It has been announced that " Dandadan ," a popular manga by Yukinobu Tatsu that is serialized on Shueisha's manga app "Shonen Jump+," will be adapted into a stage play. The popular work has also been adapted into a TV anime, but this will be its first stage adaptation. It will be performed in Tokyo and Osaka in August and September.
The production will be directed by Imajin Ito, the representative of the dance entertainment group "Umebou" and who has worked on stage productions such as " Mashle" and the "Touken Ranbu" series. The script will be written by Shinjiro Kameda, who has worked on numerous 2.5-dimensional stage productions such as "A3!" and "Hypnosis Mic," and the music will be composed by Ryo Konishi, who is also known for being the music director for the opening ceremony of the 2025 Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. This will be Konishi's first time participating in a 2.5-dimensional stage production.
Original author Yukinobu Tatsu commented, "I never imagined it would be made into a stage play. Thank you! I never thought ' Dandadan' would be made into a stage play! This is all thanks to everyone who has been supporting us! The staff and cast are all wonderful people who are making this happen! Please come and experience the excitement of the ' Dandadan' stage play!"
Director Ito commented, "I feel honored and also a great responsibility to have the opportunity to bring the wonderful work ' Dandadan,' which is loved all over the world, to life in the 'real space' of the stage. How can we construct that overwhelming power, sense of speed, and the feeling after reading it—where laughter, terror, and emotion all wash over you at once—through space, time, and the body? With the best possible team, including scriptwriter Kameda and composer Konishi, we will tackle this extremely difficult problem with no right answer with all our heart and soul. Armed with the fusion of physical expression and theater that I have cultivated so far, I will deliver an 'experiential Dandadan' that will shake the senses of the audience. Please come and witness the impact that can only be experienced in the theater."
Scriptwriter Kameda expressed his delight, saying, "I can't believe it... I'm going to be in charge of the script for ' Dandadan,' which I absolutely, totally, totally love!? As someone who eagerly awaits this show every week, I'm simply trembling with overwhelming honor. ' Dandadan' is the best, isn't it? All the characters are charming, the story is interesting, and the occult scenes are truly creepy... Ah, no! I want to talk so much about my love for ' Dandadan,' but I love it so much that I can't find the words! But let me just say this! I will do my best to convey the charm of this beloved work to the audience without holding anything back, so please, everyone, come to the theater!"
Konishi, the composer, said, "From the moment I received this offer, I've been thrilled by the challenge of how to bring the world of the original work to life on stage through body and sound. I feel truly honored to be in charge of the music for this production, and I will put my heart and soul into creating an experience that will draw in the senses of the audience. Please come and experience it at the theater. To be able to create music for ' Dandadan'...I'm just so excited!"
"Dandadan" began serialization in "Shonen Jump+" in April 2021. It depicts the story of Momo, a high school girl from a family of mediums, and her classmate Okarun, an occult enthusiast, as they confront a series of supernatural phenomena. The manga has sold over 12 million copies and has been viewed over 1 billion times on the app, making it a very popular work. The first season of the TV anime aired from October to December 2024, and the second season aired from July to September 2025. The third season will air in 2027.
