The critically acclaimed and commercially successful anime film The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe (known in Japan as Kitaro Tanjou: GeGeGe no Nazo) is set to receive a stage play adaptation, scheduled to perform across Japan in early 2026. The announcement has generated significant buzz, bringing the dark fantasy prequel to the GeGeGe no Kitaro franchise to live audiences.
Premiere Dates and Venues Revealed
The stage play adaptation will kick off its run in Tokyo at the Sunshine Theater, with performances slated from January 9 to January 25, 2026.. Following its Tokyo run, the production will move to Osaka’s Umeda Arts Theater Theater Drama City, playing from January 29 to February 1, 2026. Finally, it will conclude its tour at the Tosu Civic Culture Hall in Saga on February 7 and 8, 2026.
Key Creative Team and Cast Confirmed
Norihito Nakayashiki, known for his work on World Trigger and Kuroko’s Basketball stage plays, will direct the adaptation. The script will be penned by Nobuhiro Mouri, recognized for his contributions to the Musical Hakuoki series. Kenji Kawai, who composed the music for the original anime film, will return to provide the score for the stage production, ensuring a cohesive auditory experience.
Leading the cast are Hiroki Suzuki, who will portray Kitaro’s father, and Ryota Murai as Mizuki. These two characters are central to the film’s narrative, exploring the untold origins of Kitaro. Additional cast members include Himena Okamoto as Sayo Ryuga, Yoko Soumi as Otome Ryuga, Harumi Shuhama as Hinoe Ryuga, Mikiko Okauchi as Toshiko Osada, Koichi Kosse as Tokimaro Ryuga, Kei Kato as Kozo Ryuga, Shoma Nakata as Nazumi, Ise Hashimoto as Tokiya Osada, Ichiro Mikami as Katsunori Ryuga, and Shinji Rachi as Gengi Osada.
The Acclaimed Film’s Journey to the Stage
The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe premiered in Japan on November 17, 2023, as part of the celebration for the 100th anniversary of GeGeGe no Kitaro manga author Shigeru Mizuki’s birth. The film quickly garnered critical acclaim and commercial success, exceeding 3.22 billion yen (approximately 21.8 million USD) in combined box office gross from its initial PG12 release and a later R15+ “Shinsei-ban” (Genuine edition). It was also nominated for “Best Animation Film” at the 47th Japan Academy Film Prize and won the Animage’s Anime Grand Prix poll, with Mizuki and Kitaro’s father securing first and second best character awards. The film also won the “Anime Fan Award” at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2025 (TAAF2025), selected by fan vote as the “most beloved work of 2024”.
Unlike previous GeGeGe no Kitaro animated works, this prequel film was crafted as a horror story specifically aimed at adult audiences, delving into the mystery of Kitaro’s birth and focusing on the intertwined fates of a salaryman named Mizuki and Kitaro’s father in a remote village. The narrative is set in Showa 31 (1956) in Nagura Village, which is secretly controlled by the powerful Ryuga family, amidst a struggle for succession and supernatural occurrences.
The adaptation of such a successful and beloved film into a stage play underscores the enduring appeal of Shigeru Mizuki’s creations and the continued growth of 2.5D stage productions in Japan.
