The Mikado of the title character as a disrespectful representation of the revered Meiji Emperor; Japanese theatre was prohibited from depicting the emperor on stage. Japanese Prince Komatsu Akihito, who saw an 1886 production in London, took no offence. When Prince Fushimi Sadanaru made a state visit in 1907, the British government banned performances of "The Mikado" from London for six weeks, fearing that the play might offend him – a manoeuvre that backfired when the prince complained that he had hoped to see "The Mikado" during his stay. A Japanese journalist covering the prince's stay attended a proscribed performance and confessed
The Mikado by other composers. Dame Ethel Smyth wrote of Sullivan, "One day he presented me with a copy of the full score of "The Golden Legend", adding: 'I think this is the best thing I've done, don't you?' and when truth compelled me to say that in my opinion "The Mikado" is his masterpiece, he cried out: 'O you wretch!' But though he laughed, I could see he was disappointed." The following tables show the casts of the principal original productions and D'Oyly Carte Opera Company touring repertory at various times through to the company's 1982 closure: Role of Go-To added