The "Mazekoze Troupe" Concludes its 10-Year Run with a Performance! The Theme is "Peace & Love" for Today's World!! Challenging Live Streaming and Information Accessibility

Poster visual for the "Mazekoze Troupe" performance "Tsukiyo no Karakuri House"

◉ What is the theme of this year's "Mazekoze Troupe" performance, "Tsukiyo no Karakuri House"?

We have chosen the theme of "Peace & Love." It is PEACE & LOVE precisely because of the current era.

The world is noisy today, righteousness is sharp, and people easily hurt each other. Yet, we want to laugh with someone. We want to listen to the same song. We want to love the person next to us just a little. Entertainment, too, is only meaningful with peace and love.

August 9th, the performance date, is the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. It is a night to remember the past, face the present, and pass on hopes for an unseen future.

There will be songs. There will be dance. There will be prayers. There will be laughter. And surely, there will be unspoken "frustrations." But perhaps those frustrations are the gateway to living with others.

The first act will feature songs, dance, and performances with the theme of "Peace." The second act will unfold with the theme of "Love." The hosts will be Mame Yamada, 81 years old and 114 cm tall; voice actor Yuji Mitsuya, who has come out as gay; and actress Chizuru Azuma, who is also the representative of our organization. Showcasing their talents on stage will be uniquely talented "mazekoze" (mixed) professional performers, who are often referred to as disabled by society.

And in the audience, we will have a mixed group of guests, including wheelchair users, deaf, blind, individuals with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism. Therefore, we aim to provide full information accessibility.

You can enjoy a space, time, and human relationships that are a condensed version of a truly "diverse society."

This year, in response to requests from across the country, we are also challenging ourselves with live streaming! We want to share the comfortable "mazekoze" atmosphere with people in rural areas, those who cannot attend due to disabilities, intractable diseases, or family circumstances.

And this will be the final performance of the "Mazekoze Troupe" in Japan.

"Mazekoze Troupe" Performance "Tsukiyo no Karakuri House" "Peace & Love"

Date & Time: August 9, 2026 (Sun) Doors open 17:30 (Hall floor opens 16:30, Audience seating opens 17:00)

Venue: Shibuya Ward Cultural Center Owada, Densho Hall (Live streaming available for those who cannot attend!)

Organizer: General Incorporated Association Get in touch

Co-organizer: Shibuya Ward

Capacity: 250 seats in the venue, free seating (Sign language interpretation priority seating, wheelchair spaces available) (Numbered tickets distributed from 4 PM on the day)

Venue Ticket Prices: - General: ¥7,500 (¥8,000 on the day) - High school students and younger: ¥5,000 (¥5,000 on the day) - Wheelchair space use (General wheelchair users / Attendant for wheelchair users): ¥7,500 (¥8,000 on the day) - Wheelchair space use (High school students and younger wheelchair users): ¥5,000 (¥5,000 on the day)

Venue tickets & performance details here

https://mazekoze2026.peatix.com/view

Streaming tickets here

https://eplus.jp/sf/detail/4546170001-P0030001

Performers

Chizuru Azuma (Actress / Representative of General Incorporated Association Get in touch) Esmeralda (Drag Queen) Naoki Ebisawa (Accordion) Mitsuhiro Oma (Dancer with Prosthetic Legs) Hideki Onoe (Shamisen) Kenta Kambara (Dancer in Wheelchair) Koyosouma (Dancer with Autism / Kitsune Shinmai) Ryota Koganeji (World Champion Pole Dancer) GOMESS (Musician) Hirari Sato (Blind Singer-Songwriter) SAYURI (Belly Dancer) Kiyotaka Suzuki (Dancer, Choreographer, Yoga Instructor) SOCIAL WORKEEERZ (DANCE FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION) Chiaki Hoimi (Drag Queen) Koji Tsukinokoi (Representative of "Festival of the Broken")

Keidan Nishigaki (Violinist who Fights) Mayumi Higuchi (Sign Language Interpreter) Mari Fujihira (Dancer / Representative of Dansanble) Mame Yamada (Japan's Smallest Actor / Magician) Yuji Mitsuya (Voice Actor) Saki Mineo (Dancer with Down Syndrome) Kazuyo Morita (Actress / Dancer) Yukio Morimoto (Sign Language Interpreter) YANO BROTHERS (Michael Yano, David Yano. Vocal unit of Ghanaian & Japanese mix) Yui (Bilateral Voice Singer-Songwriter)

Flyer front for "Mazekoze Troupe" Performance "Tsukiyo no Karakuri House" Flyer back for "Mazekoze Troupe" Performance "Tsukiyo no Karakuri House"

◉ Why is the "Mazekoze Troupe" performance ending?

It's simple. We are tired of managing the finances.

The staff of Get in touch work on a volunteer basis (though not unpaid), but with many outsourced companies and the implementation of information accessibility, the total cost for this main performance is approximately 14 million yen. This is covered by co-sponsorship funds, grants, corporate sponsorships, and donations, but it is not enough. The discontinuation of sponsorship from a foreign-affiliated company was a significant blow. However, we are reluctant to raise ticket prices because of this.

We aimed for this to be a sustainable business, but we feel we have reached our limit operating it alongside our main work. While it is regrettable and disappointing, we want to take a break here.

◉ What is information accessibility and environmental preparation?

