Yu Shirota and star-studded ensemble bring song and dance spectacular to Esplanade Theatre in June 2024

For the first time in Southeast Asia, one of Japan’s oldest production houses Kyodo Tokyo presents the highly anticipated Tokyo〜the city of music and love〜, starring multi-award-winning Japanese actor and singer, Yu Shirota. 

Happening at Esplanade Theatre on Jun 22, 2024, the regional debut of this new production in Singapore (it ran in Tokyo earlier in May) is a fusion of diverse musical genres and dance. 

Shirota, who is also producer and co-director, is best known for his chart-topping albums Mariage (2020) and a singer (2018), as well as for his roles as Kagurazaka Makoto in the Japanese action drama Hana-Kimi, and Tuxedo Mask in the Sailor Moon musicals.

He brings along a star-studded ensemble to the show – look out for special guest performances by style icon and J-Pop star Miwa, and Singapore’s own homegrown heartthrob, Nathan Hartono. They are joined by J-pop stars Rioske, Yuzu and emerging talent Rainy, plus a troupe of dynamic Japanese dancers.

In Shirota’s premiere performance in Singapore, the all-star cast will bring the vibrancy and charm of Tokyo to life through a fantastical blend of multilingual family-friendly song and dance performances spanning J-pop, Disney classics and Broadway hits, including Shirota’s own renditions of beloved musical songs like “On My Own” from Les Miserables and “Die Schatten werden langer” from Elisabeth.

Co-directing the show is Kahori Kanaya, renowned for creating spectacular shows for Japan’s leading theme parks. Popular Japanese R&B singer Sweep directs the music. 

According to Shirota, audiences can expect to be wowed with dynamic staging, choreography and costumes which “embody the vibrant energy that is synonymous with Tokyo and its embrace of worldwide cultures”.

Tickets for Tokyo〜the city of music and love〜 are available from Sistic here.