Theater Company Chari-T Kikaku’s 40th Production Bun/Dan Opens at Shinjuku Theater Tops on May 20

Theater company Chari-T Kikaku’s 40th production, Bun/Dan, will be performed from Wednesday, May 20 to Sunday, May 24, 2026, at Shinjuku Theater Tops in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Tickets are now on sale through Confetti, operated by Long Run Planning Co., Ltd. Known for its self-described style of “playful social commentary,” Chari-T Kikaku has long depicted current events and social issues with distinctive humor. Its 40th production takes “division” as its theme, presenting a dark comedy set in a share house and portraying the uneasy atmosphere of contemporary Japan through topics such as anti-war activism, patriotism, conspiracy theories, xenophobia, social media, surveillance, and pressure to conform. In this world, shouting “No war!” can lead to accusations of “anti-war harassment.” As competing ideas of “rightness” collide and social atmosphere itself begins to monitor people, whom do we suspect, and whom do we trust? The result is a dark comedy in Chari-T Kikaku’s signature style, where laughter and unease intersect. The story is set at Terada House, a share house in Tokyo. On its shared bulletin board, flyers for anti-war demonstrations and political illustrations appear alongside live show notices and local event leaflets. Some residents are uncomfortable with this, and subtle cracks begin to form among them. Then a bombing occurs at the Israeli embassy. As rumors spread that “foreign agents are trying to destroy Japan from within,” the residents begin to suspect one another. “Is there a spy among us?” “Aren’t the people calling for peace the dangerous ones?” Small feelings of unease turn into suspicion, and suspicion turns into division. Their once ordinary communal life quietly but surely begins to fall apart. Chari-T Kikaku was founded in 1998 by Taku Narahara, also known as cha i-T, with roots in Waseda University’s theater research group. Based in Tokyo, the company has produced many comedies that satirically tackle serious subjects such as current affairs and social problems. The production runs from May 20 to May 24, 2026, at Shinjuku Theater Tops. Cast members include Taketomo Abiru, Masato Hanyu, Ippei Ichihara, Mao Motomiya, Hiroyuki Motoi, Yoko Yamamoto, Marie Kobayashi, Madoka Tokura, and Kotaro Shiga. Tickets are 4,000 yen for general admission and 3,500 yen for the opening-day discount. All seats are unreserved and tax included. Preschool children are not admitted.