Japan Society presents the North American Premiere of “Ashita no Ma-Joe: Rocky Macbeth” by the Theater Company Kaimaku Pennant Race (KPR). Director Yu Murai, founder of KPR, cleverly retells Macbeth through the 1960s mega-hit manga Ashita no Joe, centering on the rise and fall of a troubled teenager turned high-ranking professional boxer, echoing the struggles of the Scottish king in the Shakespeare classic. Interlaced with reimaginings of famous scenes from both works, this production promises to surprise Shakespeare and manga lovers alike. Murai uses the mythos surrounding the boxer Joe to create an innovative, playful theatrical production in which two worlds fraught with angst and ambition collide. In an intimately staged production and uniquely configured design, Japan Society and KPR have created a boxing ring for the performance, around which audience members will be seated “ringside” right on stage.