Berlin in 1901

Sadayako first played in the US in 1899 as the main lead of a Japanese travel troupe, which had been formed by her husband, Kawakami Utajiro. Then, she moved to London and Paris in 1900. Because of her previous career as a seasoned Geisha, where she excelled in classical dance and beauty, Sadayako was flush with success. Perhaps, exotic Japanism that influenced the western art world at that time was a great help to her.

In Paris it was the time of the 1900 Paris Exposition, where Sadayako was given an opportunity to perform a traditional dance, Doseiji, in front of iconic artists including Claude Debussy (a composer), Andre Gide (a writer), Picaso (an artist), and Augusta Rodin (a sculptor) among others. For her perfomance, Sadayako was bestowed with a medal for arts from the French government. 

Returnig to Japan, Sadayako with her husband established a school for actresses in 1908. She retired in 1917 as Japan’s first actress.

One might wonder whether Sadayako was the model of Giacomo Puccini’s musical “Madame Butterfly”, which was first played in 1904. As is known, the musical is based on a love story between a Geisha and a US naval officer.

In fact, there was already a play on this story that had so impressed Puccini when he saw it in London in 1900. Puccini wrote his musical based on this play. Well, you could say that Sadayako might have influenced Puccini indirectly. 

In 2021, a special musical entitled “Princess Sadayako” was played in Tokyo to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Sadako’s birthday.  

With her husband, Kawakami Utajiro    In her stage dress in 1900

                    Sadayako’s refurbished residence located in Nagoya 

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