Takajima Meguru | HATE and CHEEK's Touring Production 'Kimi wa Tomodachi' (Part 1)
This play depicts a transgender friend's struggles and the harm caused by the dismissive phrase 'everyone has it tough'.Summary
This article is a review (Part 1) of the play 'Kimi wa Tomodachi' (You Are My Friend), performed by the theater unit HATE and CHEEK in July 2026 in Mie. Set in a rundown karaoke bar, the story unfolds through conversations between Nozawa, their childhood friend Sono, Sono's partner Kaita, and Ei, who works at the bar. The central conflict revolves around Nori-chan, a transgender woman and Nozawa's partner, who faces discrimination at a new job and emotional distress after a wedding incident. When Sono says 'everyone has it tough,' it triggers a deep argument with Nozawa, who insists their struggles are fundamentally different. The review analyzes how the play exposes deep-seated issues: the harm of 'benevolent' microaggressions, transphobia, heteronormative gender expectations, and the pressures within male-dominated social structures. It also explores the fractures within Sono and Kaita's own heterosexual relationship over differing views on marriage and children. The article concludes by noting the play's clever use of the troupe's name, which puns on 'hate' and 'hope' in English, to explore how meaning and oppression intersect.
(Source：artscape)