A new stage play based on Yoshio Sawai’s bizarre and beloved manga series, Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, has been officially announced for a run in Tokyo from June 12-21, 2026. This upcoming production follows the successful 2024 stage adaptation and will feature Shō Katō returning in the titular role.
Returning Talent for the 2026 Production
The 2026 stage play will see the return of key creative figures from the previous adaptation. Keita Kawajiri, known for his work on stage plays like Nanbaka and Mob Psycho 100, is set to once again write the script and direct the upcoming production. Shō Katō, who portrayed Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo in the October 2024 run, will reprise his role as the unconventional hero who battles with the “Fist of the Nose Hair.” Further casting details for other fan-favorite characters are anticipated closer to the performance dates.
The Preceding “Chō Hajike Stage☆Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo”
The announcement of the 2026 play builds on the momentum of “Chō Hajike Stage☆Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo” (Super Hajike Stage☆Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo), which captivated audiences in Tokyo’s Theatre1010 from October 23-31, 2024. This initial stage adaptation garnered significant attention, not least because its first announcement on April 1, 2024, was initially perceived as an April Fool’s Day joke before being confirmed as real later that day. The 2024 play, also directed and written by Keita Kawajiri, featured a cast including Haruka Kudo as Beauty, Yuta Higuchi as Heppokomaru, Shunya Osawa as Hatenko, and Takuo Inari as Don Patch. Tickets for the 2024 run reportedly sold out.
The Enduring Appeal of Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo
Yoshio Sawai’s original Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo manga is celebrated for its surreal comedy, parody elements, and distinctive art style. The series was serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump from February 2001 to November 2005, compiling 21 tankōbon volumes. A sequel, Shinsetsu Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, followed from December 2005 to July 2007, collected into seven volumes.
The story is set in the year 300X, where the tyrannical Maruhage Empire, led by Czar Baldy Bald IV, enforces a “Hair Hunt” to strip everyone of their hair. Standing against this absurd oppression is Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, a master of the “Fist of the Nose Hair,” who uses his prehensile nose hairs and an array of bizarre techniques to fight the Hair Hunters. His nonsensical adventures, often accompanied by his companions like the earnest Beauty and the unpredictable Don Patch, have garnered a cult following.
The manga was also adapted into a 76-episode anime television series by Toei Animation, which aired from November 2003 to October 2005 in Japan. The anime gained further international recognition when it was broadcast in the United States on Cartoon Network from 2005 to 2007, exposing its unique brand of humor to a wider audience. With its blend of action, parody, and utterly unpredictable humor, Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo continues to resonate with fans, making its return to the stage a highly anticipated event.
