The world premiere of a brand-new musical Your Lie in April finally opened its curtain to a house full of enthusiastic audience at the prestigious Nissay Theatre on Saturday, May 7th in Tokyo two years after the cancellation of the world premiere in 2020 due to the pandemic. The house continues to be full everyday with tickets already sold out almost entirely.
The musical, an adaptation of Naoshi Arakawa’s masterpiece manga of the same title which has been adapted into a TV anime series in 2014 as well as a hit live-action film in 2016, boasts a great collaboration of Broadway creators and Japanese musical talents. Music is by musical maestro Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Wonderland, Bonnie & Clyde, Death Note, Mata Hari, Rudolf), lyrics by Tracy Miller and Carly Robyn Green (The Light of Firenze, Kung-Fu Masters, Houdini) and Frank Wildhorn, arrangements and orchestrations by Jason Howland (Little Women – the Musical, Ikiru, Beautiful – the Carole King Musical, Jekyll & Hyde), book by Riko Sakaguchi who has co-written a Studio Ghibli film and written many other TV drama and films (The Tale of The Princess Kaguya, Mary and The Witch’s Flower), and lyrics translation and direction by Ikko Ueda (Little Shop of Horrors, Love’s Labour’s Lost, The Man Who Laughs, On Your Feet!, Dead Poet Society, Next to Normal, Legally Blonde). The show is produced by Toho Co., Ltd. and Fuji Television Network, Inc.
Your Lie in April centers around a piano prodigy Kosei Arima, who has lost the ability to hear the sound of the piano in his childhood since the death of his mother, who used to be his strict piano teacher, and is no longer able to face the piano. This changes one day in April when Kosei, now a high school student, meets a violinist of the same age, Kaori Miyazono, through his childhood friend Tsubaki Sawabe with his high school friend Ryota Watari. After hearing Kaori’s overwhelmingly free performance at a violin competition, Kosei’s world begins to take on colorful hues once again. Kaori tries to bring Kosei back to the world of music somehow, and Kosei becomes more and more attracted to Kaori. However, just as Kosei is about to return to the world of music, he discovers that Kaori has a big secret.
The musical stars Yuta Koseki and Tatsunari Kimura as Kosei Arima (double cast), Erika Ikuta as Kaori Miyazono, Fuka Yuzuki as Tsubaki Sawabe, and Koki Mizuta and Takuto Teranishi as Ryota Watari.
The audience showered the cast members with applause at the raucous curtain call of the opening night and continued expressing their fervent appreciation as the casts brought on stage the Grammy- and Tony-nominated musician, Mr. Frank Wildhorn as well as Ms. Carly Robyn Green. Mr. Wildhorn and Ms. Green had flown from the states to celebrate the opening of the international collaboration. Mr. Wildhorn saluted the audience, introducing the cast and creatives, and said:
“It is a pure miracle that we are able to finally open Your Lie in April after these two challenging years. This musical has truly universal themes of family, friendship, loss, first love, adulthood, and the power that music has in all our lives. I would like to thank everyone for giving us a chance for our voice to be heard.”
The buzz on the internet is created not only by the fans of the source material and musicals but also by newcomers of such, which many commented on the well-delivered emotions and youthful energy through the great power of music. Reviews included the words of: a “universal” story that is refreshingly brought together by the many brilliant songs with countless “take-home tunes”.
Your Lie in April continues its Tokyo run at the Nissay Theatre until Sunday May 29th. The musical will then tour to Gunma, Aichi, Hyogo, Toyama, and Fukuoka from Saturday June 4th to Sunday July 3rd.
Toho Co., Ltd. is a leading production company of theatre and film in Japan, internationally recognized for the Godzilla series and for Akira Kurosawa’s masterpieces. Its theatrical department has presented numerous original and licensed musicals and plays in Japan, including Broadway and West End imports such as Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady, Man of La Mancha, Fiddler on the Roof, La Cage Aux Folles, RENT, Jekyll & Hyde, Fun Home, Next to Normal, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Jersey Boys, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Ghost The Musical, Bullets Over Broadway, Waitress, The Producers and NEWSIES among many others. In 2017, Toho presented a new production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It directed by Michael Mayer, music by Tom Kitt, choreography by Lorin Latarro. Coming productions including Guys and Dolls directed by Michael Arden, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, and more. Recently, Toho has co-produced the Broadway musical Tootsie. Toho has also produced the Japanese versions of musicals from Central Europe, including Elisabeth, Mozart!, and Rebecca the Musical. The company also produced the original musicals and plays, including Marie Antoinette and Lady Bess with the creators of Elisabeth, book and lyrics by Michael Kunze, and lyrics by Sylvester Levay, the musical adaptation of Roman Holiday, Crest of the Royal Family, music by Sylvester Levay, Knight’ Tale music and lyrics by Paul Gordon, book and directed by John Caird. Toho’s most recent production was the stage adaptation of Hayao Miyazaki’s awards winning animation masterpiece Spirited Away, adapted and directed by John Caird and co-adapted by Maoko Imai. Toho’s musical productions have been licensed internationally, Marie Antoinette was presented in Germany, Korea and Hungary, and Lady Bess was presented in Switzerland.
Fuji Television, since commencing broadcasts in 1959, has shared countless stories of love and friendship, good and evil. As a trendsetter, we have remained half a step ahead of these rapidly changing times by delivering innovative dramas, variety shows, newscasts, sports programs, and motion pictures. That is the very reason why Fuji Television has been able to maintain its position as the leading commercial broadcaster in the Japanese media industry. Fuji Television’s vision to allow its creativity to reach beyond things that are only Japanese, has helped in its path to global expansion. The one-of-a-kind, highly energetic, cooking show “Iron Chef” became a huge hit after entering the American market in the mid-1990s. “Iron Chef,” based on Fuji Television’s format, has since become the role model for how to make programs that will thrill audiences around the world. With over 60 years of experience, Fuji Television has accumulated extensive expertise and knowledge in producing hit TV shows and formats, prompting drama remakes to local markets as well as co-producing original programs with major overseas production companies. By leveraging these skill sets and our innovative DNA, we continue to expand into new markets around the world, bringing Japanese creativity to a wider audience.
For more information, please visit www.tohostage.com/ kimiuso (Japanese only)
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- I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!
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