Kei Tanaka returns to stage in 'Mama, Love Song' debut at Tokyo Arts Center

Japanese actor Kei Tanaka opened his first stage performance in about a year with the two‑person play “Mama, Love Song” (母さん、ラブソングです) on July 31 at the Tokyo Arts Center Playhouse. The production was written and directed by veteran writer‑director Suzuki Osamu, who reunited with Tanaka after their 2011 collaboration. Tanaka portrays a once‑successful musician now in decline, opposite co‑star Hiro Yasaki, who plays his brother. The actors perform extensive dialogue and sing original songs supplied by singer‑songwriter Daiki Hirai.

Tanaka told the audience, “There’s no escape, so we just go all‑in,” while Suzuki said the play’s true protagonist is the mother figure at its heart. The run is scheduled through August 16, after which the company plans a tour to Miyagi, Aichi, Nagano and Osaka.