KAJIMOTO is pleased to announce its involvement in the commission and production of a new opera by Japanese composer Dai Fujikura and Scottish librettist Harry Ross, The Great Wave, based on the life of the iconic Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai. The world premiere co-produced with the Scottish Opera will take place in Glasgow, Scotland, in February 2026.

The Great Wave is the latest collaboration between Dai Fujikura and Harry Ross, who have been creating operas together for nearly 20 years.

Dai’s previous operatic works include:

– Solaris (2015)

– The Gold-Bug (2018)

– A Dream of Armageddon (2020)

Following the premiere in Glasgow, the production will continue with a run in Edinburgh, bringing the total number of performances in Scotland to four.

The production will be directed by Satoshi Miyagi, the Artistic Director of SPAC (Shizuoka Performing Arts Centre) who is known internationally for his visionary works across theatre and opera.

Baritone Daisuke Ohyama will take on the lead role of Hokusai. Acclaimed both as a singer and actor, Ohyama will bring a powerful and distinctive presence to the stage, along with soprano Julieth Lozano Rolong as Ōi, Hokusai’s daughter. Stuart Stratford conducts The Orchestra of Scottish Opera – with the unique addition of the rich historic sounds of a Japanese shakuhachi-flute. The opera also features a cast and creative team of internationally active artists from the forefront of contemporary opera.

Please stay tuned for this bold and exciting new operatic work!

This project is supported by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs / Japan Arts Council / Grants for Artistic Activity Infrastructure Reinforcement Program (Projects to Nurture Creators and Artists). It aims to actively engage young Japanese artists and creators and support their international development.