Hyoen 2025 | July 5-7, 2025

[Anna K.]

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) :

Great minds think alike!
Oh, and she looks so cute in feathers, doesn't she?

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

She has done only one, strictly speaking: it's Yuki in Miracle of the Cross which looked to me as having the loyal heart of a pheasant that would sacrifice its own life... well, not exactly to protect a master but that's the vibe.
Being Christine Dae for 4 minutes probably doesn't count but the whole chemistry of personalities of Dai and Kana during their competitive carrier was very much about Kana being a loyal friend. So, I guess I had rather this in mind than the character of Yuki.

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

So, the website is coming? Great news!
Apparently, it means that we'll get many answers in a week or so

 

[synesthesia]

Great minds think alike!
Oh, and she looks so cute in feathers, doesn't she?

She does!

She has done only one, strictly speaking: it's Yuki in Miracle of the Cross which looked to me as having the loyal heart of a pheasant that would sacrifice its own life... well, not exactly to protect a master but that's the vibe.
Being Christine Dae for 4 minutes probably doesn't count but the whole chemistry of personalities of Dai and Kana during their competitive carrier was very much about Kana being a loyal friend. So, I guess I had rather this in mind than the character of Yuki.

Yeah, I couldn’t really think of any character that comes all that close – this is why I was curious which one(s) you had in mind. With regards to Yuki, unfortunately, I feel that we didn’t learn enough about her. She definitely seemed to be loyal towards her two close friends, but then she fell ill and we didn’t get to see much character development with her. I wish the script would have fleshed her out more. Hopefully they’ll do that with whichever character Kana is going to play in the upcoming production. In general, one of my few criticisms of the previous Hyoen productions is that some of the support characters tended to be a bit underdeveloped.

_____________________​

There are a few more speculations / observations. One of them is that the photo at the shrine, based on Dai's nail design and the jewellery he's wearing, appears to have been taken in early 2024 (see explanation in the tweet below - "Crossover" was a documentary on Dai filmed in Kurashiki sometime in February and he had the same nail design during PIW in Shiga at the end of February, but a different one at a pr event he attended at the Tokyo Sky Tree in early March). So it seems that the current production has been in the works for at least a year!

https://x.com/openchannel_D/status/1888737851061473773




And then there was a new Hyoen post showing fabric fragments used for the costumes. The third photo shows blurred drawings of two costumes, one in reddish tones and one in blue/black. Are these the costumes of the two main protagonists (a fan noted that the photo on the left above the drawings looks like one of Dai's Kassouya pr photos, so who is the person in the photo on the right)?

https://x.com/soracchi7/status/1888905468724314603

The costumes are another attraction of the #Hyoen series.​

The costumes in this series also bring out the beauty of figure skating and Japanese style.​

We carefully select materials that suit the world view and the role.​

 

[synesthesia]

Today's teaser is a photo of Dai tying his co-star's skating boots:

The partner who will be the co-star of the show,​

had the first practice session at the rink with Mr. Takahashi​

and got his endorsement ​

Who is this? The way I would interpret the text, it does not appear to be Takuro (first practice session with Mr Takahashi / got his endorsement). His hands also look different...

 

[synesthesia]

Probably the last (or maybe second to last?) teaser before the big revelation on Sunday/Monday (depending on where you are) is a video of a costume fitting (click on the picture to start the video):




It has been noted that the cut of the costume is typical of the Kofun period (300 to 538 AD), which is thought to be the beginning of the ruling of the Yamato clans:

https://x.com/gfHCMYSnix5095/status/1890343532839248143



Fans have also noticed that the Kibitsu Jinja Shrine is commemorating the 600th anniversary of the reconstruction of its main and worship halls this year - perhaps that's one of the reasons why the Hyoen production team decided to go with the tale of Momotarō this year? Of course this could also be a mere coincidence...

吉備津神社 国宝 本殿・拝殿 再建600年Plus 特設サイト｜吉備津神社

www.kibitujinja.com

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[synesthesia]

Surprise teaser today - this gentleman will be a special guest artist:

In the past, the ice has been coloured by a wide variety of artists, and now we welcome this person as a special guest artist​

​

Enjoy the special music for #Hyoen.​

Fans immediately recognized that this is no other than guitarist and violinist Sugizo, member of rock bands Luna Sea and X Japan (and of several other bands and music projects in different genres):




It's not clear to me, if he will provide the general music for the play or "just" a theme song like Takahiro Matsumoto did in 2019, but I guess we will find out soon.

