Based on an original story by Shuichi Yoshida! Written and directed by Naoki Hiratsuka! The play “Parade,” depicting the “real” lives of young people, is now open!! Kyodo Medias Co., Ltd. Press Release: October 25, 2025 Based on an original story by Shuichi Yoshida! Written and directed by Naoki Hiratsuka! The play “Parade,” depicting the “real” lives of young people, is now open!! “Parade,” a novel by Shuichi Yoshida, known as the author of the hit film “National Treasure,” was first published in 2002. It received rave reviews immediately after its release and won the 15th Shugoro Yamamoto Prize. It was adapted into a film in 2010, winning the International Federation of Film Critics’ Prize at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival, and was first adapted for the stage in 2012. In July 2022, a new production incorporating new elements was performed on the center stage of the New National Theatre’s Small Theatre, where it received rave reviews. And now, three years later, the stage production “Parade” has opened at Theater H.
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characters: Ryosuke, Kotomi, Mirai, Satoru, and Naoki. Baba Ryoma plays Ihara Naoki, who works at an independent film distribution company; Iwata Haruki plays Soma Mirai, an illustrator and general store manager; Ito Riria (Nogizaka46) plays Ogakiuchi Kotomi, an unemployed woman waiting for a call from her ex-boyfriend, a popular young actor; Miyaji Itsuki (4Dollar50Cents Theatre Company) plays Kokubu Satoru, an 18-year-old male prostitute who claims to work in the “night business”; Ando Yumeka plays Sugimoto Ryosuke, a current university student; and Sato Reina (Haiyuza Theatre Company) plays the female roles.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12949/3184/12949-3184-69b9a57afcece78635089361f90a69e9-1500×1000.jpg Comments have arrived from the six cast members ahead of the opening! ◼︎Ryoma Baba as Naoki Ihara The stage play “Parade.” The phantom premiere in 2020 was canceled midway through rehearsals due to the social situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Five years have passed since then, and I am truly happy to be able to take part in this production once again. The role I’m playing has changed from Ryosuke to Naoki, but I also believe that my way of thinking and the way I see the world have changed over the past five years, so I will do my best to cherish those feelings in my performance. A luxurious play with only six actors at Theater H. We’ve carefully woven together the changing emotions of the young people sharing a room through rehearsals under director Hiratsuka. We sincerely hope that as many people as possible will come to see the play!!! ◼︎Mirai Soma: Yo Aoi Iwata This is a story woven by six people. We all exchanged and received various things, and had a fun time rehearsing, accumulating new challenges and discoveries every day. We will approach each performance with sensitivity and care. At first glance, it is an ordinary life shared by five ordinary people. The small discomforts and distortions lurking within may be hidden in your own daily lives as well. Please come and see it at the theater! ◼︎Ririka Ito as Kotomi Okouchi I will be playing Ogakiuchi Kotomi. I’m Ito Riria from Nogizaka46. We are very happy and excited to be able to express the profound world of “Parade” in the theater. We are very happy and excited to be able to bring it to everyone. This is a play woven and created by six people. I think it’s a fascinating play that will draw you in before you even realize it and leave you thinking about it even after you’ve finished watching, so please enjoy! ◼︎ Miyaji Itsuki as Kokubo Satoru I’m Miyaji Itsuki, and I’ll be playing the role of Kokubo Satoru. I am delighted to be able to bring the wonderful original work “Parade” to life on stage with my fascinating co-stars and reliable staff. I will do my best to portray Satoru, carefully attending to each and every moment so that you can enjoy the unique atmosphere of the character I play. Please come to the theater and enjoy this production as if you were peeking into “communal living.” ◼︎Ryosuke Sugimoto role Yumeha Ando It’s finally starting. I’m super happy and looking forward to it!! This is the kind of natural conversation that takes place at home barefoot…! I really love this play, and I’m so happy to be able to appear in a production with this kind of feel, so I’m really looking forward to the performance! Ryosuke is a bit of an oddball, but I think there’s something about him that makes him lovable, and I’ll do my best to portray him in a way that makes him lovable on stage. We hope you’ll experience and ponder this mysterious story woven by six people. We look forward to seeing you at the theater. ◼︎Female role Reina Sato I feel that connecting with the audience is even more important than usual for this production. There will likely be a lot to discover about my role, especially once the audience enters the stage. I will approach each performance with fresher, more sincerity. The novel “Parade,” which remains relevant even more than 20 years after its first publication, is sure to become a stage production in Hiratsuka’s hands…! Stay tuned!
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12949/3184/12949-3184-59aec4e0b68dc1b9185126046d33fcb0-1500×1000.jpg ＜STORY＞ Four young people, two men and two women, live in a 2LDK apartment in Tokyo. “A superficial relationship? That’s just right for me.” Though each of them is filled with anxiety and impatience, by pretending to be their “true selves” They continue to live together in a gentle, lazy way. When Satoru, a male prostitute, joins them, small ripples gradually begin to spread…
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12949/3184/12949-3184-0280259bc8e3d85ef235fc26b119bbf5-1500×1000.jpg Novel “Parade” (Gentosha Bunko) Set among five young people sharing a room, this novel depicts their communal life and the consequences that arise from the strain it creates. This novel, winner of the 15th Shugoro Yamamoto Prize, received rave reviews immediately after its release. https://www.gentosha.co.jp/book/detail/9784344405158/
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/12949/3184/12949-3184-32e7bb38bc60f108b2fbe58996058c32-1500×1000.jpg ＜Performance Overview＞ Title: Stage Play “Parade”
Screenplay/Direction: Naotaka Hiratsuka Original work: “Parade” (Gentosha Bunko) Author: Shuichi Yoshida Performance period: October 24th (Friday) to November 1st (Saturday), 2025 Theater: Theater H Cast: Ryoma Baba as Naoki Ihara Miku Souma…Hikari Iwata Kotomi Ogakiuchi…Ririka Ito (Nogizaka46) Satoru Kokubo…Itsuki Miyaji (4Dollar50Cents Theater Company) Ryosuke Sugimoto… Ando Yumeka Female role… Sato Reina (Haiyuza Theater Company) Tickets: Tax included 11,000 yen without bonus 13,200 yen with bonus (group photo of all attendees, original goods) ＜Repeat Customer Bonuses＞ 2 1st…Unreleased bromide A of your choice of cast member
3rd…Unreleased bromide B of your choice of cast member (with photocopied autograph) Application period: August 23rd (Sat) 12:00 – August 31st (Sun) 23:59 *For details, please check the fan club of each performer. Production: HIKE Co., Ltd. Sponsored by: Stage “Parade” Production Committee Official website:
https://parade-stage.com Official X: @parade_stage
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