For the first time in Southeast Asia, audiences will get the chance to experience a captivating song and dance spectacular like no other, as one of Japan’s oldest and most esteemed production houses, Kyodo Tokyo, selects Singapore for its regional debut.
The highly anticipated Tokyo〜the city of music and love〜, starring the multi-award-winning Japanese actor and singer, Yu Shirota, will take place at Esplanade Theatre on June 22, 2024.
The show is produced, and co-directed and stars Shirota, best known for his chart-topping albums ‘Mariage’ (2020) and ‘a singer’ (2018), as well as for his roles as Kagurazaka Makoto in the Japanese action drama Hana-Kimi, and Tuxedo Mask in the Sailor Moon Musicals.
In his premiere performance in Singapore, Shirota and his star-studded ensemble are set to bring the vibrancy and charm of Tokyo to life through a captivating and fantastical blend of multilingual family-friendly song and dance performances, spanning J-pop, through to Disney classics and Broadways hits, including Shirota’s renditions of beloved musical songs like “On My Own” from Les Misérables and “Die Schatten werden länger” from Elisabeth.
The exciting new production features an all-star cast, including Kahori Kanaya, renowned for creating spectacular shows for Japan’s leading theme parks, who joins Yu Shirota as co-director. Music for the show is directed by popular Japanese R&B singer SWEEP, and audiences can look forward to special guest performances by style icon and J-Pop star miwa, and Singapore’s own multi-award winning actor, popstar and home-grown heartthrob, Nathan Hartono. They are joined by J-pop stars, RIOSKE (PeruPines), yuzu (FYURA PROJECT), and emerging talent, Rainy。 Plus, a troupe of dynamic dancers, including Kaoru Harada, Shunsuke Omura (SHUN), Nao Usui, BOXER and Tuki Takamura.
Tokyo〜the city of music and love〜 launches in Japan, and runs from May 14 to 19 at Tokyu Theatre Orb, Tokyo, before debuting in Singapore in June. This is the first show to be presented by Kyodo Tokyo in Southeast Asia. Singapore is the chosen location due to its prominence as a key cultural centre in the region.
According to Yu Shirota: “This exciting new show is a fusion of diverse musical genres and dance, featuring some of the region’s most gifted performers and artists. Along with dynamic staging, choreography and costumes, audiences can expect to be wowed as we showcase the iconic places and landscapes that embody the vibrant energy synonymous with Tokyo and its embrace of worldwide cultures.”
“We are thrilled to bring the show to audiences in Singapore, as a central artistic hub in the region and our chosen stage to showcase our work globally. I am also excited to collaborate with Singapore’s very own Nathan Hartono for this one-of-a-kind production, which is not to be missed by anyone who appreciates the artistic flair and creativity Japan is known for.”
ABOUT Tokyo〜the city of music and love〜
Date: Saturday, June 22, 2024
Time: 8 pm (110 min no intermission)
Venue: Esplanade Theatre
Website: https://tokyoshowsg.com/
Tickets: Please visit https://sistic.com.sg/events/tokyo0624
Tokyo〜the city of music and love〜Singapore Ticket Tiers & Pricing Breakdown:
| Category | Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| Cat 5 | $58.00 |
| Cat 4 | $78.00 |
| Cat 3 | $98.00 |
| Cat 2 | $128.00 |
| Cat 1 | $158.00 |
| VIP – includes: i) 1 x pre-show drink (alcoholic & non-alcoholic options available) ii) 1 x exclusive Tokyo~the city of music and love~ tote bag signed by Yu Shirota |
$188.00 |
For more information on Tokyo〜the city of music and love〜 in Singapore please see visit:
https://tokyoshowsg.com/
Show credits
Direction: Yu Shirota, Kahori Kanaya
Music Director: SWEEP
Costumes: Hirosumi Saito/Takuma Nishizaka
Lighting: Kenji Shibuya
Sound: Takashi Myojo
Video: Mucho Muramatsu
Stage Director: Masamichi Shimizu
Sponsored by: Kyodo Tokyo
SG Show Project Management: Hyphen Projects
Cast list (Singapore)
Yu Shirota
SWEEP
RIOSKE
Rainy。
Yuzu(FYURA PROJECT)
Kaoru Harada
Shunsuke Omura [SHUN]
Nao Usui
BOXER
Tuki Takamura
Special Guests: Nathan Hartono, miwa
About Kyodo Tokyo
Kyodo Tokyo, Inc., founded in 1962, is the oldest promotion company in Japan and has
played a leading role in the development of Japan’s entertainment industry. Kyodo brought
The Beatles to Tokyo for their performances at the legendary Nippon Budokan in 1966. Not
only does Kyodo promote foreign pop artists but also major pop-rock domestic acts and has
been at the front lines with many Broadway shows for over two decades. Kyodo has been
involved in 30+ Broadway shows as one of the investors and even as a Co-Producer for some US Tour Productions with Japanese performance rights. Kyodo also actively collaborates with EVENTIM LIVE ASIA to bring overseas artists to Japan, manages NME JAPAN in partnership with the renowned NME (New Musical Express), and hosts diverse genres of concerts.
