Film Adaptation of “La Boheme” Starts Run in Japan, Presenting New York-based Story with Asian Opera Singers

A scene from the movie “La boheme: A New York Love Song,” which features Chinese opera singers playing Rodolfo, left, and Mimi.
14:40 JST, October 6, 2023
A movie adaptation of Puccini’s renowned opera “La Boheme,” produced by a Hong Kong-based Japanese opera lover, began showing in theaters across Japan on Friday.
The original story is set in 1830s Paris, and depicts the coming-of-age of young artists. The movie, titled “La boheme: A New York Love Song,” changes the setting to present day New York and features opera singers of Asian descent for its lead roles.
“I want people to know that there are wonderful opera singers in Asia,” said Rumiko Hasegawa, who produced the movie.

Rumiko Hasegawa
Hasegawa, 65, fell in love with opera while working for a major U.S. financial firm. After retiring from the firm, she founded an opera company in Hong Kong named More Than Musical in 2016. The company performs famous operas, usually three to four hours in length, in about 90 minutes to suit modern lifestyles. It also works to place Asian opera singers in leading roles.
Since opera originated in Italy, officials of opera organizations, as well as opera singers who play lead roles, tend to be predominantly white, according to Hasegawa.
“I have often heard that Asian singers are not given major roles even though they are talented,” she said. “Giving them more opportunities to perform was one of the founding principles when starting the company.”
In the movie, the roles of Rodolfo, the poet at the center of the story, and Mimi, whom he falls in love with, are both played by Chinese opera singers. The cast also includes Puerto Ricans, African Americans and Japanese bass singer Hidenori Inoue.
Hasegawa was prompted to create the film by the pandemic. She invited talented opera singers to join the project as their schedules had emptied amid cancelled performances. The idea was to convey the appeal of opera through a film because there is lower risk of cancelation even amid COVID precautions. While hate crimes were increasing in the United States and elsewhere during the pandemic, the movie intentionally used Asians for lead roles.
The film was shot in 2021 in locations such as Manhattan’s Chinatown, which was deserted during the pandemic. “This film is a direct reflection of the situation today, including young people struggling to make ends meet,” Hasegawa said. “We were able to present contemporary life as a documentary would and show the possibilities of opera.”
"Culture" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Over 260 Japanese National Treasures Featured at Special Exhibitions in Osaka, Nara, Kyoto Held to Coincide with Expo 2025
-
Anselm Kiefer Solo Exhibition Held in Kyoto’s Nijo Castle; Post-WWII German Master Presents ‘Solaris’
-
Pop Group TOKIO Disbands After Problematic Acts by Kokubun on Popular Nippon Television Show ‘The Tetsuwan Dash’
-
Nihonga Paintings Express World of Classical Text ‘Manyoshu’; New Book Shows How Artforms Connect
-
Arpa Player Mika Agematsu Rediscovers Joy of Music with Mini Harp; Learns New Instrument to Handle Neurological Disorder
JN ACCESS RANKING
-
5-Kilogram Bag of Rice Price Falls Below ¥4,000: 1st Time in 4 Months
-
Japan’s Agriculture Ministry Starts Survey of Rice Farmers Across Japan on Production Outlook
-
Japan’s Core Inflation Hits 2-year High, Keeps Rate-Hike Bets Alive
-
Japan to Collaborate with 3 European Countries on Infrastructure Development; Will Work With Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic to Build Railroads, Energy Systems
-
Typhoon Nari Approaching Japan’s Kanto Region; Heavy Rain, Strong Wind Expected on Monday