 

[synesthesia]

Who is this? The way I would interpret the text, it does not appear to be Takuro (first practice session with Mr Takahashi / got his endorsement). His hands also look different...

I'm seeing people being pretty certain that it is J-Pop idol/actor/entertainer Takahisa Masuda, which, if true, confuses me even more. *lol*




ETA: It's already been confirmed, the website is up - the guesses re. the director and Sugizo were correct (people on my timeline are very excited about the involvement of the aforementioned three as these are pretty big names! ):

氷艶

氷艶 2025年7月開催決定！

hyoen.jp

Directed by #Yukihiko Tsutsumi with music by #SUGIZO​

​

This production also features #Daisuke Takahashi at the top of the list and other gorgeous skaters ​

#Shizuka Arakawa​

#Kana Muramoto​

#Keiji Tanaka​

#Koshiro Shimada​

​

Also starring #Takahisa Masuda and other talented actors ​

#Seiji Fukushi​

#Aoyama Ryota​

#Misato Morita​

#Eisaku Yoshida​

​

#Hyoen 2025 Please look forward to it!​

Daisuke portrays Ura and Takahisa plays Kibitsuhiko!

Unfortunately, Kazuki is not part of the cast. (I suspect he wants to focus on the upcoming Olympic season, which would be very understandable.)




Synopsis:

The setting is ancient Japan, in the village of Kibi, west of Yamato.​

The Shirakiri tribe rule a peaceful country.​

However, they possess a special iron-making technique.​

​

The current king, Ura (Daisuke Takahashi), is about to marry Asohime, sister of the aboriginal chief Yakumo.​

Kibitsuhiko (Masuda Takahisa), a killing weapon cultivated by the Imperial Court with the help of the Dark Drinking God, appears and claims his life and land.​

​

Ura is handed the sword of Denke by his childhood friend and aide Chiaki. With the help of this sword, he defeats the Imperial Court army once, but is struck by hesitation to fight and a fierce sense of guilt at having harmed someone for the first time.​

One night, the Iron Goddess, the spirit of his ancestors, appears and tells him the truth that the White Mists were once a people of war.​

Despite his conflicted feelings, Ura accepts the inevitable fate of another war and decides to create an iron weapon and prepare for battle.​

​

Meanwhile, Kibitsuhiko is wounded for the first time in battle and begins to question the meaning of his existence.​

Ura's question, ‘Why do you fight?’, deeply penetrates his heart, and he himself undergoes a transformation.​

​

Kibitsuhiko wishes to escape his destiny to fight, while Ura becomes obsessed with fate and longs to fight.​

Their bizarre relationship is bound by the bond of killing each other.​

Passionate feelings cross amidst the sparks of a fierce battle.​

​

The legend of Momotaro and the legend of Ura lie dormant in Okayama. These legends of justice and evil, two sides of the same coin, melt together and come back to life in the present day as a beautiful and cruel ‘tragedy on ice’.​

Behold the conclusion of this magnificent epic.​

 

[synesthesia]

Additional personnel:

Screenplay
Takuma Suehara

Choreography:
Kikunojo Onoe, Kenji Miyamoto, Kana Muramoto

Staging
Sho Ikushima

Costume
Yoko Miura
(Atelier 88%)

Art direction
RAM

______________________​

Comments (from the official website):



Director, Yukihiko Tsutsumi:

Hyoen!​

It is Mr Daisuke Takahashi!​

And Mr Takahisa Masuda!​

At the Yokohama Arena!​

​

It is a stage where figure skating and theatre, with music and the latest stage technology as catalysts, undergo a chemical transformation and an emotional explosion.​

​

It is a very high hurdle. The most difficult challenge of a director's life?​

​

However, during one of my journeys, a reckless idea suddenly came to me. The image of the play suddenly appeared in three dimensions.​

​

Furthermore, I have been able to ‘pick up’ skaters, actors, musicians and stage crew of considerable skill who agree with the ridiculous storyline.​

​

This time, the story is based on a fairy tale that everyone knows, but what does it symbolise and what is its message?​

A reversal of history?​

A giant picture scroll on ice that is not a simple story.​

Hyoen 2025.​

​

Stay tuned!​

Daisuke:

