she suffered a knee injury in May 2024, which forced her to drop out of the Queen of the Ring tournament. More Pro Wrestling: Former AEW Wrestler To Make WWE In-Ring Debut Needless to say, fans have been chomping at the bit for The Empress of Tomorrow to come back, especially after her fellow Kabuki Warrior, Kairi Sane, recently returned from injury. Now, there has been an update regarding Asuka's return. And fans will be disappointed. HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: Kairi Sane and Asuka enter the ring during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas. HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: Kairi Sane and Asuka enter the ring during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas. Alex BierensAccording to a report from Fightful Select, Asuka is still sidelined and won't be making her in-ring return anytime soon. Additionally, it was expected that Asuka would be out up until WrestleMania 41 and had no creative plans for her. That being said, there have been discussions regarding her creative plans in recent months, although that doesn't mean she will be returning soon. More Pro Wrestling: Legendary Wrestling Announcer Jim Ross To Undergo Surgery While Asuka is most recognized today for her time in WWE today, she was a prominent figure on the independent scene, particularly in Japan. She appeared in well-known promotions like Pro Wrestling Wave, Smash, DDT Pro-Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, and Reina Joshi Puroresu. In 2015, Asuka made her debut in WWE NXT, becoming the second Japanese woman signed to WWE since Bull Nakano. She would quickly win the NXT Women's Championship before moving to the main roster. On the main roster, Asuka went on an undefeated run that included the 2018 Women's Royal Rumble. The streak eventually ended at 914 days when she faced Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 34. More Pro Wrestling: Pro Wrestling Legend Jim Ross Shares Major Surgery Update Since then, Asuka continued to be one of the top-performing wrestlers in WWE, quickly establishing herself as one of the best female wrestlers in the history of the company if not the world. Asuka would go on to further establish her greatness as a member of the Kabuki Warriors with Kairi Sane and Damage CTRL with Bayley, Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky, and Sane. In WWE, Asuka has taken home the WWE Women's Championship three times, the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship, the NXT Women's Championship, and the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship four times with Kairi Sane (twice), Charlotte Flair (once), and Alexa Bliss (once). Additionally, Asuka has won the 2018 Women's Royal Rumble and the 2020 Women's Money in the Bank. More Pro Wrestling: WWE Superstar Zoey Stark Shares Major Injury Update Bryan Danielson Makes Surprise Wrestling Appearance Amid AEW Hiatus For more WWE and professional wrestling news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Business Wire
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
NTT Achieves World's First Real-Time, International Co-Production Using IOWN All-Photonics Network
TOKYO & OSAKA, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At Expo 2025, NTT Corporation (NTT) debuted 'CHO KABUKI Powered by IOWN,' a theater performance synchronizing live and virtual performers in Osaka, Japan and Taipei City, Taiwan using the NTT Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) All-Photonics Network (APN). The performances occurred on May 24 and May 25 utilizing the world's first International IOWN APN, activated by NTT and Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. (Chunghwa Telecom) in August 2024. Through the IOWN APN, the movements of performers in Taiwan were transmitted in real time to Japan, where they were synchronized with performers at the Osaka Expo site to create a unified production—as if the distant performers were sharing the same stage. Share 'CHO KABUKI Powered by IOWN' tells the story of Princess Miku (performed by Hatsune Miku) and Tadanobu (performed by Shidō Nakamura), who battle the Azure Dragon while traveling through the legendary Thousand Cherry Blossoms that span from the Age of Gods to the present day. Through the IOWN APN, the movements of performers in Taiwan were transmitted in real time to Japan, where they were synchronized with performers at the Osaka Expo site to create a unified production—as if the distant performers were sharing the same stage in-person. In addition, the performance enabled audience participation through the detection of penlights using cross-modal search technology. By analyzing and quantifying the swing of audience members' penlights in real-time, the performance integrated spectators into the efforts to save Princess Miku. Prior to the performances, NTT utilized its digital twin technology (AnotherMe®), AI and its proprietary cross-lingual speech synthesis technology to create a virtual copy of Kabuki actor Shidō Nakamura. This multilingual 'Shidō Twin,' capable of speaking in languages including Japanese, English and Chinese, guided visitors to the venue and provided an overview of how to use designated earphones to enjoy the Kabuki performance. 