Audio Description & Touch Tours
Designed for those living with sight loss, our audio-described performances feature a live commentary describing what’s happening on stage without compromising the music. Touch Tours also available.
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Dai Fujikura & Harry Ross
The Great WaveA tale of Katsushika Hokusai and his famous woodblock print The Great Wave off Kanagawa
Theatre Royal Glasgow:
12 & 14 February 2026, 7.15pm
Festival Theatre Edinburgh:
19 & 21 February 2026, 7.15pm
Join us for the world premiere of Dai Fujikura and Harry Ross's The Great Wave: an extravagant story about artist Katsushika Hokusai and his famous woodblock print The Great Wave off Kanagawa.
This groundbreaking opera directed by Satoshi Miyagi explores Hokusai’s creative triumphs and struggles, and his bond with his daughter Ōi. This relationship redefined Japanese painting and printmaking – and changed the global art world and popular iconography forever.
Japanese composer Dai Fujikura and Scottish librettist Harry Ross create a mesmerising musical drama that showcases the series of events that ignites The Great Wave off Kanagawa phenomena, influencing pop art culture today.
This large-scale, dynamic, international collaboration between Scottish Opera and KAJIMOTO builds on centuries of cultural exchange between Scotland and Japan. Baritone Daisuke Ohyama brings Katsushika Hokusai to life, along with Julieth Lozano Rolong as Ōi. Stuart Stratford conducts The Orchestra of Scottish Opera – with the unique addition of the rich historic sounds of a Japanese shakuhachi-flute. The Chorus of The Great Wave vividly represents the collaborative nature of Edo-era printmaking.
Support: 
Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan / Japan Arts Council
New co-production with KAJIMOTO
Supported by The Alexander Gibson Circle, Bernard & Jane Nelson, The Great Wave Syndicate, The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, The Japan Society of Scotland and Scottish Opera’s New Commissions Circle.
Part of Scottish Opera's 2025/26 Season
Show Details
Running time:
Approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes including a 20-minute interval
Language:
Sung in English with English supertitles
Ticket price:
From £23 to £65.75 – prices vary by venue
Concessions:
£15 tickets for Under 26s >>
Concessions vary by venue
Venue information
Find out more about box office opening hours, travel information and access within the building in all venues.
Digital x Hokusai in Scotland: The Life of Hokusai
From print to performance, Scottish Opera proudly presents Digital x Hokusai in Scotland: The Life of Hokusai, a special exhibition showcasing reproductions of Hokusai’s magnificent work.
This exhibition is a unique opportunity to see around 50 of Hokusai’s sketches, paintings and manga up close in unique surroundings. Witness the visionary pieces that immerse you into the artist's world and discover the art behind the opera, many of which feature in The Great Wave, plus exclusive pieces that will not appear in the production.
This is exhibition is free and open to the public.
Presented by NTT ArtTechnology, in collaboration with Hokusai-kan Museum, it is supported by Scottish Opera, NTT EAST, Bunkamura, KAJIMOTO, Ars Techne and Designito, and Daisuke Mukai, and with the co-operation of Yukihiro Nakayama, curator at Japan’s Hokusai-kan Museum.
Theatre Royal Glasgow
Wednesday 11 February
2-5pm
Thursday 12 February
5pm onwards for performance ticket holders
Friday 13 February
2-5pm
Saturday 14 February
5pm onwards for performance ticket holders
Festival Theatre Edinburgh
Thursday 19 February
5pm onwards for performance ticket holders
Friday 20 February
2-5pm
Saturday 21 February
5pm onwards for performance ticket holders
In rehearsals
Daisuke Ohyama (Katsushika Hokusai) In Rehearsals For The Great Wave. Credit Julie Howden.
Daisuke Ohyama (Katsushika Hokusai) In Rehearsals For The Great Wave. Credit Julie Howden.
Daisuke Ohyama (Katsushika Hokusai) And Shengzhi Ren (Mr Tozaki & Nishimura Yohachi) In Rehearsals For The Great Wave. Credit Julie Howden.
The Great Wave Composer Dai Fujikura, And Librettist Harry Ross, In The Great Wave Rehearsals. Credit Julie Howden.
The Great Wave Director, Satoshi Miyagi, In Rehearsals. Credit Julie Howden.
Daisuke Ohyama (Katsushika Hokusai) In Rehearsals For The Great Wave. Credit Julie Howden.
Akiko Kitamura, The Great Wave Choreographer, During Rehearsals. Credit Julie Howden.
Keiko Sumida (Assistant Director) And Akiko Kitamura (Choreographer), During Rehearsals Of The Great Wave. Credit Julie Howden.
Edward Hawkins (Eirakuya Tōshirō & Takai Kōzan) And Daisuke Ohyama (Katsushika Hokusai) In Rehearsals For The Great Wave. Credit Julie Howden.
Watch
The Great Wave 2026 | Trailer
Cast & Creatives
Katsushika Hokusai
Daisuke Ohyama
Katsushika Ōi
Julieth Lozano Rolong
Mr Tozaki / Nishimura Yohachi
Shengzhi Ren
Eirakuya Tōshirō / Takai Kōzan
Edward Hawkins
Koto
Chloe Harris
Hokusai’s Grandson
Luvo Maranti
Dr Philipp Franz von Siebold
Collin Shay
Dancers
Ching Chen, Kim Francey, Alex Henderson, Amy Hollinshead, Grace O’Brien, Ken Sugiyama & Malcolm Sutherland
Conductor
Stuart Stratford
Director
Satoshi Miyagi
Scenographer
Junpei Kiz
Costume Designer
Kayo Takahashi Deschene
Lighting Designer
Yuka Hisamatsu
Props Designer
Eri Fukasawa
Video Designer
Sho Yamaguchi
Choreographer
Akiko Kitamura
The Orchestra of Scottish Opera
The Chorus of The Great Wave
GET TO KNOW THE GREAT WAVE
A collaboration that bridges cultures and honours Hokusai’s legacy.
Related Events
Pre-show talk: The Great Wave
Saturday, 14 February - Saturday, 21 February 2026
Touch Tour: The Great Wave
Saturday, 14 February - Saturday, 21 February 2026
Audio-described Performances & Touch Tours
Mention opera and most people think of singing and music – but this is only part of the overall experience. What about scenery, costumes, lighting, direction and choreography?
For those living with sight loss, our audio description service provides a live commentary describing the action on stage without compromising the music. As part of the experience, a recorded introduction to the opera is available in advance and there is a live audio introduction before the start of the performance.
In addition, you can also book onto a free touch tour – an opportunity to go backstage and become more familiar with the set, scenery, props and costumes.
Please book in advance for audio-described performances and touch tours by calling the venue box offices:
Theatre Royal Glasgow:
14 February 2026, 7.15pm - touch tour at 6pm
Book now
Festival Theatre Edinburgh:
21 February 2026, 7.15pm - touch tour at 6pm
Book now
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