I am pleased to present ‘Hyoyen 2025’.​

​

The theme of this year's production is based on the legend of Ura, which is the basis of Momotaro in Okayama Prefecture, where my roots are.​

​

Last year, together with director Tsutsumi-san and scriptwriter Suehara-san, I went to Kinojo Castle (Okayama Prefecture) to trace the roots of the ‘Ura legend’. I am looking forward to unravelling and expressing in my own way the history that I have seen and felt up to the present day.​

​

I am also very happy to meet Takahisa Masuda and the other skaters and actors. I will devote myself to showing you how I have grown while learning a lot from the performers who will create the work together.​

​

I am also excited to see how the story will unfold to SUGIZO's wonderful music.​

​

What is ‘evil’ and what is a ‘great cause’...?​

Takahisa Masuda:

Hyoen 2025​

I have been invited to perform in the play!​

​

Why did they offer it to me?​

With these questions in mind, I went to a meeting with the people involved. There I felt everyone's passion and enthusiasm for this project and their great love for skating. They told me that it was okay if I couldn't skate, but I would try my best to practise.​

​

I have only skated once before I was told about this project. This was the second time in my life and Daisuke Takahashi was my teacher and he taught me very carefully! He is a cool guy who makes me feel like we have been friends for a long time!​

​

I will do my best to make Daisuke and other people involved in the production think ‘I'm glad Masuda was there’!​

​

In the Momotaro legend I know, the ogres are the bad guys, but was that really the case? Who is Momotaro? What is an ogre?​

I want to have fun while learning too!​

SUGIZO:

I am extremely honoured to be able to participate as a composer and performer in this supreme entertainment that has sublimated the overwhelming beauty of ice skating and the profound beauty of Japanese culture in the most exquisite form.​

​

And to be able to work with Director Yukihiko Tsutsumi, a long-cherished dream of mine for over a quarter of a century! I'm just so happy and honoured...​

​

The one and only Tsutsumi World and the miraculous fusion of top artists on the ice, including Daisuke Takahashi and Shizuka Arakawa, and SUGIZO MUSIC will surely create a chemistry beyond imagination. We will give it our all.​

​

Please super-expect a completely new ultimate rock opera by Tsutsumi x Figure x SGZ!​

Script writer, Takuma Suehara's comment:

x.com

x.com

I am writing the script for Hyoen 2025. When I first saw Daisuke's performance, I couldn't stop crying because of its beauty and magnificence. Last year, I visited Okayama with director Tsutsumi and Daisuke to get in touch with the legend of Ura again, and since then I have been carefully developing the script. Please pray that this story will change the world just a little.​

 

[KiraraChin]

Thank you for the updates! Looking forward to it, looks gorgeous already

About Kazuki, if it's true he's not participating, for once in his life he's being sensible... Hopefully he'll have the opportunity to be in other Hyoen productions in the future

NGL I'm surprised about Koshiro being willing to participate, but I guess his goals are probably different from Kazuki's.

 

[synesthesia]

A couple of days ago a brief interview/talk between Dai and Takahisa as well as a teaser trailer were published - the trailer is now shown frequently on NTV. (Click on the respective picture to start the video):


Dai x Takahisa:




Teaser trailer :

______________________​

Some interesting trivia:

Takahisa Masuda is a pretty good roller skater and has performed dance numbers on roller skates in the past, while Misato Morita used to practice figure skating as a young girl/teen. And as we know, Seiji Fukushi had learnt quickly during his engagement for Hyoen 2019, becoming quite proficient on skates in a short time, so in this regard expectations for the acting cast are quite high this time!

______________________​

Script writer, Takuma Suehara's comment:

I am writing the script for Hyoen 2025. When I first saw Daisuke's performance, I couldn't stop crying because of its beauty and magnificence. Last year, I visited Okayama with director Tsutsumi and Daisuke to get in touch with the legend of Ura again, and since then I have been carefully developing the script. Please pray that this story will change the world just a little.​

The Hyoen social media accounts posted a couple of photos from the "location scouting" tour:

氷艶2025 on Instagram: "今作の物語のベースとなる 「桃太郎・温羅伝説」 ゆかりの地 岡山県へ視察にいきました 演出 #堤幸彦 監督 脚本 #末原拓馬 さん 温羅役を演じる #高橋大輔 さん まず一行は鬼ノ城の周辺を散策 そして、鬼ノ城を訪ねる温羅 @sueharatakuma @d1sk_t #氷艶2025 📅7/5,6,7 🚩横浜アリーナ hyoen.jp"

