WOWOW's program "Live Broadcast! Yoshio Inoue Musical Hour 'Yoshio's Music'," hosted by musical actor Yoshio Inoue , will showcase the charm of musicals. The 32nd episode, airing live on April 22nd at 10 PM, will feature Hiroki Miura, Yui Kobayashi, and Yuko Doi from the musical "I Love Botchan."
"I Love Botchan" premiered in 1992 at Ongakuza Musical and has won numerous awards, including the Kinokuniya Theatre Award for Best Group and the Yomiuri Theatre Award for Best Production. It is considered a masterpiece that represents the pinnacle of original Japanese musicals. The story centers on Natsume Soseki's recovery from the depths of suffering through the writing of his novel "Botchan," and the support of his wife, Kyoko. The director is G2. Inoue plays the protagonist Natsume Soseki, Miura plays Botchan in the play, Kobayashi plays Botchan's best friend Yamaarashi, and Doi plays Soseki's wife, Kyoko.
This will be Miura's first appearance since "Yoshio's Mu on Stage 2024," and his first live studio broadcast of "Yoshio's Mu" in about two and a half years. This will be Kobayashi's first appearance since "Yoshio's Mu Fes." held in June 2025, and his first live studio broadcast of "Yoshio's Mu" in about a year and a half. This will be Doi's first appearance on "Yoshio's Mu."
◇Comment from Hiroki Miura
This is Miura Hiroki! I've finally achieved my long-held dream of performing with Yoshio-san in a musical for the first time!
This is the first "Yoshio's musical" since the Onstage era, and I hope to convey the charm of the work to the fullest.
I will do my best!
Also, there's one more thing I need to tell Yoshio-san...
◇Comment from Yui Kobayashi
I'm Yui Kobayashi, and I'll be participating as part of the "I Love Botchan" team! This time, I'll be appearing in "Yoshio's Music" along with Yuko Doi and Hiroki.
This will be my second appearance, but this time, everyone, including Yoshio-san, is part of the production team, so I think we'll be able to convey the charm of the work and the atmosphere of the rehearsal room even more effectively.
We are currently in the midst of rehearsals, and I would be happy if the charm of this work could be conveyed to as many people as possible.
Please check it out!
◇Comment from Yuko Doi
In "I Love Botchan," there's a line spoken by Masaoka Shiki (Yamaarashi): "I'm grateful that you picked me up after I died." It's a play by the Ongakuza theater company, which disbanded 30 years ago. I thought I'd never get to perform it again. I'm now far older than Kyoko-san was. I feel so sorry for Yoshio-kun! But I really wanted to exchange lines with him one more time. I wanted to connect with him on a deeper level. Please, please, I beg you!
