Ghibli Classic Spirited Away Is Coming to the Stage, and the Cast Is Here!
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For Ghibli fans and theater lovers, this live stage adaption of Spirited Away might be a dream come true.
Have you ever wished you could meet Chihiro (or is it Sen?), Haku, Yubaba, Lin, and all the rest of the bathhouse staff the rest in person? Are you such a Studio Ghibli fan that you might even risk an encounter with a hungry No Face? Well, this might be your chance. Spirited Away blew away box office records when it hit theaters almost 20 years ago, and now it's back in a whole new way, as a live theater performance. The Hayao Miyazaki classic will be premiering on stage directed by John Caird, first at Tokyo's Imperial Theatre in February/March 2022, before moving to productions in Osaka, Fukuoka, Sapporo, and Nagoya later in the year.
【期待】『千と千尋の神隠し』初舞台化！千尋役は橋本環奈＆上白石萌音のWキャストhttps://t.co/gj03QJ9brD
スタジオジブリの名作アニメ映画『千と千尋の神隠し』が来年2月、東宝創立90周年記念作品として初めて舞台化されることになった。 pic.twitter.com/Gma5Dd2OGK
— ライブドアニュース (@livedoornews) February 25, 2021
The next most important information, of course, is just who will be playing these beloved characters? Who could really bring the feelings of ten-year-old Chihiro―lost and afraid, but bravely determined―to life? The answer seems to be two different actresses, actually! Spirited Away is being double-cast (or "w-cast" as they might say in Japan), which is fairly common practice for live theater in Japan. Neither actress is an understudy for the other, and they share the role equally, simply splitting dates and times, as do every pair of actors playing each major role.
For Chihiro, the two actresses are Kanna Hashimoto, an idol-turned-actress, and Mone Kamishiraishi, who gained fame as the voice of the lead in the Makoto Shinkai anime film Your Name, and has actually worked with director John Caird before during her career in musical theater. At 22 and 23-years-old respectively, we can only hope the talented young actors will be able to capture Chihiro's young, stubborn spirit.
2人のハク役、初対面です！
ハクのステンドグラスをバックに✨#醍醐虎汰朗 #三浦宏規#ジブリ美術館#千と千尋の神隠し
2022年2・3月、帝国劇場で舞台版世界初演！https://t.co/1YSRP4Eq5i pic.twitter.com/u0QzA3et1M— 舞台『千と千尋の神隠し』 (@sentochihiro_st) July 9, 2021
The two actors playing Haku, seen here meeting for the first time, are Kotaro Daigo and Hiroki Miura. Like Mone Kamishiraishi, Daigo also found popularity after playing a leading role in a Makoto Shinkai anime, although he starred in the more recent film Weathering with You. Miura, despite being just 22 years of age, is already a seasoned musical theater performer, recently appearing in shows like Grease, Little Shop of Horrors, and Les Miserables.
舞台『#千と千尋の神隠し』
メインキャスト発表✨
多彩なキャリア、帝劇に新たな風を巻き起こすキャストが集まりました！#橋本環奈 #上白石萌音 #醍醐虎汰朗 #三浦宏規 #菅原小春 #辻本知彦 #咲妃みゆ #妃海風 #田口トモロヲ #橋本さとし #夏木マリ #朴璐美 pic.twitter.com/WeCYQK4k3g— 舞台『千と千尋の神隠し』 (@sentochihiro_st) July 7, 2021
The rest of the main cast includes a number of performers with illustrious backgrounds. Lin will be played by two particularly popular actresses hailing from the Takarazuka Revue, a famous all-female theater troupe, namely Fu Hinami and Miyu Sakihi. No Face, on the other hand, is being portrayed by choreographer Koharu Sugawara and Cirque du Soleil performer Tomohiko Tsujimoto, who both have extensive backgrounds in dance, hopefully lending No Face all the creepy forms of movement necessary. Satoshi Hashimoto and Tomorowo Taguchi will be splitting the role of Kamaji, the grumpy but endearing many-legged boiler room worker who begrudgingly welcomes Chihiro into the bathhouse. And finally, Yubaba and Zeniba will be played by two actresses sure to excite anime fans everywhere. Romi Park has previously voiced a whole host of characters in internationally famous animes, ranging from her role as Edward Elric himself in Fullmetal Alchemist, to characters in Bleach, Naruto, Attack on Titan, Nana, and even Pokemon (she actually voices Zoroark). Mari Natsuki, on the other hand, has performed far fewer voices, but she did have one extremely important role: the original voice of Yubaba and Zeniba in Spirited Away. And here she is, back to reprise the role, in person this time.
With a little over half a year to go until Spirited Away performances begin, 12 actors playing 6 main characters have been announced, but we're excited to see what else comes out in the remaining months. Will Bo, Yubaba's giant baby and sometimes chubby mouse, maintain his important role in the live stage performance―how might they portray this unusual role? Will the bathhouse's greedy gold-loving frog make it into the play? How about the radish spirit who joins Chihiro in the elevator? (Probably not.) Hopefully the Spirited Away stage play Twitter account will continue to post more about what's coming soon, because as big Ghibli fans, we're waiting in anticipation!
For more info and updates from Japan, check Japankuru for new articles, and don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
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Kansai (関西) is a region that includes Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Shiga Prefectures. Kansai contained Japan's ancient capital for hundreds of years, and it's making a comeback as one of the most popular parts of Japan. Kyoto's temples and shrines, Osaka Castle, and the deer of Nara are all considered must-sees. Plus, the people of Kansai are especially friendly, making it a fun place to hang out.
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Nara Prefecture's important history reaches back to 710, a time now called the Nara era, when it was once capital of Japan. Called "Heijo-kyo" during its time as a capital, it's said that nara was once the end of the silk road, leading it to flourish as a uniquely international region and produce important cultural properties of all kinds. To make the most of each season, travelers head to Nara Park, where the Nara deer who wander freely, or climb Mount Yoshino, a famous cherry blossom spot.
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OSAKA
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Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.
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CHUGOKU
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The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.
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HIROSHIMA
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Hiroshima Prefecture has everything, from world heritage sites to beautiful nature and delicious local cuisine, and it's either an hour and a half from Tokyo by plane, or four hours by train. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and the Atomic Bomb Dome, two Hiroshima UNESCO sites, are famous around the world, but in Japan it's also famous for food. Seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, especially oysters, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and Setouchi lemons are all popular, and the natural scenery alone is worth seeing.
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SHIKOKU
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On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).
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KAGAWA
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Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.
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KYUSHU
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Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
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FUKUOKA
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Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
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KAGOSHIMA
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Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
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OKINAWA
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The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.
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