NARUTO Non-Verbal Ninja Show to Be Performed in Kyoto from February 2027, Blending Physical Expression, Cutting-Edge Technology, and Stage Mechanisms to Depict Ninjutsu

A non-verbal “ninja” live show based on the hugely popular manga NARUTO will be performed as Ningeki NARUTO at Kyoto’s Minamiza Theatre from February to June 2027. A teaser video filmed at Minamiza in Kyoto has also been released.

A non-verbal “ninja” live show based on the hugely popular manga NARUTO will be performed as Ningeki NARUTO at Kyoto’s Minamiza Theatre from February to June 2027. A teaser video filmed at Minamiza in Kyoto has also been released.

The production will be directed by Go Ueki, who has worked on numerous stage adaptations of globally popular titles such as Attack on Titan and Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon. Neil Dorward, known for his work with Cirque du Soleil, will also join the project as global creative consultant. This powerful collaboration between top creators from Japan and the U.K. is set to deliver an unprecedented immersive experience and excitement.

Yuuri Takahashi will play Naruto Uzumaki in the first production period.

The large-scale project will take place at Minamiza, located in Shijo Kawara, at the heart of Kyoto, a city that draws attention from around the world. Minamiza is a historic theatrical landmark and a beloved symbol of the city. The newly created Ningeki NARUTO will combine traditional culture, pop culture, and ninja entertainment in a hybrid format. As a non-verbal live show that can be enjoyed by audiences without relying on language, it is positioned as a new must-see experiential attraction for both domestic and international tourists.

Nelke Planning and S-SIZE, which have long been involved in producing stage adaptations of manga and anime, will bring together their expertise and devote all of their technology and know-how to what is described as their largest challenge to date.

The production will portray the legendary Japanese figure of the “ninja” through the lens of NARUTO, a globally renowned modern Japanese IP. As a non-verbal live show that uses no spoken dialogue, it will depict the ninjutsu of NARUTO through a fusion of live-action performances by actors, physical expression including action, acrobatics, and aerial techniques, cutting-edge technologies such as projection mapping and illusion, and the many stage mechanisms unique to Minamiza as a kabuki theater.

While depicting the story of Naruto Uzumaki’s growth alongside his friends in the Hidden Leaf Village during the boyhood arc of NARUTO, the show aims to become a new staple of Kyoto tourism as an entirely new “ninja” show that anyone can enjoy without relying on language.

NARUTO follows Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja who aspires to become Hokage, the leader of the Hidden Leaf Village, while overcoming fierce battles with rivals and ties to the past. The manga was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1999 to 2014. Its collected volumes span 72 books, and the series has surpassed 250 million copies in worldwide circulation.

The TV anime began airing on the TV Tokyo network in 2002, followed by NARUTO: Shippuden from 2007 until March 2017. The franchise has also expanded across 11 animated films, games, merchandise, exhibitions, 2.5D musicals, music festivals, kabuki, and many other forms of media and entertainment.

Staff

Original Work: NARUTO by Masashi Kishimoto, published by Shueisha’s Jump Comics
Director: Go Ueki
Global Creative Consultant: Neil Dorward
Series Composition: Shinjiro Kameda

Cast

Naruto Uzumaki: Yuuri Takahashi / Ryuma Aoi
Sasuke Uchiha: REI
Sakura Haruno: Yui Oikawa
Kakashi Hatake: HIROMA

Comments

■Go Ueki
I am honored to serve as the director of Ningeki NARUTO. I feel deeply privileged to be able to create NARUTO, a work that continues to be loved around the world, in the special setting of Kyoto’s historic Minamiza Theatre. I am already filled with excitement at the thought of being involved in a work that has continued to captivate the hearts of so many people over the years.

While never forgetting the bonds between friends, the beliefs that this work has cherished, and our respect for ninja culture, which Japan proudly shares with the world, I will approach the creation of this production with great care, one step at a time. The entire cast and staff will devote ourselves wholeheartedly to creating a stage experience that makes audiences feel as though they are traveling through the world of NARUTO. I sincerely look forward to seeing everyone at Minamiza in Kyoto.

■Neil Dorward
It is a great honor to be part of this project and to work with director Go Ueki and the wonderful Japanese creative team. I am very much looking forward to contributing to the creation of a work that is unprecedented, visually dynamic, and worthy of the great legacy built by NARUTO.

NARUTO has captivated fans around the world for many years through its rich storytelling, unforgettable characters, and universal themes of perseverance, friendship, and courage. It is a great honor to help bring that spirit to the stage in a new form.

What makes this project special is the opportunity to take on a new creative challenge at Minamiza, a theater with such a rich cultural history. I am confident that by bringing together Japanese artistry, theatrical innovation, and the spirit of NARUTO, we can create a truly special production.

Source : ORICON NEWS