As previously announced, SixTONES‘ Taiga Kyomoto starred in the musical called “Once”, which was performed at the Nissay Theatre in September 2025, moving on to Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka in October 2025.
I wrote an exclusive review of the musical for Dumpling Box.
STORY
The story is set in Dublin, the capital of Ireland. Guy (played by Taiga Kyomoto) is a poor street musician who plays his own songs on the street. He works in his father’s shop repairing vacuum cleaners. His passion for music is not appreciated, and he considers quitting music after a heartbreak, and during his last street performance he meets Girl (played by sara), a Czech immigrant who is attracted to his music. Girl asks Guy to repair her vacuum cleaner and offers to play the piano as payment. Guy and Girl reluctantly visit a music shop, where Guy plays guitar and Girl plays piano, and together they sing “Falling Slowly”, a song written by Guy for his former girlfriend. They have only just met, but the music brings them closer together.
The original work is an Irish film released in 2007. Starting with a limited release in just two theaters across the United States, it gained buzz through word of mouth, expanded to 140 theaters, and became a hit worldwide. This acclaimed production, which also featured a Japan tour and concert versions staged by overseas companies, is now performed for the first time by a Japanese company.
MUSICAL Report
The musical started on a street corner in Dublin, Ireland’s capital, a man named Guy (played by Taiga Kyomoto) played his guitar and sang. Living in poverty, separated from his beloved girlfriend, facing days when his music goes unappreciated. Crushed by despair, he was about to give up music when a Czech immigrant woman called “Girl” (played by sara) appeared before him.
She sensed something in Guy‘s music and unilaterally stepped into his life. Girl‘s pure desire—“I want to hear your songs”—encourages him, gradually lighting up Guy‘s monochrome world.
Girl learned Guy works repairing vacuum cleaners at his father’s shop and somewhat forcefully asks him to fix hers. She told him she’ll pay him “with music,” and at the music store she takes him to, Guy plays guitar and Girl plays piano, singing the song Guy composed, “Falling Slowly”, a folk-inspired ballad. More than just a song, it’s a turning point of intimacy—we witnessed two strangers forming a deep connection through music.
Girl proposed recording Guy‘s songs to help him escape his current situation. Though Girl absorbed and pulled Guy along at her own unique pace, she too was separated from someone important and caught in life’s stumbling blocks.
Girl introduces Guy to her Czech friends. They start making music together in an informal session. One of Girl‘s friends is called Billy, and he is half Spanish. In the musical, Billy sometimes speaks Spanish, for example, when he says “Gracias camaradas!” (Thank you, comrades!) or when he says to Guy: “Comprendes?” (Do you understand?).
Onstage, furniture like tables and chairs was arranged by the cast, creating a simple yet imaginative set. A revolving stage effectively conveys the characters’ emotional distance. As Czech immigrants, Girl and her family/friends communicate through subtitles reflecting their language barrier—a key element that becomes both beautiful and poignant in the latter half of this work.
Guy and Girl spend more time together walking, talking, and writing songs. Their attraction is clear, but unspoken: Guy still thinks about his ex in London, while Girl is married (though separated) and raising her daughter.
Inspired by Girl’s encouragement, Guy decides not to give up. They gather fellow musicians to plan the recording of a demo album.
Act One’s climax is when Guy is standing on the pub stage for the first time, and he declares, “To live, you have to love,” and sings his original song for his friends and for himself. The song is called “Gold”. This is a story of life’s rebirth, where music lovers meet, tend to each other’s wounds, and give each other the strength to take another step forward. You’ll experience the mysterious power of music in its fullest.
In Act II, the group began rehearsing Guy’s songs. They rent a studio for just one night. In a marathon 24-hour session, they record Guy’s songs for the demo.
It was one of the musical high points: a collective triumph where everyone contributes. The entire cast performed “When Your Mind’s Made Up” and with the lighting and staging, it was simply breathtaking.
After the session, Guy and Girl shared an intimate conversation. Guy asked her to come with him to London. Girl hesitated: she still felt tied to her husband, and her daughter was her priority.
Then, in my opinion, one of the most breathtaking scenes of the musical unfolded: the entire cast performed “Gold” a cappella, their voices resonating beautifully throughout the theater.
Guy is prepared to leave Dublin with his demo album. Girl stayed behind with her family. Their farewell was tender, bittersweet, and unspokenly romantic.
Guy left for London, carrying both his music and the renewed belief in himself. Girl played piano at home, surrounded by her family. They were apart, yet both transformed. The entire cast sings “Falling Slowly” as the last song of the musical, as they tell the whole story, with Guy sitting on a stool at the center of the stage.
Afterwards, at the curtain call, the entire cast was introduced, with the orchestra playing the most memorable songs in the background as the audience applauded. The audience gave the cast a heartfelt standing ovation, showing just how much they loved the musical and how profoundly it had touched them.
Finally, in the third curtain call, as Taiga bowed alone, the audience’s applause was overwhelming, more powerful than anything I had experienced before.
In this production, where the cast themselves play instruments and weave the story, the entire theater felt like it had transformed into the streets and pubs of Dublin, creating an immersive experience.
Taiga fully expressed Guy‘s complex emotions—like flickering flames in the darkness—through his singing voice. It was striking how his character, initially twisted from having given up on life, gradually revealed his underlying kindness after meeting Girl.
sara charmingly expressed Girl‘s free-spiritedness. While possessing the strength to believe in Guy‘s talent and pull him into the spotlight, the girl’s own loneliness remains ever-present. Her soft, ethereal vocals perfectly complement the worldview of this work.
This production also showcases Ireland’s unique musical tones. Musicians perform live on stage, sometimes becoming extensions of the cast.
The beautiful array of lights seems to resonate with the music, and as the ensemble cast enters in sync with the music’s crescendo, the entire stage feels like it is playing music.
Additionally, in this production, Taiga took on the challenge of performing guitar-accompanied vocals on stage for the first time. He masterfully performed all nine songs, including “Falling Slowly”, captivating the audience with different expressions and tones for each scene. He colored the story of Guy and Girl with music, creating a moving stage performance.
Without a doubt, this musical was another opportunity for Taiga to challenge himself, once again demonstrating his capabilities and showing that he has no limits.
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