“Endless SHOCK” will be performed at Tokyo’s Imperial Theatre (Teigeki) in April, May, July, August, September, and November as part of the closing lineup for the theater’s closure for reconstruction next February 2025.
Since its premiere in November 2000, when Koichi Domoto became Teigeki’s youngest-ever chairman at the age of 21 and played the lead role for the first time, the “SHOCK” series has been performed yearly and has sold out every performance.
The world-class scale of Teigeki’s stage mechanism (vast stage surface, instantaneous stage set changes, etc.) is fully utilized, and the entertainment is expressed through song, dance, action, percussion, sword fighting, stair fall, magic, as well as Koichi flying above the audience in the 1900-seat auditorium. The story resonates with the hearts of those who love it and has been highly acclaimed as an original musical born in Japan.
Koichi declared at the production announcement, surprising the audience, “I think I will close the curtain on “SHOCK” this year. We had all the splendid cast members come together, new and old, and even some of the cast members who had previously worked with us joined us for the first time in a while. I’m thinking of setting off fireworks grandly and ending the show on a high note.”
About “Endless Shock”
“SHOCK” is an original musical that follows Koichi, an entertainer, and his company as they navigate their destiny while constantly questioning the meaning of the phrase, “”SHOW MUST GO ON!“
In 2005, the title was changed to “Endless SHOCK,” and Koichi was also involved in the writing and directing aspects of the show. The work has been continuously refined and polished by the various creative staff members who have gathered under Koichi’s direction, such as drummer Naoki Ishikawa, who performed in “Blast!” and Michael Jackson‘s choreographers Travis Payne and Stacey Walker.
In 2020, the show was adapted and performed as the “Eternal” version in response to the infection control measures due to the Coronavirus.
Until 2021, SHOCK has been performed more than 1,800 times, becoming the 2nd most-performed musical with the same leading actor in Japan, after Mori Mitsuko’s “Hourouki” (performed 2017 times). After spending 23 and a half years on the show, this year, he’s about to break the record with the planned 5 months of performances in 2024.
“Endless Shock” Story
Broadway, New York – the center of show business, is in a state of repeated prosperity and decline. Koichi (Koichi Domoto) is a young entertainer who is struggling in the midst of it all but always aims for the top.
The company he leads started out in an off-Broadway theater.
Although it is a small theater, Koichi’s shows are always popular and successful. Everyone in the company wants to continue the shows with Koichi.
One day, there was an incident that changed the company. An article in the newspaper praised Koichi’s show. Furthermore, the company’s owner (Maeda Bibari/Kaho Shimada) tells Koichi that he has received an offer from on-Broadway.
This means everyone in the company can advance to the top of show business! With joy and anticipation, Koichi and his childhood friends Shori/Yuma/Tatsuya (Shori Sato/Yuma Nakayama/Tatsuya Ueda) are full of dreams for the stage, but the offer from on-Broadway gradually causes cracks and confusion in the company, including Koichi, Shori/Yuma/Tatsuya and Rika (Airi Kisaki/Reno Nakamura), the daughter of the owner.
Even in such a situation… and even when an incident leads to the worst possible situation that splits Koichi’s body and soul…
“Show Must Go On!”
Koichi keeps his faith in the show and brings the company together…
Cast
April – May 2024, Imperial Theatre, Tokyo
Koichi Domoto (Kinki Kids), Shori Sato (Sexy Zone), Yuki Koshioka (4U.), Yusuke Matsuzaki (4U.), Sho Takada, Takuto Teranishi, Tatsuru Matsuo (SpeciaL), Ryusei Ozaki, Naoki Ishikawa, Reno Nakamura (Nogizaka46), Bibari Maeda and Kaho Shimada (Double cast).
July-August 2024, Umeda Arts Theater, Main Hall, Osaka
Koichi Domoto (Kinki Kids), Yuma Nakayama, Shota Hayashi, Ryuta Muro, Sho Takada, Yoshitaka Hara, Tatsuru Matsuo (SpeciaL), Ryusei Ozaki, Airi Kisaki, Kaho Shimada.
September 2024, Fukuoka
Koichi Domoto (Kinki Kids), Shori Sato (Sexy Zone), Yuta Fukuda, Yudai Tatsumi, Ryuta Muro, Sho Takada, Tatsuru Matsuo (SpeciaL), Ryusei Ozaki, Airi Kisaki, and Bibari Maeda.
November 2024, the Imperial Theatre, Tokyo
Koichi Domoto (Kinki Kids), Tatsuya Ueda (KAT-TUN), Yuta Fukuda (4U.), Yudai Tatsumi (4U.), Yuki Koshioka (4U.), Yusuke Matsuzaki (4U.), Tatsuru Matsuo (SpeciaL), Ryusei Ozaki, Naoki Ishikawa, Airi Kisaki and Reno Nakamura (Nogizaka46) (Double cast), and Bibari Maeda.
Although “Endless SHOCK” is coming to an end this year, there’s no doubt that this musical masterpiece has left its marks on Japanese musical history. As a staple show at the Imperial Theatre, making this year the last, along with the venue’s closure, makes sense.
Koichi has been considering ending its career for several years and decided about it 2-3 years ago. In response to the fact that the Imperial Theatre will be closed for reconstruction next year, he said, “One of the reasons (why I decided to end it) is that there is no other theater where I can do it (“SHOCK“) at. This is a work that has walked (through times) with the Imperial Theater. If the theatre is going to be closed, then “SHOCK,” which I will be performing in, will be my last.”
Whether it is 2005, 2015, or 2024, the words from the show will continue to echo, and the audience and the cast will take it with them everywhere they go.
“Show Must Go On!”