2,020 likes, 5 comments - luxe_hyoen on February 20, 2025: "今作の物語のベースとなる 「桃太郎・温羅伝説」 ゆかりの地 岡山県へ視察にいきました 演出 #堤幸彦 監督 脚本 #末原拓馬 さん 温羅役を演じる #高橋大輔 さん まず一行は鬼ノ城の周辺を散策 そして、鬼ノ城を訪ねる温羅 @sueharatakuma @d1sk_t #氷艶2025 📅7/5,6,7 🚩横浜アリーナ hyoen.jp".

www.instagram.com

氷艶2025 on Instagram: "岡山県にねむる「桃太郎・温羅伝説」 視察の様子をご紹介📸 演出 #堤幸彦 監督 脚本 #末原拓馬 さん そして、座長 #高橋大輔 さんが スタッフㆍキャストを代表して #氷艶2025 の公演祈願をしてきました @sueharatakuma @d1sk_t #氷艶2025 📅7/5,6,7 🚩横浜アリーナ hyoen.jp"

1,984 likes, 6 comments - luxe_hyoen on February 20, 2025: "岡山県にねむる「桃太郎・温羅伝説」 視察の様子をご紹介📸 演出 #堤幸彦 監督 脚本 #末原拓馬 さん そして、座長 #高橋大輔 さんが スタッフㆍキャストを代表して #氷艶2025 の公演祈願をしてきました @sueharatakuma @d1sk_t #氷艶2025 📅7/5,6,7 🚩横浜アリーナ hyoen.jp".

www.instagram.com

氷艶2025 on Instagram: "「桃太郎・温羅伝説」を知るため 高橋さんの生まれ故郷 岡山へ 視察を終えた帰り際、 高橋さんが見つけた温羅神社⛩️ 演出 #堤幸彦 監督 脚本 #末原拓馬 さん 温羅役 #高橋大輔 さん 「我々の本殿はこちらだね」と、 最後にご挨拶をすることができました @sueharatakuma @d1sk_t #氷艶2025 hyoen.jp"

1,981 likes, 8 comments - luxe_hyoen on February 20, 2025: "「桃太郎・温羅伝説」を知るため 高橋さんの生まれ故郷 岡山へ 視察を終えた帰り際、 高橋さんが見つけた温羅神社⛩️ 演出 #堤幸彦 監督 脚本 #末原拓馬 さん 温羅役 #高橋大輔 さん 「我々の本殿はこちらだね」と、 最後にご挨拶をすることができました @sueharatakuma @d1sk_t #氷艶2025 hyoen.jp".

www.instagram.com

______________________​

Last but not least, here's an interesting bit about the new Hyoen production from an interview with Daisuke for gendai media (the rest of the interview is mainly about Kassouya), revealing that the production team honoured Dai's long-cherished dream/wish to play this kind of role:

高橋大輔　「苦い」気持ちの体験が、また次の自分を作る

高橋大輔さんがプロデュースする「滑走屋」が3月8日、9日に広島のひろしんビッグウェーブでが再演となる。その練習に立ち会ったライターの田中亜紀子さんが高橋さんにインタビュー。別途、振り付けの鈴木ゆまさんにも話を聞き、内面に迫った。前編では、「滑走屋」への思いや昨年開催したことでの化学反応をお伝えした。後編は「滑走屋」に加え、昨年主演した「氷艶hyoen2024-十字星のキセキ-」、初出演となる映画「蔵のある街」に挑んだこと、さらに今月17日に詳細が発表された、堤幸彦氏が演出の「氷艶hyoen2025-鏡紋の夜叉-」についてもお届けする。

gendai.media

Machine translation:

On 17 February this year, the details of Hyoen 2025 were announced, and it has become a hot topic. Hyoen, which will be staged in July and will be the fourth full-length production, was written by Takuma Suehara based on the legend of Ura in Okayama, which is the basis of the fairy tale Momotaro. Yukihiko Tsutsumi will direct, SUGIZO will be the special guest artist, and Daisuke Takahashi and Takahisa Masuda, who will play co-lead roles, have been announced.​

