The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe Film to Get Stage Play Adaptation in 2026 – Full Details Inside
The popular anime film The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe is all set to be adapted into a live-action stage play in Japan from January 2026. With Hiroki Suzuki and Ryota Murai in lead roles, the production will bring the supernatural mystery of Kitaro to life in theatres across Tokyo, Osaka, and Saga.
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The world of GeGeGe no Kitaro will soon make its way from the big screen to the stage. A live-action stage play adaptation of The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe (Kitaro Tanjou: GeGeGe no Nazo) has been officially announced for early 2026 in Japan.
The announcement came via the production’s official website and X (formerly Twitter) account, which also revealed a teaser visual showcasing the two lead actors — Hiroki Suzuki as Kitaro’s father and Ryota Murai as Mizuki.
Performance Schedule
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Tokyo – Sunshine Theater: January 9 to 25, 2026
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Osaka – Umeda Arts Theater Drama City: January 29 to February 1, 2026
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Saga – Tosu Civic Culture Hall: February 7 and 8, 2026
The production will be directed by Norihito Nakayashiki, known for his work on World Trigger and Kuroko’s Basketball stage plays, with a script written by Nobuhiro Mouri (Musical Hakuoki series). Renowned composer Kenji Kawai, who created the music for the original anime film, will also provide the score for the stage adaptation.
Cast List
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Hiroki Suzuki – Kitaro’s father
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Ryota Murai – Mizuki
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Himena Okamoto (Nogizaka46) – Sayo Ryuga
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Yoko Soumi – Otome Ryuga
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Harumi Shuhama – Hinoe Ryuga
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Mikiko Okauchi – Toshiko Osada
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Koichi Kosse – Tokimaro Ryuga
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Kei Kato – Kozo Ryuga
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Shoma Nakata – Nazumi
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Ise Hashimoto – Tokiya Osada
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Ichiro Mikami – Katsunori Ryuga
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Shinji Rachi – Gengi Osada
From Film to Stage
The anime film The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe was first released in Japan on November 17, 2023, in a PG12-rated version. A darker, R15+ edition titled Shinsei-ban (“Genuine Edition”) followed on October 4, 2024. Together, the two versions earned an impressive 3.22 billion yen (approximately USD 21.8 million) at the Japanese box office.
The project was produced to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of GeGeGe no Kitaro creator Shigeru Mizuki, one of Japan’s most beloved manga authors.
Story Synopsis (via Toei Animation Europe)
Set in 1956 (Showa 31), The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe takes place in Nagura Village, a community secretly under the control of the powerful Ryuga family, who influence Japan’s political and financial circles.
Mizuki, an employee at the Imperial Blood Bank, enters the village under the pretense of mourning the death of the family patriarch. However, he harbors a secret mission. At the same time, Kitaro’s father arrives in the village searching for his missing wife.
Within the Ryuga family, tensions escalate as a battle over succession unfolds. During this turmoil, a mysterious murder occurs at the village shrine, triggering a series of eerie and supernatural events that will change the fate of the village forever.
Why This Stage Play Matters
With its dark fantasy roots, historical setting, and supernatural intrigue, The Birth of Kitaro has a strong fan base both in Japan and internationally. The stage play adaptation will allow fans to experience the story in a new, immersive way — blending live performance with the chilling atmosphere of the GeGeGe universe.
Given the success of other anime-to-stage adaptations, this production is expected to draw both theater enthusiasts and anime fans, making it one of the most anticipated cultural events of 2026.
