Hyoen 2025 | July 5-7, 2025

[synesthesia]

Hyoen 2025

https://hyoen.jp/

Dates: July 5-7, 2025
Venue: Yokohama Arena (3 Chome-10 Shinyokohama, Kohoku Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 222-0033)
Broadcast: 6 July on Nitteleplus at 4:30 pm (JST) / 1st re-broadcast on 28 September (including a making of) on Nitteleplus at 7:00 pm (JST)


Starring:

• Daisuke Takahashi
• Takahisa Masuda

Cast:

• Shizuka Arakawa
• Kana Muramoto
• Keiji Tanaka
• Koshiro Shimada
• Seiji Fukushi
• Aoyama Ryota
• Misato Morita
• Eisaku Yoshida
• Takuma Zaiki

Ensemble: Hiroyuki Matsuhashi, Seiya Hashimoto, Yuta Onuma (PIW), Kohei Yoshino (PIW), Isao Matsuura, Keiji Tsukamoto, Kosho Oshima, Yuto Kishina, Haruya Sasaki, Yuki Sato (PIW), Keisuke Kadowaki, Sakura Odagaki, Miwa Nishida, Kiki Nakanishi (PIW), Ayumi Urabe, Shota Kamei (BLUE TOKYO), Kyohei Ouzu (BLUE TOKYO), Shintaro Ariki, Ayutake Matsuoka (TOK¥O TRICKING MOB), Tomoki Fujita (BLUE TOKYO), Youki Matsuda (BLUE TOKYO)


Directed by: Yukihiko Tsutsumi

Music by: SUGIZO

 

[rabidline]

A spoiler from Hyoen 2025 as we wait for the countdown to the release of information... it's going to be based on a famous Japanese folktale, and it's going to be set at a place that has a strong connection with Daisuke Takahashi....



If my eyes are right, the photos posted on the Hyoen twitter account are of Kinojo Castle, located at Daisuke's home prefecture Okayama, and..... one of the settings for arguably the most famous Japanese folktale: Momotaro.

 

[synesthesia]

If my eyes are right, the photos posted on the Hyoen twitter account are of Kinojo Castle, located at Daisuke's home prefecture Okayama, and..... one of the settings for arguably the most famous Japanese folktale: Momotaro.

Going by the first hint it’s very likely going to be Momotarō (most fans in the comments think so too)! Dai even said he wants to do Momotarō after Yuma Suzuki staged a version for the Tokyo Panorama Theater last year.

And I bet it’s going to be a musical again since Dai has continued to take singing lessons from Takuro and Kai (per one of his ig stories). I also have a feeling/hope we’ll see part (most?) of the cast from last year again. The biggest question (for me) is: Will Yuma direct the Hyoen play, because she has already tackled the material recently or will Kikunojo be in charge (or will we see someone completely different at the helm)?

 

[synesthesia]

Dai even said he wants to do Momotarō after Yuma Suzuki staged a version for the Tokyo Panorama Theater last year.

I wasn’t aware (or did I forget?) that he apparently said as early as back in 2019 that he'd like to do a Hyoen rendition of Momotarō (thank you to the fan who remembered and dug up the interview):

https://spice.eplus.jp/articles/229850

--If there is a third [Hyoen] edition, what kind of story would you think would be interesting to fuse with it?​

​

Takahashi：I would like to do Momotarō. There was a commercial for a soft drink before*, and I think it would be interesting to do something like that with a serious and cool atmosphere, and I think it could be expressed in many different ways. For example, in addition to actors, we could collaborate with gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics athletes. Or with synchronised swimmers, we could show a stage where ice and water are fused together. ...... I think many different worlds will open up.​

(However, I don't expect them to combine skating with synchronised swimming – I guess that would be too difficult to realise. )



*ETA:

This is the CM he referenced (great visuals! ): https://www.youtube.com/embed/qBFNescDIV8

 

[rabidline]

It's funny that the Daisuke interview where he talked about Hyoen adapting Momotaro for the first time was in 2019, because that's also the first time I thought Momotaro would be a great story to expand and adapt it's not that complex and quite friendly for all ages, and all the demon fighting should allow more dynamic fight scenes on ice... which I always appreciate.

 

[KiraraChin]

Thank you everyone for the updates, and I agree Momotaro would be an excellent choice

 

[Anna K.]

