Next Gen Masters
Produced by Fuji TV and TaiwanPlus, “Next-Gen Masters” explores the themes of tradition and innovation within enduring cultural artforms like Japanese Kabuki and Taiwanese Bodehi puppetry.
Next Gen Masters: Re-imagining Kabuki and Budaixi
Published
Provider TaiwanPlus
Kabuki actors Onoe Kikugoro VII and Onoe Kikunosuke VI succeeded the prestigious Otowa-ya family stage names in 2025 with a two-year nationwide succession performance that took place in Fukuoka Prefecture. The theme of “tradition and innovation” invited audiences to reflect on how to continue Kabuki traditions with innovative methods. Now, a journey to push the boundaries of traditional theatre brings them to Taiwan for a chance encounter with Taiwanese puppeteer, Chen Hsi-huang (陳錫煌). Together, they explore how Pili International Multimedia transformed traditional Bodehi puppetry into Taiwan’s global IP. Watch as father and son strive to pursue and refine their art in Taiwan. Get ready for an exclusive visit to Pili studios in Yunlin to see how CGI and special effects took these puppets out of the temples and into sold out fan meetups around the world. These puppet pioneers for the digital age regularly achieve viewership ratings over 97 percent. Let’s see what happens when two Kabuki masters step backstage to chat with a living national treasure… “Next-Gen Masters” is a full-length documentary from Fuji TV presented in partnership with TaiwanPlus. This international co-production explores the themes of tradition and innovation within enduring cultural artforms like Japanese Kabuki and Taiwanese Bodehi puppetry. We’re proud to share exclusive performances from both the Otowa-ya family in Japan and Pili puppets in Taiwan. Let us know what you think in the comments below.