​

In the setting of Momotaro, Mr Takahashi is on the demon side, but in reality he is a character called Ura, who was a king who ruled his country peacefully in the native land of Okayama. Momotaro, on the other hand, is a killing weapon sent by the Yamato Imperial Court. In fact, Takahashi-san had previously said himself that he wanted to play a stylish Momotaro demon.​

​

'I wanted to do it. I even said to the producers of Hyoen, ‘I want to play this kind of role! I had already expressed my desire to play an oni like this for a long time. I don't know the details of how it was decided, but there were several candidates/possible themes for the project, but I guess they took my wish into consideration this time. I'm really looking forward to it. The story is going to be very thought-provoking and powerful. There will be a lot of skating, sword fighting and dialogue, so I have a feeling it will be the first "real" Hyoen in a while. I'm really looking forward to meeting different people and creating a work together, which will give me a lot of stimulation, and I'm sure there will be a big chemical reaction.​

​

This time, I play a co-lead role. I will be collaborating with wonderful people who are active in the world of entertainment, and I will be working not only with the director but many other wonderful people as well. I experienced bitterness last time*, so I want to get rid of that, and I also want to give a brilliant performance so that people will think that I am the main character of the show.​

* he said earlier in the interview that he felt he had not reached his full acting potential in Hyoen 2024

[I thought he was wonderful and got to show quite a bit of range as Kakeru...]

 

[synesthesia]

A collection of tv reports with excerpts from a press conference with director Yukihiko Tsutsumi, Daisuke, Takahisa Masuda and SUGIZO that took place on March 12th and glimpses of Takahisa's on ice practice with Dai:








Additional character visuals of Ura and Kibitsuhiko, as well as the visuals of the characters belonging to the Kibi village have been revealed:

氷艶2025 auf Instagram: "⋱温羅 役 #高橋大輔 さん コメント紹介🎉⋰ ---------- 「氷艶 hyoen 2025 -鏡紋の夜叉-」を開催することになりました。 今回は僕のルーツである岡山県の「桃太郎」のベースとなった「温羅伝説」をテーマとした作品となっています。 昨年、演出の堤さん、脚本家の末原さんと一緒に鬼ノ城(岡山県)に赴き、「温羅伝説」のルーツをたどりました。実際に目で見て感じた今日までの歴史を自分なりに紐解き、表現できることを、楽しみにしています。

2,885 likes, 24 comments - luxe_hyoen am March 25, 2025: "⋱温羅 役 #高橋大輔 さん コメント紹介🎉⋰ ---------- 「氷艶 hyoen 2025 -鏡紋の夜叉-」を開催することになりました。 今回は僕のルーツである岡山県の「桃太郎」のベースとなった「温羅伝説」をテーマとした作品となっています。 昨年、演出の堤さん、脚本家の末原さんと一緒に鬼ノ城(岡山県)に赴き、「温羅伝説」のルーツをたどりました。実際に目で見て感じた今日までの歴史を自分なりに紐解き、表現できることを、楽しみにしています。...

www.instagram.com

氷艶2025 auf Instagram: "⋱吉備津彦 役 #増田貴久 さん コメント紹介🎉⋰ ---------- 「氷艶 hyoen 2025 -鏡紋の夜叉-」 に出演させていただくことになりました！ なんで僕にオファーをしてくれたんだろう。 そんな疑問がある中で、関係者の方々との打ち合わせに行きました。そこで皆様がこのプロジェクトにかける想いや熱量、スケーターの方々への大きな愛を感じました。 スケートが滑れなくてもいいと言っていただきましたが、練習頑張ってみます。 僕は今回のお話を

13K likes, 101 comments - luxe_hyoen am March 26, 2025: "⋱吉備津彦 役 #増田貴久 さん コメント紹介🎉⋰ ---------- 「氷艶 hyoen 2025 -鏡紋の夜叉-」 に出演させていただくことになりました！ なんで僕にオファーをしてくれたんだろう。 そんな疑問がある中で、関係者の方々との打ち合わせに行きました。そこで皆様がこのプロジェクトにかける想いや熱量、スケーターの方々への大きな愛を感じました。 スケートが滑れなくてもいいと言っていただきましたが、練習頑張ってみます。...

www.instagram.com

Kibi Village​

​

Iron Goddess #Arakawa Shizuka​

Yakumo #Fukushi Seiji​

Ghost #Muramoto Kana​

Chiaki #Aoyama Ryota​

Asohime #Morita Misato​

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

A collection of tv reports with excerpts from a press conference with director Yukihiko Tsutsumi, Daisuke, Takahisa Masuda and SUGIZO that took place on March 12th and glimpses of Takahisa's on ice practice with Dai:








Additional character visuals of Ura and Kibitsuhiko, as well as the visuals of the characters belonging to the Kibi village have been revealed:

氷艶2025 auf Instagram: "⋱温羅 役 #高橋大輔 さん コメント紹介🎉⋰ ---------- 「氷艶 hyoen 2025 -鏡紋の夜叉-」を開催することになりました。 今回は僕のルーツである岡山県の「桃太郎」のベースとなった「温羅伝説」をテーマとした作品となっています。 昨年、演出の堤さん、脚本家の末原さんと一緒に鬼ノ城(岡山県)に赴き、「温羅伝説」のルーツをたどりました。実際に目で見て感じた今日までの歴史を自分なりに紐解き、表現できることを、楽しみにしています。

2,885 likes, 24 comments - luxe_hyoen am March 25, 2025: "⋱温羅 役 #高橋大輔 さん コメント紹介🎉⋰ ---------- 「氷艶 hyoen 2025 -鏡紋の夜叉-」を開催することになりました。 今回は僕のルーツである岡山県の「桃太郎」のベースとなった「温羅伝説」をテーマとした作品となっています。 昨年、演出の堤さん、脚本家の末原さんと一緒に鬼ノ城(岡山県)に赴き、「温羅伝説」のルーツをたどりました。実際に目で見て感じた今日までの歴史を自分なりに紐解き、表現できることを、楽しみにしています。...

www.instagram.com

氷艶2025 auf Instagram: "⋱吉備津彦 役 #増田貴久 さん コメント紹介🎉⋰ ---------- 「氷艶 hyoen 2025 -鏡紋の夜叉-」 に出演させていただくことになりました！ なんで僕にオファーをしてくれたんだろう。 そんな疑問がある中で、関係者の方々との打ち合わせに行きました。そこで皆様がこのプロジェクトにかける想いや熱量、スケーターの方々への大きな愛を感じました。 スケートが滑れなくてもいいと言っていただきましたが、練習頑張ってみます。 僕は今回のお話を

13K likes, 101 comments - luxe_hyoen am March 26, 2025: "⋱吉備津彦 役 #増田貴久 さん コメント紹介🎉⋰ ---------- 「氷艶 hyoen 2025 -鏡紋の夜叉-」 に出演させていただくことになりました！ なんで僕にオファーをしてくれたんだろう。 そんな疑問がある中で、関係者の方々との打ち合わせに行きました。そこで皆様がこのプロジェクトにかける想いや熱量、スケーターの方々への大きな愛を感じました。 スケートが滑れなくてもいいと言っていただきましたが、練習頑張ってみます。...

www.instagram.com

Kibi Village​

​

Iron Goddess #Arakawa Shizuka​

Yakumo #Fukushi Seiji​

Ghost #Muramoto Kana​

Chiaki #Aoyama Ryodai​

Asohime #Morita Nozomi​

They're gorgeous, particularly Daisuke Takahashi — and it makes me perceive Shizuka Arakawa quite differently too!
Takahisa Masuda is a very quick learner, and Daisuke Takahashi probably an excellent coach! It's true that they must share a proficient language of dance to communicate, as I think, Daisuke Takahashi can be called a professional dancer, not only on ice? I mean, by his level of dancing and the formal training he's received.

 

[synesthesia]

They're gorgeous, particularly Daisuke Takahashi — and it makes me perceive Shizuka Arakawa quite differently too!

I agree, Shizuka looks quite different — as does Kana!

Takahisa Masuda is a very quick learner, and Daisuke Takahashi probably an excellent coach! It's true that they must share a proficient language of dance to communicate, as I think, Daisuke Takahashi can be called a professional dancer, not only on ice? I mean, by his level of dancing and the formal training he's received.

I'm very impressed with Takahisa, especially because the footage was apparently taken shortly after his skating practice had started! It must have helped that he has experience with roller skating. Maybe you're right that he and Dai "speak a common language" and have a similar sense of movement and coordination because they're both naturally talented dancers (even though Dai has said that he doesn't feel he's at the level of professional dancers back when he performed in "Love on the Floor").

