The Sun

WORKS:

Overview:

A near-future science fiction piece that depicts a world in which the population has sharply declined due to a virus that was spread through bioterrorism. In few years following political and economic chaos and social infrastructure has been destroyed, it becomes clear that there were some among the infected who miraculously recovered. Their bodies have transformed into something that far surpass those of humans in terms of immunity and metabolism. They claim that their mutations are a transitional period of evolution and call themselves the “Nox”. Normal humans are now down to 30% of their original population, and the archipelago of what used to be Japan is dotted with Nox Autonomous Regions, forming a loose coalition...

Keyword:

Drama
Straight Play
Moving
Thought-Provoking
Long Play
No Intermission
For Adults
Friendship
Family
Social Issues
Environmental Issues
Sience Fiction

Performing Group:

Ikiume

Genre:

Full-Length Play, Drama

Status:

Time:

130 min

Dialogue:

Japanese (English, Chinese and Korean translation for performance available)

Subtitle:

English, French, Russian, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Spanish, and Korean

Capacity:

300 to 500

Cast:

View Contact

Synopsis:

This near-future sci-fi drama unfolds in a world where a bioterrorism-induced virus has decimated the global population. In the aftermath—years after political and economic collapse, and the destruction of social infrastructure—some infected individuals are found to have miraculously recovered.

These survivors exhibit profound physiological changes, possessing immune systems and metabolic rates that far surpass those of ordinary humans. Claiming that their mutation marks a transitional phase in human evolution, they call themselves "Nox."

As the remaining "ordinary" human population dwindles to about thirty percent, the archipelago once known as Japan becomes home to a scattered network of Nox-controlled autonomous zones, loosely linked through a federation of their own design.

Concept:

The Sun is a work of universality, using a science-fiction setting to explore a range of real-world issues. Set in a near-future Japan, the story depicts a world in which an evolved branch of humanity known as the Nox oversees and controls ordinary humans, referred to as Curios. Through various translations into different languages, it has become clear that this framework resonates across cultures, allowing audiences to interpret the power dynamics and divisions depicted in the story as reflections of inequalities and fragmentation present in their own societies.

The high degree of fictionalization in the narrative allows viewers to project their own societal challenges onto the story. The setting—a provincial town that could exist anywhere—further enhances the adaptability of the piece, making it accessible and relevant to audiences across countries and regions.

Crew & Cast:

Tomohiro Maekawa

Playwright

Company Profile:

Ikiume

The company creates and presents original works in the genres of science fiction, the occult, and horror. Drawing inspiration from the inexplicable moments hidden in everyday life, their work seeks to question what is considered “normal” and reframe the familiar through theatrical expression.
Positioning itself as a space for both research and practice, the company is committed to exploring new forms of stage expression. At the center of its creative activities is playwright and director Tomohiro Maekawa, whose vision shapes the artistic direction of the ensemble.
The company’s work engages with recurring themes found in Maekawa’s writing: the boundary between science and technology and religion and philosophy; the structural relationship between the world, society, and the individual; and the human connection to the invisible or the unknown. Its productions are characterized by a distinctive directorial approach that seamlessly edits space and time, resulting in complex, immersive theatrical experiences.

View Website

Performance Record:

2011

November

World premiere by Ikiume at Aoyama Round Theatre, Tokyo

2011

December

Tour performance at ABC Hall, Osaka

2011

Awarded the 63rd Yomiuri Literary Prize (Drama/Screenplay – Tomohiro Maekawa)
Awarded the 19th Yomiuri Theatre Awards – Best Director and Grand Prize (Tomohiro Maekawa)

2014

The Sun 2068 production at Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon, Tokyo. Directed by Yukio Ninagawa

2016

May

Revival by Ikiume at Theatre Tram, Tokyo

2016

June

Revival tour at ABC Hall, Osaka

2016

Staged reading in London at The Studio Theatre, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)

2021

Full production in Seoul at Doosan Art Center Directed by Kim Jung
Dong-A Theatre Award – Best New Actress: Kim Junghwa

2023

Theatre and dance adaptation in Seoul Performed at National Jeongdong Theater and Daehakro Arts Theater (Main Hall) Directed by Kim Jung / Choreography by Lee Jaeyoung

2024

Theatre production in Taipei at Taipei Arts Festival
Directed by Tora Hsu
Taipei Theatre Awards 2025
BEST DIRECTOR：Tora HSU
BEST THEATRICAL DESIGN Video & Projection Design： WANG Cheng Yuan

2024

Staged reading in Beijing at Sound & Fury Play Reading Festival

Publication (Dates Vary)
The full script of The Sun has been published in multiple languages:
English (Methuen Drama / Bloomsbury Publishing)
Spanish (Sartori Publishing)
Russian (Hyperion Publishing House)
Arabic (Dar Al Maaref Publishers)
Chinese (Qingdao Publishing)
Korean (ALMA Publishing)

This Year's Other Works:

CONTACT:

SOIL is a JPASN project dedicated to bringing Japanese theater to the world.
We serve as the liaison for contracts and communications with international partners and actively promote the participation of Japanese productions in overseas theater festivals. If you have any questions or feedback about SOIL,
please feel free to contact us using our contact form.

CONTACT

Overview:

Keyword:

Performing Group:

Genre:

Status:

Time:

Dialogue:

Subtitle:

Capacity:

Cast:

Synopsis:

Concept:

Crew & Cast:

Company Profile:

Ikiume

Performance Record:

This Year's Other Works:

CONTACT:

Reach Out to Us