The Mikado is a comic operetta set in Japan, written by Gilbert and Sullivan. It premiered in London in 1885 and has since become one of the most popular works in the Gilbert and Sullivan canon. The story follows the adventures of Nanki-Poo, a young man who disguises himself as a wandering minstrel to escape an arranged marriage. Along the way, he meets a variety of characters, including the Mikado, or emperor of Japan.