Did you know that One Piece's Wano Country Arc was also loosely based on Momotaro?
(The most informative article about it was some time ago published by Anime News Network site, titled "History and Momotaro in One Piece's Wano Country Arc"; I'm afraid that you need to google it up though because this forum may not support a direct link)

Just saying that different interpretations are possible, especially given the loose interpretation of Miracle of the Cross...

 

[rabidline]

Another spoiler!! There will be 2 leading roles, one is Daisuke Takahashi and another is....



Considering the EDEA black boots, I know Kazuki Tomono is an EDEA user.... if Daisuke takes the role of the Demon King it's very possible that Kazuki is our titular Momotaro!

 

[KiraraChin]

Another spoiler!! There will be 2 leading roles, one is Daisuke Takahashi and another is....



Considering the EDEA black boots, I know Kazuki Tomono is an EDEA user.... if Daisuke takes the role of the Demon King it's very possible that Kazuki is our titular Momotaro!

Nooooo that can't be, that would be too good to be true



Looking again at the boots and the outfit, I don't think it's Kazuki... He wears Edea ice flies, these boots seem more 'beginner' and the outfit doesn't look like what Kazuki normally wears. Also, the skate guards are different (Kazuki's are colourful).

I'd love for Kazuki to be in Hyoen 2025 in some capacity, though!

 

[synesthesia]

Another spoiler!! There will be 2 leading roles, one is Daisuke Takahashi and another is....

Takuro Ohno? He also was basically the co-lead in "Miracle of the Cross", took the hearts of Hyoen fans by storm, gets along well and has good on-stage chemistry with Dai and has continued to receive skating lessons after the conclusion of the last show. I think he's a very likely candidate!

I'd love for Kazuki to be in Hyoen 2025 in some capacity, though!

Me too (my gut feeling tells me that the probability is high).

 

[rabidline]

Takuro Ohno? He also was basically the co-lead in "Miracle of the Cross", took the hearts of Hyoen fans by storm, gets along well and has good on-stage chemistry with Dai and has continued to receive skating lessons after the conclusion of the last show. I think he's a very likely candidate!

Oooh, it can be! It makes sense because some fans observed that the EDEA boots looked new / fresh, so it's likely to be a newer skater? But I really think Kazuki would be a great Momotaro though hehehehe.

 

[synesthesia]

Oooh, it can be! It makes sense because some fans observed that the EDEA boots looked new / fresh, so it's likely to be a newer skater?

Yes, this. Also, these are Edea Overture boots - as KiraraChin said, boots for beginners, so I don't think the person in question is an experienced skater either.

And imo, since the Momotarō folktale is rooted in Okayama, it would be surprising if the titular character was played by someone other than Dai (or at least by someone who isn't from Okayama). But I can definitely imagine Kazuki as one of the companions!

 

[Anna K.]

I can definitely imagine Kazuki as one of the companions!

Which one? We have the dog, the monkey, and the pheasant

So, who will be the other two?
My suggestion: Kana as the pheasant

 

[rabidline]

Which one? We have the dog, the monkey, and the pheasant

So, who will be the other two?
My suggestion: Kana as the pheasant

Kana's Chinese zodiac is rooster so she'll fit pheasant perfectly

 

[synesthesia]

Which one? We have the dog, the monkey, and the pheasant

So, who will be the other two?
My suggestion: Kana as the pheasant

Going by how Hyoen has taken its own spin on the stories that were previously adapted, we could get an amalgamation of different versions of the Momotarō tale, interspersed with original ideas and characters that don't appear in any of the existing ones.

As for the existing ones, I like this one, based on the legend of Kibitsuhiko no Mikoto and Ura, which predates/is said to be the origin of the classic tale of Momotarō. In this re-telling of the legend the three companions aren’t actual animals, but were given animal names in accordance with their personalities:

https://momotaro-ura.jp/document/picture book_en.pdf


I think Kazuki would suit Sasa Morihiko quite well (“as intelligent as a monkey and had the skills to guide the way“). Maybe Koshiro as Tome Tamaomi (“who had the loyal heart of a pheasant that would sacrifice its own life to protect its master”) and Nobu or Kosho as Inukai Takeru (Inu = dog) (“who was faithful to his master and fought courageously against his enemies”)?

No idea, which character Kana might portray – maybe a character similar to Azohime, or maybe an original one?

Kana's Chinese zodiac is rooster so she'll fit pheasant perfectly

Going by Chinese zodiac signs Keiji Tanaka is a dog and Ryūichi Kihara is a monkey.