 

[synesthesia]

The visuals of the characters belonging to the Yamato clan/Imperial court have been unveiled (I love the look of Kibitsuhiko's three companions ):



Court

Sasa Morihiko #Keiji Tanaka
Inukai Takeru #Koshiro Shimada
Tome Tamaomi #Takuma Zaiki
Shadow Emperor #Eisaku Yoshida

And the ensemble cast has been announced:

氷艶2025 on Instagram: "＼\ アンサンブル スケーター&キャスト発表❗/／ 公式サイトでチェック✨ 　▶hyoen.jp 実力派スケーター、豪華俳優による #氷艶2025 お見逃しなく❗️ 演出 #堤幸彦 主演 #高橋大輔、#増田貴久 音楽 #SUGIZO 最終先行(先着) 明日9日 18時からスタート🎟️"

1,680 likes, 11 comments - luxe_hyoen on April 8, 2025: "＼\ アンサンブル スケーター&キャスト発表❗/／ 公式サイトでチェック✨ 　▶hyoen.jp 実力派スケーター、豪華俳優による #氷艶2025 お見逃しなく❗️ 演出 #堤幸彦 主演 #高橋大輔、#増田貴久 音楽 #SUGIZO 最終先行(先着) 明日9日 18時からスタート🎟️".

www.instagram.com

Skaters:

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


Acrobats/gymnasts:

Shota Kamei (BLUE TOKYO)
Kyohei Ouzu (BLUE TOKYO)
Shintaro Ariki
Ayutake Matsuoka (TOK¥O TRICKING MOB)
Tomoki Fujita (BLUE TOKYO)
Youki Matsuda (BLUE TOKYO)

 

[synesthesia]

Having names like Takahisa Masuda and SUGIZO associated with the show, was apparently a brilliant move. After several rounds of lottery pre-sales - due to popular demand - there will be standing tickets available on general sale from Saturday:


https://x.com/luxe_hyoen/status/1912521656712716788

⋱ Starting at 12:00 on Saturday, April 19th ⋰​

General sales (first come, first served) start​

￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣​

Due to popular demand,​

standing tickets (arena/reserved) will be on sale​

​

#Hyoen 2025​

Tickets are here▼.​

The Hyoen sns accounts published interviews with Daisuke and with Takahisa.


Dai Part 1:




Part 2: https://x.com/luxe_hyoen/status/1911707248403034514



Takahisa Part 1:




Part 2: https://x.com/luxe_hyoen/status/1912069636260286577

 

[synesthesia]

Interviews with more cast members have been published:


Shizuka
Part 1: https://www.instagram.com/p/DIlQVMAJ3OJ/
Part 2: https://www.instagram.com/p/DIlQ3RdJaie/

Seiji
Part 1: https://www.instagram.com/p/DIs-tEhpHFU/
Part 2: https://www.instagram.com/p/DIs_QPdJ4Qh/

Kana
Part 1: https://www.instagram.com/p/DIyIXBdp3Ac/
Part 2: https://www.instagram.com/p/DIyIRuFJxta/

Keiji
Part 1: https://www.instagram.com/p/DI3R895pUDd/
Part 2: https://www.instagram.com/p/DI3ShVcp8L8/



Eisaku Yoshida, who portrays the Shadow Emperor, promoted Hyoen on a variety show on ytv - he revealed that he currently trains on the ice once a week (there's a short clip towards the end):

 

[synesthesia]

Here's the last batch of cast interviews:



Koshiro:

Part 1: https://www.instagram.com/p/DI_ASmjpB3N/
Part 2: https://www.instagram.com/p/DI_A5GcpxlE/


Takuma:

Part 1: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJEJ6pITajB/
Part 2: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJEKeKlzw8I/


Ryota:

Part 1: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJJTd6fJZYA/
Part 2: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJJUFk9JYJn/


Misato:

Part 1: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJRB0SXpHJW/
Part 2: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJRCbo1JHLZ/


Eisaku:

Part 1: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJWLc0YJaxr/
Part 2: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJWMApfJvM4/

Daisuke Takahashi with the #Hyoen2025 banner .​

​

The #Hyoen2025 banner is up at the Nippon Television Tower​

Takuma watched one of the PIW shows in Yokohama and posed for photos with the Hyoen cast:

#Prince Ice World 2025-2026 ​

PIW THE MUSICAL ~The Best of BROADWAY~ Yokohama​

​

The ice skating I watched on TV and the ice skating that I saw live were totally different impressions... ​

