What this is
A body-swap comedy set inside the Japanese Prime Minister's office — Junichi Ikeido's hit political satire finally makes its long-awaited stage debut as a full musical. A sitting PM and his son mysteriously switch bodies, and an all-star cast including Shotaro Arisawa, Tetsuya Bessho, and Naoto Takenaka plays out the resulting chaos in the corridors of power. Ikeido is best known internationally for the Shitamachi Rocket and Hanzawa Naoki novels, so fans of his sharp, comedic storytelling will recognise the tone immediately.
Who should go
Japanese-literate audiences will get the most out of the political humour and wordplay, but the physical comedy and star-studded cast make it accessible to anyone who enjoys broad theatrical farce. Fans of Naoto Takenaka in particular — a beloved comic actor with decades of stage and screen work — will not want to miss this.
Good to know
Tickets are most reliably purchased through eplus.jp or pia.jp, both of which accept foreign credit cards; convenience store pickup at Lawson is the easiest option for visitors without a Japanese delivery address. Hakataza is a mid-sized traditional kabuki-style theatre seating roughly 1,000, with assigned seating across stalls and balcony levels — no standing areas. The venue is cash-friendly for programmes and merchandise, though card payment is increasingly accepted at the box office. Photography and video recording are typically prohibited during performances at Hakataza. Arrive early if you want to browse the lobby merchandise, which for star-studded productions like this often sells out before the show ends.
This event was sourced and translated from Japanese by What's On Japan. Details may change — verify with the official source before attending.