Japanese troupe TremendousCircus performs against misogyny in Tokyo
Japanese feminist theatre troupe TremendousCircus in Tokyo combines performances about sexual violence and misogyny with Gothic Lolita aesthetics. The members take the stage in doll-like dresses with voluminous skirts and use theatre to speak about sexism, harassment and violence, The Japan Times reports.
The troupe, which calls its approach “radical feminism of survivors,” has been operating since 2016. Initially, the collective focused on LGBTQ+ rights, but it now includes in its productions stories of sexual violence and harassment experienced by members and by members of their fan community. They are called “militants” within the group.
The performance “Unite”
In the recent production “Unite,” nine women in pink, white and black Gothic Lolita costumes played revolutionaries confronting the AI tyrant Big Father in a dystopian future. During the performance, slogans about a “war for women” were heard, and the actresses also tore up AI-generated images of men’s faces.
The troupe’s co-founder, 28-year-old actress Chino, who survived rape, said she had recently concluded a legal battle in her own case. According to her, she wants to be an example for other survivors of sexual violence and show that a joyful future may await them.
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Clothing and women’s solidarity
The members describe the layered costumes — blouses, pinafore dresses, bloomers and petticoats — as the opposite of tight-fitting and revealing clothing. Actress Hina Haruka also wears Gothic Lolita outfits off stage, complementing them with a white lace parasol and a bonnet. She believes the style allows women to freely choose pink, ruffles and a “cute” aesthetic regardless of age.
The collective charges men up to twice as much for tickets as women. As the publication notes, this approach is a gesture in response to Japan’s significant gender pay gap. Japan ranked 118th among 148 economies in the World Economic Forum’s gender gap index last year. According to a 2024 government survey, approximately one in 10 young people in Japan has experienced unwanted touching at least once; the overwhelming majority of such people are women.
Another TremendousCircus member, Mizuki Shikyoin, who previously engaged in prostitution, said during a monologue that she believes she was subjected to systematic grooming by a former manager. She also said that mutual support among women helped her rethink the belief that she was helpless without men.
