On September 5, 2026, I made my way over to EX THEATER Ariake from the nearby subway station to watch the opening night performance of “The Time Traveler’s Wife,” starring Snow Man‘s Hikaru Iwamoto and Sora Kazuki. The walk to the theater almost felt like a pilgrimage with fans gathering from all over and proudly carrying merch from the various musicals and shows Hikaru has appeared in over the years: “Catch Me If You Can” in 2022 and 2024, and “GALA”—also in 2024.
As it was opening day, everyone was itching to get their hands on the “The Time Traveler’s Wife” merch for the very first time!
And the goods are super cute, by the way. I’ve been using the lip case charm that came with the tote bag as an accessory on my everyday purse, and it’s honestly adorable!
There was a palpable buzz of excitement in the air. It had been two years since
Hikaru’s last stage appearance in “Catch Me If You Can” (read my previous report here!), and personally, I had been eagerly anticipating this musical ever since it was announced. I loved Audrey Niffenegger’s original novel, so I was especially curious to see how its story would translate to the stage. I also went in completely fresh when it came to the musical itself as I hadn’t seen the West End production that this Japanese adaptation is based on.
A Love Story That Transcends Time and Space
Based on Audrey Niffenegger’s best-selling novel, “The Time Traveler’s Wife” follows Henry de Tamble, a man who involuntarily travels through time, and Clare Abshire, the woman whose life becomes intertwined with his across different points in time.
Henry repeatedly finds himself traveling into Clare’s past, and their relationship develops in a way that completely defies the conventional rules of time. As they eventually become husband and wife, the unpredictable nature of Henry’s time travel continues to test their relationship and their ability to stay together.
At its heart, it is a story about choosing each other despite circumstances neither person can control, a love story that truly transcends time and space.
For the Japanese production, Hikaru Iwamoto plays Henry de Tamble, while former Takarazuka Snow Troupe top star Kazuki Sora plays Clare Abshire. The supporting cast includes Hiroyuki Onoue as Gomez, Saho Aono as Charisse, Hironobu Miyahara as Philip, Mayumi Sato as Lucille, and So Kazuho as Henry’s mother, Ariana. Shingo Tsurumi plays Henry’s father, Richard, while Mion Kimura and Aira Sakamoto share the role of Alba in a W-cast.
The Japanese production is directed and adapted for the stage by Worry Kinoshita, with music by Takashi Ochiai, and lyrics by Neko Oikawa. The musical originally premiered in London’s West End in 2023, with music by Grammy Award-winning artist Joss Stone and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, and a book by playwright Lauren Gunderson.
Time, Brought to Life on Stage
The stage setting itself was surprisingly simple: two long planks spanning roughly 80% of the width of the stage, positioned one above the other. One is longer than the other, and together, they almost resemble the hour and minute hands of a clock.
The two “hands” rotate independently, creating constant movement and flow throughout the musical.
One particularly astute fan noticed that the hands rotate counterclockwise and clockwise to signify the past and present respectively. Genius!
Time is, of course, the central element of this story, and I was impressed by how cleverly the production team translated that concept into physical stage language.
The effects used to portray Henry’s time travel were especially impressive. Lighting, smoke, false doors, body doubles, and carefully choreographed movement all come together to create the illusion of someone suddenly disappearing and reappearing somewhere – or sometime – else.
I loved how these effects were used not only to show time travel, but also to establish different locations and shifts in time. The projections were beautiful and effective, adding another layer to the storytelling without overwhelming the stage.
EX THEATER Ariake’s newly opened space is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, giving productions even more creative tools to play with, and “The Time Traveler’s Wife” certainly takes advantage of that.
I had a perfect center view of the stage, which allowed me to take in all the little details of the production. From the movement of the stage itself to the lighting and projections, there was always something happening in the background.
Bringing the Story to Life
The musical does a wonderful job of adapting the original material for the stage without losing the heart of the story.
As the story progresses, the emotional weight gradually builds, and your heartstrings are pulled tighter and tighter. By the end, quite a few audience members were wiping away tears—including me.
Both Hikaru and Sora do a phenomenal job portraying their respective characters.
Hikaru’s physicality is particularly impressive. His ability to pull off the sudden disappearances and appearances required by Henry’s time travel is no small feat, and his acting really shines throughout the production. He perfectly balances Henry’s playful and mischievous side with the more serious, vulnerable aspects of his character as he moves through the different stages of his life.
Sora is incredible as Clare Abshire, fully showcasing the skills she honed during her time with the Takarazuka Revue. Clare experiences so many different stages of life throughout the story, and Sora handles those emotional shifts beautifully.
And the chemistry between the two of them is unmistakable.
There are some incredibly intimate moments between Henry and Clare, and it was genuinely difficult to take your eyes off them when they were together on stage.
A Warning to All Hikaru Fans…
While Hikaru fans may have swooned over his portrayal of Frank Abagnale Jr. in “Catch Me If You Can,” his portrayal of Henry in “The Time Traveler’s Wife” is, frankly, even deadlier. One of the mechanisms of Henry’s time traveling is that he is unable to bring anything with him when he travels through time—including his clothes.
So, as you can imagine, there are quite a few scenes where Hikaru is… well, quite exposed. Save for a pair of nude briefs, that is.
With Hikaru’s impressive physique, you can only imagine what fans were treated to during the musical. It was highly amusing to see approximately 99% of the audience immediately whip out their binoculars during those moments (I cannot claim innocence either, LOL).
Final Thoughts
This musical was truly an emotional experience. It managed to retain the heart of the original story while taking full advantage of what live theatre can do, especially when it comes to making something as abstract as time feel tangible right in front of you. It makes you realize how fleeting time can be, and how important it is to treasure every moment with your loved ones. Even though it’s been over a month since I attended the musical, I can still recall the emotions I felt during it.
Quite frankly, I really hope they announce a revival someday so that more people can experience this musical in person.
If not, please give us a DVD/Blu-ray release!!!
“The Time Traveler’s Wife” officially wrapped up their final performance in Osaka on October 8, thus bringing Hikaru’s run as Henry de Tamble to a close after the Tokyo and Osaka performances. A huge round of applause and a massive pat on the back to him, Sora, the cast, and staff for a job well done!
Thank you, Henry, for taking us on this wonderful journey through time.
