Key Facts

• The Spirited Away stage play will be performed in Seoul from January to March 2026.
• The Seoul performance will be held at the Seoul Arts Center Opera House, hosted by CJ ENM.
• The stage production debuted at Tokyo’s Imperial Theatre in March 2022.
• It had 135 performances at the London Coliseum from April to August 2024, drawing 300,000 attendees.
• The Shanghai run began in July 2025 and has been selling out.

Toho Co., Ltd. has announced that the stage adaptation of Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away will be performed in Seoul, South Korea, from January to March 2026. Following the successful London and Shanghai runs, this marks the production’s third international performance. The Seoul engagement will be hosted by CJ ENM at the Seoul Arts Center Opera House.

History of the Stage Adaptation

The stage production of Spirited Away premiered in March 2022 at Tokyo’s Imperial Theatre as part of Toho’s 90th-anniversary celebrations. Adapted from the acclaimed animated film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, the story follows 10-year-old Chihiro as she navigates a world of gods and spirits to save her parents, who have been transformed into pigs.

In 2024, the production returned to the Imperial Theatre in March, followed by a domestic tour from April to June. Concurrently, a separate cast performed at the London Coliseum from April to August 2024, with a total of 135 performances. The London run, performed in Japanese by a Japanese cast, marked the largest overseas stage production in Japanese theatrical history. With a seating capacity of approximately 2,300, the theatre was sold out daily, attracting about 300,000 audience members.

International Expansion to Shanghai and Seoul

The production began its Shanghai engagement at the Shanghai Culture Square in July 2025, where performances have continued to sell out. Building on this momentum, the Seoul performance will take place from January to March 2026, marking the third overseas production.

The Seoul performances will be hosted by CJ ENM, one of South Korea’s leading entertainment companies. Details regarding ticket sales and casting for the Seoul run will be announced at a later date.

Comments from Toho and CJ ENM

Atsuro Ikeda, Executive Managing Director of Toho Co., Ltd., commented on the Seoul announcement:
“Since its premiere in 2022, the stage play Spirited Away has continued to refine its quality. We are proud to bring this production to South Korea with the strong partnership of CJ ENM. We hope audiences in Korea will fully enjoy the world of Spirited Away brought to life on stage.”

Ye Ju-yeol, head of CJ ENM’s Theatre Division, stated:
“We are confident that this will be a historic performance blending Studio Ghibli’s beautiful world with stage artistry. We will make thorough preparations to deliver an unforgettable experience to the Korean audience who have long awaited this production.”