【APAMAN】 New musical by Warabiza and Heralbony, “Midday Star Tour” the Musical – First Tokyo performance opening soon –
APAMAN Press release: October 15, 2025 “Midday Star Tour” the Musical, a new musical by Warabiza and Heralbony – The first Tokyo performance will open soon – October 18th (Sat) – 26th (Sun), 2025 / Kokumin Kyosai Coop Hall / Space Zero APAMAN Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Kai Yamazaki), operator of Apaman Shop, the No. 1 rental housing brokerage in Japan*, has welcomed Akita Art Village Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Semboku City, Akita Prefecture; operator of the Warabiza Theater Company) into its group as of October 1, 2025. The new musical, “Ihatov Theater’s ‘Midday Star Tour’ the Musical,” produced by APAMAN’s “Warabiza” brand and Heralbony (Headquarters: Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture), which aims to change the image of disabilities and create a new culture based on welfare, will be performed in Shinjuku, Tokyo. *Survey overview and methodology: Desk research and interview survey targeting the “rental housing brokerage industry” Survey period: May 14th to May 28th, 2024 Survey conducted by: Excree Co., Ltd., Comparison companies: Top 10 rental housing brokerage companies *Overseas corporations are excluded (however, independent Japanese corporations are included)
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(Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) Number of Performances Total 14 times Features The performances are designed to be accessible to a diverse audience, including “relaxed viewing etiquette” performances that allow everyone to enjoy the show regardless of whether they have a disability or not. Special site ■ Audience Comments ・I was impressed by the bright ball presentation. I felt the preciousness of life. ・The message “It’s okay to live in a world where there are no right answers” struck me. ・I was moved by the new expression that combined folk dance with modern art.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgBVIxZPFXo Ihatov Theater “Midday Star Tour” the Musical PV2 | Warabiza | Heralbony ■Comment from Fumito Matsuda, Co-CEO of HERALBONY Inc. “The stage lights, voices, sounds, and flickering colors—all of these awaken the ‘Kenji Miyazawa gaze’ that lies dormant within us. Perhaps true happiness lies not in choosing righteousness, but in choosing kindness.” (From a Facebook post on September 18th) ■Four highlights of this production 1. Immersive performance with glowing balls The light held by each audience member resonates with the story, transcending the boundaries between the stage and the audience.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/49635/175/49635-175-b3eef991319bd1c177604940287ed7a0-1999×1334.jpg 2. Stage Art by 11 Contract Artists of Heralbony A collection of distinctive works envelops the stage, depicting the fantastical world of “Ihatov.”
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/49635/175/49635-175-778e669b78bf5c29916bb99588863664-1999×1334.jpg 3. Warabiza: Fusion of Traditional Folk Performing Arts and
Contemporary Dance A stunning dance scene featuring the deer dance and the rhythm of drums.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/49635/175/49635-175-15d11f7f939b2a4380520e3c22d41b3a-1999×1334.jpg 4. Creating an “open theater” that everyone can enjoy An effort to accommodate a diverse audience, including “relaxed viewing” sessions where it’s okay to speak and move around.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/49635/175/49635-175-0577c62f80452c5200e91236c4ff00fe-775×504.png ■STORY Plot Aoi Saejima, an honor student, and Meguru Aoki, who lives a hidden life in a flashy group. One day, a large dragon cat appears before the two and leads them to the mysterious land of Ihatov. During their journey, meeting the animals and people they encounter, the two discover the “important thing they had lost”… (2 acts, 100 minutes) ■Main staff Script: Yumi Tokuno / Script and Direction: Higashi Suzuki / Music: Satoshi Takeuchi / Choreography: Maya Egami / Folk Performing Arts Composition: Hiroshi Kuriki / Art: Shotaro Hirayama /
Accessibility Supervision: precog Inc. ■A New Challenge from Warabiza and APAMAN Since its founding in 1951, Warabiza has been based in Semboku City, Akita Prefecture, and has operated under the philosophy of “creating art that nourishes people’s lives.” In addition to performances both domestically and internationally, the group has also contributed to the local culture through programs such as the “School Trip to Warabiza,” which combines education and culture. Through our partnership with the APAMAN Group, we will create new value for local life, focusing on “housing” and “culture.” [Tokyo performance schedule]
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/49635/175/49635-175-9906afc55547c788e55f26844b11e409-926×355.jpg ★…Performances with relaxed viewing etiquette (Ages 4 and up allowed in the audience) Preschool children are not permitted at venues other than those marked with a ★ (marked with a ●) Ticket Sales Inquiries: Warabiza General Incorporated Association Performance Division TEL 0187-44-3332 (Weekdays 10:00-12:00 / 14:00-17:00) FAX 0187-44-3318 “Midday Stargazing” Special Site 【APAMAN Co., Ltd.】 APAMAN Co., Ltd. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Kai Yamazaki) is a consolidated subsidiary of EL CAMINO REAL Co., Ltd. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Koji Omura). APAMAN operates the “Apaman Shop” brand of rental agency franchises, boasting one of the largest number of affiliated stores in Japan. URL:
https://apamanshop-hd.co.jp/corporate-group/ EL CAMINO REAL Co., Ltd. EL CAMINO REAL Co., Ltd. oversees the APAMAN Group, which consists of more than 20 companies. We contribute to society through two business segments: the “Platform Business,” which handles rental management and rental brokerage services, and the “Technology Business,” which creates systems such as AI and RPA that support real estate services. URL: https://apamanshop-hd.co.jp/ 【Overview of Warabiza General Incorporated Association】 Warabiza is a theater company based in folk traditions, using diverse expressions to portray the modern spirit. Founded in February 1951, the company is based in Semboku City, Akita Prefecture, known as a treasure trove of folk songs. Currently, four performance groups give approximately 500 performances per year, and the company has performed overseas in 16 countries, including the United States, Europe, Asia, and Brazil. His major works include musicals with themes rooted in Tohoku, such as “Oga no Onimaru,” “Ono no Komachi,” and “Aterui,” as well as musical adaptations of Tezuka Osamu’s original works “Phoenix: The Phoenix Chapter,” “Astro Boy,” “Buddha,” and “Jungle Emperor Leo,” and a musical adaptation of the Studio Ghibli film “Only Yesterday.” In 2023, he performed the non-verbal stage production “Matsuri Theater HANA,” which was based on the six major festivals of Tohoku. Akita Art Village, a multi-cultural area combining culture and tourism, boasts a hotel, hot springs, a craft brewery, a forestry arts museum, and more. Its central attraction, the Warabi Theater, produces and stages original musicals using materials from the Tohoku region, as well as various workshops on folk dance, taiko drumming, and theater. The “Warabi Theater School Trip,” which has been held at the intersection of education and culture for approximately 50 years, attracts 20,000 children from 150 schools every year to experience the Soran Bushi dance and farm work. Organization Name: Warabiza General Incorporated Association Location: 430 Waseda, Sotsuda, Tazawako, Senboku City, Akita Prefecture Representative: Representative Director Shinsuke Imamura Warabiza site: https://www.warabi.jp/ For more information about this release