Since its 2023 premiere in Shanghai, the Chinese musical "Dreaming of Weizhi," adapted from Bai Juyi's Tang Dynasty (618–907) poem of the same name, which reflects on his cherished friendship with fellow poet Yuan Zhen, has captivated audiences through its elegant fusion of classical poetry and modern stagecraft. Now, this celebrated production has been reimagined in Japanese.

Previews of stage shows are usually held in the city where the performance will have its theatrical run, but the preview of the Japanese version of "Dreaming of Weizhi" was held in September in Shanghai, the birthplace of the musical.

"The trial performances are held in Shanghai, China, because we want the Chinese audience to be the first to judge," Wang Zuowen, CEO of Amazing Musicals and executive producer of the Chinese version of "Dreaming of Weizhi," told CGTN.

Throughout the process, the company placed a survey at the theater's entrance and gathered opinions and feedback from audiences familiar with Japan, including those who are fluent in Japanese.

"Our goal is to incorporate the Chinese audience's perspectives and suggestions, and through continuous refinement, bring the show to Japan in its most authentic form," Wang said.

From an audience member to leading the Japanese adaptation

Shinji Rachi, director and actor of Bai Juyi in the Japanese version, told CGTN the reason behind his involvement in the show.

"Initially, I entered the theater as an audience member for the musical. The music, storyline and the actors' performances deeply moved me," he said, recalling that the Chinese audience around him was equally touched, with many moved to tears.

"Seeing such a poignant Chinese story, inspired by two poets who are also widely known in Japan, I was struck by the idea of bringing it to the Japanese stage," he said.

Although challenges occurred during the translation process of lyrics and scripts, Rachi believes Japanese and Chinese people share emotional resonance as fellow Asian countries.

"Although language barriers make it difficult to fully convey the beauty of Chinese, it is for this reason that the actors' emotions and expressions are what move the audience the most," he said.

Reviving Bai Juyi's legacy in Japan

Bai Juyi's literary legacy remains popular in Japan and has profoundly shaped its literature, including classic works such as "The Tale of Genji."

"In Japan, those familiar with Bai Juyi know him very well, while those unfamiliar with him know almost nothing; the polarization is quite distinct," said Rachi, adding that his father is one of the Japanese who know Bai Juyi well.

"When it was confirmed that I would be performing and bringing this work to Japan, he even contacted me on his own initiative, asking very happily, 'Are you going to play Bai Juyi?'"

Through the musical, the artist hopes to introduce Japanese audiences to Bai Juyi, help them understand his poems, and deepen their love for "Dreaming of Weizhi" and everything related to him.

Building bridges through musical exchange

As for his future role in promoting cultural exchange between China and Japan, Rachi said that carrying forward the warmth he received from the Chinese audience and better conveying Chinese culture to Japanese audiences is both a challenge and an extremely important task.

For him, "Dreaming of Weizhi" is just a start. During his time in Shanghai for the trial performances, Rachi closed another deal to bring another Chinese musical, "King's Table," to Japan.

"China now has many outstanding original musical productions. Both producers and creators share the same vision: to showcase the unique charm of Chinese musicals to audiences around the world," said Wang, who's also the producer of "King's Table."

"China's profound cultural heritage provides endless inspiration for storytelling, and there is a growing interest among overseas audiences in learning more about Chinese culture," he added.

Wang said that, through Chinese cultural roots and unique artistic expression, he hopes to share more of China's rich traditional culture with audiences abroad.

Executive producer: Zhang Jingwen

Producer: Yang Sha

Director: Guo Meiping

Cover image designer: Sha Yunjin