From Idol Stage to Occult Battleground
Murayama Yuiri, best known as a former AKB48 member who held the group's all-time record for theater performances, steps into the occult-action world of Dandadan as lead heroine Momo. According to Comic Natalie's report, this marks Murayama's first 2.5D stage role — a significant pivot from her idol career, which ended with her graduation from AKB48 in June 2025.
In her official comment, Murayama acknowledged the nerves: she said she's excited but anxious about her 2.5D debut, adding that she can't wait to see how the manga's world translates to a live stage. She promised to give everything to bring the "strong, cool, and beloved" Momo to life.
Joining her as Okarun is Ninomiya Raimu, who earned attention in the 2.5D stage scene playing Hinata Shoyo in the Hyper Projection Play Haikyu!! series. Ninomiya's comment opened by congratulating Dandadan on its fifth serialization anniversary, calling it a privilege to bring Okarun to the stage during such a milestone year.
Two Actors, One Okarun
The production's most distinctive creative choice is splitting Okarun across two performers. Ninomiya handles the character's everyday human form, while Hyakuna Hiroki — whose stage credits include the Fist of the North Star musical and RENT — takes over for Okarun's Turbo Granny-cursed transformation sequences.
It's a smart fit for the material. In the manga, Okarun's powered-up state is visually and physically distinct from his regular self — a shy occult nerd who suddenly channels raw supernatural energy. Hyakuna addressed this in his comment, noting that Okarun's "serious mode" isn't something the character can sustain for long, and that he loves how it feels like the character is burning everything in a single moment. He pledged to match the manga's breakneck pacing from day one of rehearsals.
Rounding out the named cast: Nakabeppu Aoi (中別府葵, likely reading) plays Seiko, Momo's ageless spirit-medium grandmother; Tanaka Riko (田中梨瑚, likely reading) plays Aira, the popular classmate; and Yamazaki Risa (山崎里彩, likely reading) takes on the yokai Acrobatic Sarasara. A 15-member ensemble and two swings fill out the rest of the company.
The Creative Team Behind the Curtain
Director Itō Imahito (伊藤今人), founder of the dance-theater troupe Umebō, brings strong 2.5D credentials to the project — he previously directed MASHLE THE STAGE and handled choreography for the Touken Ranbu stage series. The script comes from Kameda Shinjirō (亀田真二郎), with music by Konishi Ryō (小西遼). The production is supervised by Shueisha's Shonen Jump+ editorial department and Mix Green, and produced by Nelke Planning.
For those unfamiliar with the source material, Dandadan follows Okarun — an occult-obsessed high school boy who ironically doesn't believe in ghosts — and Momo — a girl from a spirit medium family who refuses to believe in aliens. When they each encounter the exact supernatural phenomenon they've been denying, they're dragged into an escalating series of yokai battles, alien encounters, and adolescent chaos. The manga by Tatsu Yukinobu (龍幸伸) has been serialized on Shonen Jump+ since 2021 and is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year.
Looking Ahead
The stage play runs August 26 through September 3, 2026 at Nippon Seinenkan Hall in Tokyo, then moves to Sky Theater MBS in Osaka for September 11–13. The fastest ticket lottery opens June 2 at noon on Shonen Jump+, with full pricing and seating details available on the production's official website.
On the anime side, Dandadan's second TV season recently wrapped, with a third season announced for 2027. The anime streams internationally on Netflix and Crunchyroll, and VIZ Media publishes the English-language manga. No international screenings or streaming plans have been announced for the stage production, which is common for 2.5D shows — these typically remain Japan-exclusive live events.