About Yu Shirota
Yu Shirota has been active in various fields, including television, movies, theatre and music. Most recently, he appeared in the 2023 Amazon Original drama “Angel Flight” starring Ryoko Yonekura. Yu also co-starred and co-produced with Ryoko Yonekura on the entertainment stage “SHOWTIME” in 2021. Other recent significant appearances include the drama “TOKYO MER: Mobile Emergency Room” (TBS), “Come Come Everybody” (narrator) (NHK), etc., and movies “The Confidence Man JP: Episode of the Hero” and “The Violence Action. ”
Yu has won numerous awards for his work in theatre, including the Rookie Award in the 65th ACA National Arts Festival 2010 for his performance in “Elisabeth”; the 2018 43rd Kazuo Kikuta Theatre Award for his performance in “Bullets Over Broadway the Musical,” and the 28th Yomiuri Theatre Award for his performance in the musical “NINE,” in 2021.
Furthermore, in 2019 he performed the title role in the musical “PIPPIN” directed by Tony
Award-Winning Director Diane Paulus. In 2016, he made his debut as a director with “THE
APPLE TREE,” and has since directed and starred in the 2019 version of “Phantom.” In
addition, he performed in the musical concert, “4 Stars” alongside Broadway and West End
stars. He also acted as a voice actor for Japanese-dubbed versions of Disney’s live-action
adaptation of “Cinderella” and the animation “Onward.” He also released a cover album,
“Mariage,” and continues to demonstrate his talent in various fields.
About Miwa (SPECIAL GUEST)
miwa was greatly influenced by female singer-songwriters like SHERYL CROW and Carole King at the age of 15. With acoustic demo tapes recorded at home, she bravely entered the live house scene, where her performances garnered attention and marked the initial steps toward her debut. Her presence on stage in Shimokitazawa caught the eye of industry insiders, propelling her into serious music production. In 2010, during her freshman year in college, she debuted with the single “don’t cry anymore.” Subsequently, she achieved a series of successful releases, with her first album “guitarissimo” topping the Oricon album chart in 2011, making her the first singer-songwriter born in the Heisei era to achieve this.
Her songs deeply connect with young hearts, consistently topping their requests. As a powerful female singer-songwriter, she leaves an indelible mark on the music scene, resonating with the youth.
About Nathan Hartono (SPECIAL GUEST)
Nathan Hartono is a bilingual Singaporean singer-songwriter-actor with multifaceted artistic
pursuits. Since his debut in 2006, Nathan has released music in both English and Mandarin,
starred in a feature film, and clinched the runner-up accolade at the 2016 Sing! China competition and captivated the hearts of audiences across Asia and beyond with his
soulful and charismatic performances. As a bilingual artist, Nathan’s musical prowess in
varied genres of pop/R&B/acoustic/funk is fully showcased in his recent releases – the
debut Mandarin EP, Do Nothing Day (September 2020) and the English EP, Edge of
Days (September 2021).
Constantly evolving as a music artist, Nathan is currently on a new exploratory journey, as
evident on his major debut album, The Great Regression. The featured singles on the album – “Infinity,” “Night After Night,” “Pastrami,” “Tell It To My Face,” “Dopamine” and “In The Clouds” – showcase Nathan Hartono as a songwriter who is honest to himself and his
audience. The evolution of Hartono’s artistry is evident, as he confronts his vulnerabilities
and transforms pain into profound musical expression, fearlessly shedding light on his
struggles, and dispelling the notion that public figures are immune to such challenges.
