Keiichiro Shibuya’s latest work, ANDROID OPERA MIRROR — Deconstruction and Rebirth —, was performed at Suntory Hall on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, bringing its two-hour performance to a close. During the curtain call, Shibuya himself was moved to tears as the entire hall erupted in a powerful standing ovation.

The Android Opera is an innovative work in which an android sings alongside an orchestra, piano, electronic sounds, video, and shōmyō—a form of Buddhist chant with a 1,200-year history. The opera transcends boundaries between human and technology, East and West, tradition and innovation, life and death—dissolving these divisions to propose a new model of harmony and the dismantling of existing frameworks. After performances at Expo 2020 Dubai, Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, and Tokyo, this new version, Deconstruction and Rebirth, seeks to deconstruct the work itself, re-examining the boundary between life and death, and exploring new hope and possibilities in the relationship between humanity and technology.

Appearing on stage for the first time was “Android: Maria,” modeled after Shibuya’s late wife, who performed vocals. The performance featured a 62-member special orchestra led by the brilliant violinist Tatsuki Narita as concertmaster, four monks from Mount Kōya led by Eizen Fujiwara performing shōmyō, electronic sounds, and real-time AI dialogue—all blending organically. As a special guest, Grammy-winning bassist Charlotte Kemp Muhl joined the stage, collaborating with Shibuya, Android: Maria, and the monks.

Official Live Report

Encore performance confirmed.

Date : Saturday, May 16, 2026

Venue ：Festival Hall, Osaka