‘The Full Monty’ comes to Japan to bare all and open minds
The English-language musical comedy starring Koji Yamamoto asks big questions about masculinity and vulnerability while loosening up local audiences.
In a bold move, the musical "The Full Monty" has arrived in Japan to showcase its provocative content and aim to broaden minds. Koji Yamamoto, a 49-year-old Japanese actor, takes on the role of unemployed steelworker Jerry Lukowski in the English-language production. This performance, which features Yamamoto alongside a cast of Broadway performers, premieres on August 19 at the Tokyo International Forum and continues through September 7 before transferring to Osaka from September 10 to 14.
Yamamoto's first encounter with the show came in 2024 when he played the lead role of Mark Cohen in a Japan-U.S. co-production of "Rent." The two productions were held concurrently in Tokyo and Osaka and were entirely performed in English, complete with Japanese subtitles. This time around, Yamamoto faced the challenge of delivering the entire show in English, a feat he regarded as a unique opportunity.
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