'CHO KABUKI Powered by IOWN' was sponsored by NTT and produced by NTT, Shochiku Co., Ltd. and Dwango Co., Ltd., with special cooperation from Chunghwa Telecom. About the IOWN APN The IOWN APN seeks to maximize the efficiency and performance of long-distance data transfer by eliminating optical-electronic-optical conversions along the transmission path. It aims to achieve three key performance targets: a 100x increase in power consumption efficiency, a 125x increase in transmission capacity and 200x lower latency than conventional systems. The APN is one of three core components of the IOWN Initiative to enable a smarter, connected world built on photonics-based technologies by 2030. In addition to the APN, IOWN aims to realize advanced Digital Twin Computing and a Cognitive Foundation to unlock the full potential of AI, robotics and the Internet of Things (IoT). IOWN is supported by the IOWN Global Forum, a non-profit organization established in 2020 by founding members NTT, Intel and the Sony Group that has grown to include more than 150 member companies and organizations. The NTT Pavilion Experience at Expo 2025 The theme of the NTT Pavilion at Expo 2025 is "Parallel Travel," with visitors invited to travel across time and space through the history of the human experience. Powered by IOWN, the pavilion is divided into three zones showing the evolution of communications technologies, from letters and telegrams to the future of communications and connectivity enabled by IOWN. Zone 2 offers a replay of a special live performance by the Japanese band Perfume, which occurred on April 2, 2025 via the IOWN APN. A behind the scenes video of the technology used to realize this performance is available on the NTT Official Channel YouTube page. For more information about NTT at Expo 2025, please visit: About NTT NTT contributes to a sustainable society through the power of innovation. We are a leading global technology company providing services to consumers and businesses as a mobile operator, infrastructure, networks, applications, and consulting provider. Our offerings include digital business consulting, managed application services, workplace and cloud solutions, data center and edge computing, all supported by our deep global industry expertise. We are over $92B in revenue and 330,000 employees, with $3.6B in annual R&D investments. Our operations span across 80+ countries and regions, allowing us to serve clients in over 190 of them. We serve over 75% of Fortune Global 100 companies, thousands of other enterprise and government clients and millions of consumers.
The Mainichi
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Kabuki star Nakamura Shido joins Vocaloid 'Hatsune Miku' in high-tech Osaka Expo show
OSAKA -- A Kabuki performance co-starring actor Nakamura Shido and virtual diva Hatsune Miku was staged during the Osaka Expo on May 24, with a performing arts group in Taiwan also making a virtual appearance on stage. The "Cho Kabuki" (literally, "super Kabuki") performance utilized Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (NTT)'s next-generation communication technology IOWN. Short for Innovative Optical and Wireless Network, IOWN can provide high-speed and low-latency transmission of large volumes of data. NTT launched its first international IOWN network in August 2024 between Japan and Taiwan. Cho Kabuki has been popular since it was premiered in 2016 by Shochiku Co. and others utilizing the NTT technology. During the latest show, a special edition of the first production "Hanakurabe Senbonzakura" was staged at Expo Hall Shining Hat in Osaka's Konohana Ward. The show portrays a struggle between good and evil by fusing the world views of Kabuki's classic "Yoshitsune Senbonzakura" and Hatsune Miku's signature piece "Senbonzakura." Members of Taiwan's Chio-Tian Folk Drums & Art Troupe appeared virtually as "gods beyond the seas," engaging in a folk performing arts program that is seen during festivals in Taiwan. Footage of performers at the Expo venue on Yumeshima Island and their counterparts at a hall in Taiwan was sent in both directions, enabling joint appearances from their respective stages, transcending the border between reality and virtual space through the traditional performing arts and cutting-edge cultures of Japan and Taiwan.
NHK
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NHK
Kabuki star embraces a new name and a new era
Onoe Kikugoro has inherited a prestigious kabuki name with a legacy of about 300 years. While honoring tradition, he continues to explore new possibilities for Kabuki.