It was so amazing that my eyes were glued to the ice!​

​

I am still nervous to think that I will be standing on the ice in front of the audience in July, but all I can do is practice.​

 

[synesthesia]

The Hyoen rehearsal camp has started and Seiji Fukushi (who plays Yakumo) celebrated his 42nd birthday on June 3rd with part of the cast and crew:





NTV broadcasted a series of short pr clips at the end of May and in early June, including behind-the-scenes glimpses of Dai and Shizuka rehearsing sword-fight scenes, of Misato Morita rehearsing a spiral and a spin (as mentioned previously she used to be a figure skater) as well as footage from the character photo shoots and short interviews with Misato, Shizuka, Ryota, Takahisa, Eisaku, Takuma, Keiji and Koshiro:





Kai Hasegawa (from Hyoen 2024) has joined the team as a vocal coach again:

https://x.com/KaiHasegawa1027/status/1930560056397107439

 

[synesthesia]

The goods that will be available at the shows (and presumably via the fanclub) have just been revealed:





Dai and Takahisa on the cover of Art & Entertainment on Ice, which will be published tomorrow :

The cover of the WFS supplement “The World of Ice Show 11” features Daisuke Takahashi and Takahisa Masuda, who will play the lead roles in “Hyoen 2025”! The two talk about their determination, and director Yukihiko Tsutsumi and SUGIZO also make appearances.​

​

​

There will also be an interview with Hyoen's current costume designer, Yoko Miura of Atelier 88%, in the next edition of FS Life Extra:

https://x.com/fskating_Life/status/1930175474057261404

 

[synesthesia]

The evening show on 6 July will be broadcast live on Nitteleplus. The "complete version" featuring a making of will be shown on 28 September :

『氷艶 hyoen 2025 -鏡紋の夜叉-』7月6日夜公演を日テレプラスで生中継！メイキング含めた完全版の放送も決定！

株式会社ＣＳ日本のプレスリリース（2025年6月13日 12時00分）『氷艶 hyoen 2025 -鏡紋の夜叉-』7月6日夜公演を日テレプラスで生中継！メイキング含めた完全版の放送も決定！

prtimes.jp

The 6 July evening performance of Hyoen 2025 - Kagamon no Yasha - will be broadcast live on Nittele Plus! The complete version, including the making of, will also be broadcast!​

​

CS Nippon Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo) will broadcast live the evening performance of the ice show "Hyoen 2025 -Kagamon no Yasha-", which will be held at Yokohama Arena in July 2025, on the CS channel "NTV Plus Drama, Anime, and Live Music" operated by our company, on Sunday, July 6th.​

​

In addition, a re-broadcast of the complete version, including the making of, is scheduled for Sunday, September 28th at 7:00 PM.​

​

Hyoen 2025 - Kagamon no Yasha - is a story-based ice show that fuses Japanese culture and figure skating, and this is the fourth edition. Daisuke Takahashi and Takahisa Masuda (NEWS) play the double leads. Directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi with music by LUNA SEA guitarist SUGIZO, the show tells an epic story based on the legend of Ura, which is the basis of Momotaro in Okayama Prefecture.​

The Hyoen trailer is now regularly displayed on the large screen at the Yokohama Arena:

 

[synesthesia]

Two originally unfilled roles have been cast belatedly. The awesome visuals of one of them, the "Dark(ness) Drinking God", played by actor Masachika Ichimura, were published yesterday :

氷艶2025 on Instagram: "⋱ #市村正親 さん 衣裳ビジュアル解禁 ⋰ ついに闇呑神のビジュアルが公開❗ 特別映像出演 #市村正親 さんの 圧倒的存在感を放つ 豪華衣裳にご注目ください❗ #氷艶2025 📅7/5,6,7　🚩横浜アリーナ 🔎hyoen.jp"

1,583 likes, 2 comments - luxe_hyoen on June 16, 2025: "⋱ #市村正親 さん 衣裳ビジュアル解禁 ⋰ ついに闇呑神のビジュアルが公開❗ 特別映像出演 #市村正親 さんの 圧倒的存在感を放つ 豪華衣裳にご注目ください❗ #氷艶2025 📅7/5,6,7　🚩横浜アリーナ 🔎hyoen.jp".

www.instagram.com

Cast interview with Masachika Ichimura:






More merch has been revealed - the program brochure and character postcards: