Nao Oriyama, a member of the five-member Junior group Howzit, has been confirmed to appear in the 2026–2028 world tour of the “Spirited Away” (千と千尋の神隠し) stage play as a main cast member. Nao, who has appeared in numerous television and stage productions—including this year’s “Equus”—and earned a reputation for his exceptional dance skills and uniquely captivating presence, has been chosen as one of the six actors who will play Haku, the mysterious young boy from the bathhouse.
Based on Hayao Miyazaki‘s timeless masterpiece, which became an unprecedented sensation following its release in 2001, this stage adaptation was created by John Caird. Since its debut in 2022, the production has garnered tremendous support both in Japan and internationally, continuing to make history in the theater world.
The story begins when Chihiro, a young girl on her way to her new home, wanders through a tunnel and finds herself in a world inhabited by countless gods and spirits. The audience follows Chihiro as she encounters a variety of extraordinary characters and struggles to find her way back to the human world, discovering her inner strength and the will to live along the way.
All main cast members will appear in the Tokyo performances at Meijiza Theatre, which are scheduled to run from March to May in 2027. They are also expected to participate in various performances throughout the world tour, which will travel to locations both in Japan and overseas. Please consult the official website for the cast appearing in each location.
The tour will begin with a two-month engagement at the National Theater in Taipei, Taiwan from December 2026 through January 2027.
This will be followed by the three-month run at the Meijiza Theatre beginning in March 2027, before the production tours other major cities throughout Japan, including Aichi, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Sapporo.
The international leg will then resume with the production’s debut in Toronto at the Princess of Wales Theatre from May through August 2027, followed by its Los Angeles debut at the Ahmanson Theatre from September through October.
Finally, from March through July 2028, the production will head to the United Kingdom for an extended engagement at the London Coliseum, marking its first London appearance since 2024.
Performance Details
- Title: 千と千尋の神隠しSpirited Away
東宝株式会社 - Cast:
- Chihiro: Kanna Hashimoto, Mone Kamishiraishi, Momoko Fukuchi, Rina Mori, Nagi Inoue (Nogizaka46), Hana Toyoshima, Kokoro Hirasawa
- Haku: Kotaro Daigo, Atsuki Mashiko (GENIC), Naoki Inukai, Nao Oriyama (Howzit), Akira Takano, Taisuke Niihara
- No-Face: Ken Nakagawa, Hikaru Yamano, Ryo Sawamura, Rui Kajita, Tsuki Takamura (Tokyo QQQ)
- Lin / Chihiro’s Mother: Fuu Himi, Yuki Hana, Haruka Mase, Koharu Sakai
- Kamaji: Satoshi Hashimoto, Tomu Miyazaki, Norihide Mantani, Kazushige Komatsu, KENTARO
- Yubaba / Zeniba: Mari Natsuki, Aki Hano, Saki Juri, Yumi Adachi, Chizu Hosaka, Shima Ise
- Schedule:
- December 17, 2026 (Thu) – January 31, 2027 (Sun) | National Theater | Taipei, Taiwan
- March–May 2027 | Meijiza Theater | Tokyo, Japan
- June 2027 | Misonoza Theater | Aichi, Japan
- June–July 2027 | Umeda Arts Theater Main Hall | Osaka, Japan
- July–August 2027 | Hakataza Theater | Fukuoka, Japan
- August 2027 | Sapporo Cultural Arts Theater hitaru | Hokkaido, Japan
- May 6, 2027 (Thu) | August 15, 2027 (Sun) | Princess of Wales Theatre | Toronto, Canada
- September 2, 2027 (Thu) – October 24, 2027 (Sun) | Ahmanson Theatre | Los Angeles, United States
- March–July 2028 | London Coliseum | London, England
- Official Website: https://www.tohostage.com/spirited_away/
Nao Oriyama’s Comment
“I’m Howzit’s Nao Oriyama, and I’m honored to have been given the opportunity to play Haku.
I grew up with Studio Ghibli films from a very young age, and the warmth of their worlds has supported me on countless occasions.
Even now, I’m filled with a strange and wonderful feeling at the thought of being able to inhabit the role of Haku, a resident of a world I’ve always admired.
Together with John Caird and so many other wonderful people, I want to approach this production with all my heart and sincerity, and do my very best to bring this work to life in what will be a truly miraculous experience.”