To include audience members with diverse characteristics in the "mazekoze" experience. We will provide reasonable accommodations and prepare an environment for information accessibility to make it an event that "everyone" can enjoy. - For the hearing impaired, we will provide sign language interpretation and live captioning, and lyrics will be displayed as subtitles. We will offer "priority seating for the hearing impaired" for better viewing of sign language and live captioning. Live streaming will also include sign language interpretation. - For the visually impaired, we will lend dedicated devices for barrier-free audio guides (live commentary by a barrier-free narrator). We will provide a digital pamphlet that supports text-to-speech. Live streaming will also include audio guides. - We will reinforce the tatami seating area with boards and create wheelchair spaces.

Live captioning for the hearing impaired, priority seating for the hearing impaired

Sign language interpretation and captioning, audio guide by Dandan Kotaro

"How to Create Tsukiyo no Karakuri House" ~Voices from the Backstage and Cast~

◉ What will be in the lobby?

An exhibition of works by 13 artists, "Mazekoze Art Exhibition," which was displayed at "Market of Love and Madness" at Laforet Harajuku for the entire month of June, will also be held. The artwork for the flyer is by artist Taisuke Kinugasa, who has autism.

◉ What is the "Mazekoze Troupe"?

Members of the Mazekoze Troupe

We founded the troupe in 2017 at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel, believing that if Japanese entertainment is updated, we can achieve a "mazekoze society."

Our society is already composed of people with diverse characteristics, so isn't it strange to talk about "aiming for a symbiotic society," "understanding diversity," or "accepting others"?

We have been sending this message for 10 years.

The Trajectory of the "Mazekoze Troupe"

- 2017: Performed "Heisei Mazekoze Troupe Tsukiyo no Karakuri House" in Shinagawa. - 2019: Record screening & performance at EDOCCO STUDIO. - 2021: March / "Tsukiyo no Karakuri House" re-performed as part of the Shibuya Ward Cultural Center Owada 10th Anniversary Project. August / Representative Chizuru Azuma served as the general director for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics cultural program "MAZEKOZE Island Tour." The Mazekoze Troupe performed. World broadcast. December / "Tsukiyo no Karakuri House" re-performed in Shibuya Ward. Live streaming was also conducted. - 2023: Mazekoze Troupe performed "Tsukiyo no Karakuri House ~Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs~." - 2024: Produced the film "Mazekoze Troupe Murder Case ~Festival Aftermath Aftermath Festival~."

First screening at LINE CUBE SHIBUYA & "Mazekoze Troupe" song and dance show performed.

- 2025: Mazekoze Troupe will perform "Tsukiyo no Karakuri House ~Fun Japan SHOW!?~."

"Heisei Mazekoze Troupe Tsukiyo no Karakuri House" and "MAZEKOZE Island Tour" in 2017

◉ What is the future of the "Mazekoze Troupe"?

We will challenge ourselves overseas.

If it is difficult to get coverage in domestic media, we will look outward. We are currently planning with a promoter based in the United States.

◉ Message from Shibuya Mayor Ken Hasebe

Photo of Ken Hasebe

Congratulations on the performance of the "Mazekoze Troupe" "Tsukiyo no Karakuri House Peace & Love."

Shibuya Ward, whose future vision is "A city that turns differences into strengths," values the concept of "diversity and inclusion," and uses the power of all people who gather in Shibuya Ward, regardless of race, gender, age, or disability, as a driving force for town development.

This performance, carried out with the aim of creating a "mazekoze society" where no one is excluded, aligns with Shibuya Ward's philosophy and is highly significant.

We hope that this performance, where diverse performers harmonize with their own ideas to create a fun space and discuss the future, will be a wonderful opportunity for everyone to think deeply about diversity.

We hope you will all come and see it.

(Ken Hasebe, Mayor of Shibuya Ward)

◉ Message from Chizuru Azuma, Representative of General Incorporated Association Get in touch

Photo of Chizuru Azuma

There are angry people, hurt people, silent people, and excluded people. Righteousness clashes with righteousness, and someone is worn down. In such a tense era, this year's "Mazekoze Troupe" will directly confront the themes of "Peace" and "Love."

On August 9th, the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, we will sing, dance, laugh, and direct a show to not give up on humanity. It won't end with just emotion. You might feel something stir within you. You might feel frustrated. Please take that discomfort home with you.

We are challenging ourselves with LIVE and live streaming because we want to "involve the whole of Japan!" This is a turning point for us. Thank you for everything so far. We would be grateful if you would watch over our new challenge. (Chizuru Azuma, Actress / Representative of General Incorporated Association Get in touch)

About General Incorporated Association Get in touch

Activities began in 2011 and the organization was incorporated in 2012. Founded by actress Chizuru Azuma and others.

Through entertainment such as art, music, film, and theater, we are working towards a "mazekoze society" where no one is excluded.

We have named April 2nd, World Autism Awareness Day, "Warm Blue Day" and are promoting the "Warm Blue Campaign," calling on companies and local governments to "dye Tokyo blue." We also organize:

"Tsukiyo no Karakuri House ~Mazekoze Troupe~," a stage featuring minority performers; the film "I am Me ~over the rainbow~," which collects real voices of LGBTQ individuals; and "MAZEKOZE Art," which connects the art of artists with disabilities to society.

We also stream talk and group sessions for people facing difficulties in life, such as "Seikatsu-kurushisa da yo! Zen'in Shugo!" (Life is Tough! Everyone Assemble!) and "Snack Get-chi ~Mama Chizuru~" on YouTube.

Get in touch Official Website: https://www.getintouch.or.jp/

Get in touch Introduction Video (3 minutes): https://youtu.be/Pq0ie09fB84?si=Iw4rU2l6PbyqRpB4