
The Saitama Shakespeare Series concludes with “King John,” featuring Shun Oguri and Kotaro Yoshida. Originally starting in 1998 under Yukio Ninagawa, the series aimed to perform all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays. “King John,” initially the 36th play, was canceled due to COVID-19 but revived in December 2022, with performances in Tokyo, Aichi, and Osaka, ending on February 24 in Saitama. Shun Oguri starred as the young “bastard,” while Yoshida played the King of France in Tokyo and King John in Aichi, Osaka, and Saitama. The production maintained the “all-male” tradition, with male actors portraying all roles. This historical drama, depicting madness and war, marks the series’ 25-year conclusion.
Directed by Kotaro Yoshida, King John leans on a strong ensemble — Shun Oguri, Mitsuo Yoshihara, Kyôzô Nakamura — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 2020.
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An aging King invites disaster, when he abdicates to his corrupt, toadying daughters, and rejects his loving and honest one.
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