Mishima’s humorous short story takes place in the downtown Tokyo pleasure district and follows four geishas—Koyumi, Kanako, Masako, and Mina (Masako’s maidservant brought along as an afterthought). The four undertake a silent pilgrimage of crossing seven bridges along the Tsukiji River under a full moon. According to a superstition, whoever can accomplish this quest in total silence without turning back will have their wish granted. The women meet with distractions and mishaps that increasingly challenge their success. 

Entering the theater, the stage was fully in view and set up with a toy train and track meandering around the circumference of the stage—like in a child’s playroom. Model bridges and other Tokyo landmarks made of Lego-like building toys punctuated the playscape and a large, autumnal moon projected onto the backdrop hung over the miniature city. The loud blast of a whistle signaled Takuro Suzuki’s attention-grabbing entrance dressed as a train conductor dancing a high-octane hip hop solo. (The choreographer is also a deft dancer.) As the toy train powered up and began to move, the conductor followed its route narrating the landmarks and performing slick moves to mark each of the bridges. Meanwhile, Yuri Shimizu (also responsible for the original music), dressed in a black pantsuit topped with a large moon headdress, personified the autumn moon as she revolved slowly in place in an upstage corner.  

Seven dancers in crisp, white pantsuits entered dancing a kind of drill team routine—but with prayer gestures, bowing, pulsing, and twisting, as they chanted “wish come true.” The group fanned out through the space, with the vocals announcing the hoped for wishes. The moon character circulated in the background providing percussion with a woodblock instrument that made the clopping sound of the geishas’ wooden sandals. Eventually, only four dancers (the geishas) in their white pantsuits remained onstage seated and bouncing on a row of black metal folding chairs as if they were riding the train to the first bridge.