Anmitsu Hime Theater
Drag queens! Comedy! Music! And the Hakata Revue!
Among the bars and clubs of Oyafuko Street in Fukuoka City lies Anmitsu Hime Theater, home of the eponymous performance troupe. Six nights a week, Anmitsu Hime invites viewers to join them for a dazzling, unforgettable show.
Each performance is an hour-long extravaganza that features a lavish revue show, western-style and traditional Japanese-style dances, and side-splitting comedy sketches. The elaborate, handmade costumes are a feast for the eyes, and the thrilling stage effects will captivate you. It’s impossible to leave without a smile on your face.
The theater is owned by the fabulous drag queen Tomato, who became the owner of the theater in 1987, three years after its creation in 1984.
Every night, she graces the stage in impeccable costumes and leaves viewers in stitches with her hilarious jokes. And if one drag queen wasn’t enough, many of the other performers are in drag, as well! While it may be tempting to call Anmitsu Hime a drag show, it’s so much more! Just like the performers themselves, the show cannot be put in a box.
Anmitsu Hime has a way of drawing you into their zany world, and the theater buzzes with excitement throughout the show.
Photo by: あんみつ姫
The acts draw upon popular and traditional Japanese culture and change every season, so there is always a reason to come back for more. You’ll never know what to expect when the curtains rise. Sometimes, viewers are even called up on stage. The comedy sketches are full of slapstick humor that makes it easy for anyone to follow along even if don’t understand much Japanese.
Everyone who walks through the doors of Anmitsu Hime is treated like family. All are invited to come and enjoy their shows, and children over 12 can enter with a parent or guardian. The cast will happily chat with theater-goers before and after the show, and some can use simple English.
Photo by: あんみつ姫
Know before you go
Shows are held six days a week, with three shows a night. Tickets are available on their Japanese homepage or in English via Japanican. Ticket price is typically ¥4,500.
A visit to Anmitsu Hime Theater is sure to be the most memorable part of any trip to Fukuoka.