________________________​

Btw, the origin of the legend of Kibitsuhiko no Mikoto and Ura does not seem to be entirely clear, but the prevalent theory is quite fascinating:


https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5705.html

During the 4th century the Kibi Plain was the center of the Kibi Kingdom, an ancient clan that controlled much of modern day Okayama Prefecture and whose power rivaled that of the dominant Yamato Clan in today's Nara Prefecture. The kingdom is known for the Legend of Prince Kibitsuhiko, a prince from the rivaling Yamato Clan who was dispatched to the Kibi Kingdom to defeat a tyrannical ogre and pacified the Kibi Region. This legend became the foundation of the even more famous local folktale of Momotaro, which chronicles the journey of a small boy, born of a peach, who defeats a band of ogres who were terrorizing the countryside from a nearby island (sometimes associated with Megijima Island in Takamatsu).​

https://www.japan.travel/japan-heritage/popular/52aeab31-bc2a-4233-9bce-b515fdf84218

Both Ura’s legendary home of Mt. Kinojo and the Kibitsu Jinja Shrine are real places in southern Okayama open to visitors. There are many ancient burial mounds in this area, suggesting the Kibi region was once home to powerful local rulers. One theory is that the Imperial Court sent an army to attack and vanquish these threats to the central government, and that this was the inspiration for the tale of Kibitsuhiko no Mikoto and of Momotaro.​

​

 

[synesthesia]

A third hint was posted today:

The director of this production is a well-known film director... ​

​

To interpret the work more deeply,​

He/we went location scouting.​

​

I've seen people guessing that it could be Yukihiko Tsutsumi, who used to direct commercials and music promotion videos as well as TV dramas for NTV (Hyoen is co-organised by NTV and USM) and praised last year's Hyoen production after attending one of the performances in person:

戸田恵子さまが走っているうちは私も止まれない。アラタ、ホテル、page30、ゲバルトトーク、氷艶！ | 堤幸彦「堤幸彦の金色７０代」/ Voicy - 音声プラットフォーム

固定資産税支払いとか車の洗車とか細くしっかり旅の準備をしております

voicy.jp

 

[Anna K.]

Going by how Hyoen has taken its own spin on the stories that were previously adapted, we could get an amalgamation of different versions of the Momotarō tale, interspersed with original ideas and characters that don't appear in any of the existing ones.

I certainly expect that
The movie director news sound great but I'll wait for official confirmation.

As for the existing ones, I like this one, based on the legend of Kibitsuhiko no Mikoto and Ura, which predates/is said to be the origin of the classic tale of Momotarō. In this re-telling of the legend the three companions aren’t actual animals, but were given animal names in accordance with their personalities:

https://momotaro-ura.jp/document/picture book_en.pdf


I think Kazuki would suit Sasa Morihiko quite well (“as intelligent as a monkey and had the skills to guide the way“). Maybe Koshiro as Tome Tamaomi (“who had the loyal heart of a pheasant that would sacrifice its own life to protect its master”) and Nobu or Kosho as Inukai Takeru (Inu = dog) (“who was faithful to his master and fought courageously against his enemies”)?

I'd stick to my words that Kana would be great as... what's female for Tome Tamaomi? Nobody said that these human companions should be all male in Hyoen word Such character would be similar to those she impersonated before. As for Koshiro, it would be something completely different; on the other hand, he definitely can do something different In fact. it would be interesting to see him in a different type of role... but something in me says that he could rather play somebody in the demon squad.
But I can absolutely see Kazuki as Sasa and Nobu as Inukai!

Btw, the origin of the legend of Kibitsuhiko no Mikoto and Ura does not seem to be entirely clear, but the prevalent theory is quite fascinating:


https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5705.html

During the 4th century the Kibi Plain was the center of the Kibi Kingdom, an ancient clan that controlled much of modern day Okayama Prefecture and whose power rivaled that of the dominant Yamato Clan in today's Nara Prefecture. The kingdom is known for the Legend of Prince Kibitsuhiko, a prince from the rivaling Yamato Clan who was dispatched to the Kibi Kingdom to defeat a tyrannical ogre and pacified the Kibi Region. This legend became the foundation of the even more famous local folktale of Momotaro, which chronicles the journey of a small boy, born of a peach, who defeats a band of ogres who were terrorizing the countryside from a nearby island (sometimes associated with Megijima Island in Takamatsu).​

https://www.japan.travel/japan-heritage/popular/52aeab31-bc2a-4233-9bce-b515fdf84218

