Mahabharata Drama in Four Countries – Four Parts in Four Different Nations

Mahabharata Drama produced by KIKH Project and directed by Hiroshi Koike of Japan is divided into four parts. Each part of the theater performance is enacted in four different countries. The first part was made in Cambodia. The second was made in India. The third will be performed in Japan. The fourth will be enacted in Malaysia.

The Hindu writes

The four part drama explores elements of culture that binds Asian countries. 

“The Mahabharata project was launched after the 2011 earthquake in Japan or the Great Sendai Earthquake. A powerful earthquake shook north-eastern coast of Honshu, Japan’s main island, caused widespread damage on land and initiated a series of large tsunami waves. It shocked the nation. Many were numb. Our artistic productions came to a standstill. Koike knew that we should not remain silent for long. He then launched the Mahabharata production,” said Fumiko Sato, production manager with KIKH Bridge Project.

Koike was born in Hitachi in Ibaraki prefecture of Japan. After working as a TV director for a while, he started a performing arts company, Pappa Tarahumara, in 1982. He has directed 55 productions. “Mahabharata puts forth a wide canvas of Asian culture,” he said.