Run’s N Rosse Returns to Yokohama Amid Sad News
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN — The bittersweet aroma of nostalgia filled the streets of Yokohama this week as fans welcomed back the legendary performance group, Run’s N Rosse, to their homeland. The iconic troupe, long celebrated for their fusion of dance, experimental theatre, and street fashion, made a surprise return to Japan after years of international performances. But the joy of reunion was shadowed by a somber announcement — the passing of founding member, Rei Kuroda.
For many in Japan, Run’s N Rosse isn’t just a name — it’s a cultural phenomenon. Emerging from the vibrant alleyways of Yokohama’s Motomachi district in the early 2000s, the group quickly rose to fame with their genre-defying shows, bold commentary on urban life, and an unshakeable commitment to community storytelling. They embodied a raw authenticity that resonated with a generation disenchanted with tradition yet yearning for identity.
This week’s return, however, came not with the thunder of drumbeats or the shimmer of sequins, but with quiet footsteps and lowered heads.
A Homecoming with Heartache
“We came home not to perform, but to remember,” said co-founder Hana Tsuji in a press statement outside their old rehearsal studio near the Kannai station. “Rei wasn’t just a dancer or a collaborator. She was our soul.”
Rei Kuroda, 38, passed away suddenly last week in Berlin, where the group had been based for the past five years. Her cause of death has not been officially released, but close friends say it was unexpected. Tributes have poured in from artists, fans, and collaborators around the globe, painting a portrait of a woman who was fierce in her art and boundless in her generosity.
“She gave everything — her body, her voice, her silence — to the work,” said German choreographer Lukas Meinhardt, who had recently worked with the group on a Berlin residency. “Rei believed in transformation through movement. Even in stillness, she was dancing.”
Gathering in Grief
On Sunday, the group held an intimate vigil in Yamashita Park, one of Rei’s favorite spots in Yokohama. Dressed in muted versions of their usually vibrant outfits, members of Run’s N Rosse offered a silent performance — a sequence of slow, synchronized movements that drew on Rei’s earliest choreography. Hundreds gathered, many wearing red ribbons — a nod to Rei’s signature costume color — and shared stories of how her presence had touched their lives.
“It wasn’t just the performances,” said one attendee, a former student of Rei’s youth dance workshops. “It was how she made you feel like your story mattered.”
As the sun set over the harbor, the group placed a red scarf on the sea wall and let it drift into the water — a symbolic goodbye from the city she called home.
What Comes Next
Despite the sorrow, there is also a sense of quiet resilience among the troupe. While no official performances have been announced, Hana Tsuji hinted at a commemorative show in the fall, which would combine unreleased works by Rei with new pieces inspired by her legacy.
“There’s no filling the space she’s left,” said Tsuji, “but we will dance with her absence — because that’s what she taught us: to create even in heartbreak.”
Fans and fellow artists alike are already rallying behind the group, expressing both their condolences and their anticipation for how Run’s N Rosse will evolve in this new chapter.
The Japanese Ministry of Culture has also indicated plans to honor Rei posthumously for her contributions to contemporary dance and cultural exchange.
A City Reflects
In the days following the announcement, murals and pop-up memorials have begun appearing around Yokohama, particularly near Isezakicho, where the group once performed guerrilla-style shows that caused traffic to pause and commuters to stop mid-stride.
“She made this city part of her stage,” said Akira Morimoto, a local café owner who hosted the group’s first exhibition back in 2004. “Now the city mourns with her.”
As Yokohama grieves the loss of one of its brightest lights, it also rediscovers the spirit she helped shape. In every dance, every painted wall, every hushed crowd watching an impromptu performance — Rei Kuroda lives on.
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