Both Ura’s legendary home of Mt. Kinojo and the Kibitsu Jinja Shrine are real places in southern Okayama open to visitors. There are many ancient burial mounds in this area, suggesting the Kibi region was once home to powerful local rulers. One theory is that the Imperial Court sent an army to attack and vanquish these threats to the central government, and that this was the inspiration for the tale of Kibitsuhiko no Mikoto and of Momotaro.​

Wonderful research, as always!
Is Hyoen back to collaboration with Japan Tourism Agency? I wonder if there is a suitable venue to give ice shows in Okayama province to promote local tourism
In fact, it could involve local food as well. The dish of dumplings that Momotaro shares with his companions to become friends is actually called "Kibi dango" with a reference to Kibi country. I wonder if they could share those with the audience? Millet dumplings... sounds appetizing

 

[KiraraChin]

I think Kazuki would suit Sasa Morihiko quite well (“as intelligent as a monkey and had the skills to guide the way“)

Fun fact: In England, and particularly in the north of England, 'monkey' is used as a slang term for someone playful and a little bit mischievous. It's often used as a term of endearment for children when they do something naughty but you can't really be mad at them because they're too cute: 'you cheeky monkey!'. So the idea of Kazuki playing the 'monkey' is already making me smile because of that

 

[synesthesia]

Today's Hyoen post is a picture of Dai at the Kibitsu Jinja shrine. In the tale of Ura, this is the location where Kibitsuhiko took up position for battle (also known as the shrine of Momotarō), so this could be a hint that Dai indeed plays the titular character.

​

Daisuke Takahashi, the chairperson and star of the show, ​

also went to a place of association.​

He prayed for the success of the performance​

​

​

 

[synesthesia]

I'd stick to my words that Kana would be great as... what's female for Tome Tamaomi? Nobody said that these human companions should be all male in Hyoen word

Not sure what the female version would be called, but you are not the only one to associate Kana with the "pheasant" (this fan-art was apparently created after another mention by Dai in one of Kana's and Dai's retirement interviews that he would like to take on the tale of Momotarō) :

Such character would be similar to those she impersonated before.

Which character(s) she has impersonated before are you thinking of?

Is Hyoen back to collaboration with Japan Tourism Agency?

Good question! Maybe we'll find out in 7-8 days when the official website is up.

I wonder if there is a suitable venue to give ice shows in Okayama province to promote local tourism

Here's a quote from a joint interview of Mitsunobu Kojima, chairman of the Okayama Prefectural Skating Federation, Daisuke, Keiji Tanaka and Misato Komatsubara, conducted in September 2024 in the run-up to the Winter National Sports Festival, which was held in Okayama for the first time this January (the figure skating competitions were held without spectators in Dai's and Keiji's hometown Kurashiki at the rink where Dai started skating as a child):

岡山で２年以内にアイスショーを　県スケート連盟小嶋会長 構想語る：山陽新聞デジタル｜さんデジ

岡山市内で２２日に開かれた「国民スポーツ大会冬季大会」（来年１～２月、岡山県）応援イベントで、岡山県スケート連盟の小嶋光信会長＝両備グ...

www.sanyonews.jp

"After the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver (where Daisuke Takahashi won the bronze medal), there was talk of having an ice show in Okayama", said Kojima. However, there is no skating rink in the prefecture that can accommodate a large number of spectators, so no progress has been made. Next year, Okayama Prefecture will host the Winter National Sports Festival, and he says that the local government and local people's awareness of skating has changed dramatically.​

​

　"The venue is to be covered with ice at a facility in Okayama City, and the list of possible venues has been narrowed down. Daisuke and other skaters from Okayama have worked hard, and this has spread the awareness that figure skating is a sport that represents Okayama and is a treasure. We want to show everyone in Okayama that they have really worked hard to get to this point", he says emphatically.​

​

　If the event can be realised, they will ask Daisuke Takahashi to produce it. Mr Takahashi says: "I want to do this at least once in my home town/prefecture. I want to convey the goodness and fun of skating, and I want to make it a show that is unique to me/Okayama and different from others. (If it comes to fruition, I will do my best to make it happen.)"​

Fun fact: In England, and particularly in the north of England, 'monkey' is used as a slang term for someone playful and a little bit mischievous. It's often used as a term of endearment for children when they do something naughty but you can't really be mad at them because they're too cute: 'you cheeky monkey!'. So the idea of Kazuki playing the 'monkey' is already making me smile because of that

I've heard of this expression - that's very endearing indeed!