The fifth production run of the stage play adaptation of browser and mobile game “Touken Ranbu –Online–“ by DMM GAMES and Nitroplus – Hiden: Yuinome no Hototogisu (Tragedy of the Greyheaded Cuckoo) kick-started its performance run in Tokyo on 2 June 2018 to full-house audiences for both their afternoon and evening shows.

© DMM / Nitroplus / Theatrical “Touken Ranbu” Production Committee

The production stars popular 2.5D stage actors Hiroki Suzuki and Yoshihiko Aramaki as leaders of the troupe, along with 10 other popular young stage actors in their respective roles as human-embodiments of historically treasured Japanese swords.

© DMM / Nitroplus / Theatrical “Touken Ranbu” Production Committee

The plot for this stage production centres on the historical event in Kyoto in 1565 known as the “Eiroku Uprising Incident” during the reign of the 13th Shogun Yoshiteru of the Ashikaga Clan.

Unlike its musical counterpart, the story plots and historical timelines of the Touken Ranbu stage plays are all indirectly but indefinitely linked.

© DMM / Nitroplus / Theatrical “Touken Ranbu” Production Committee

All the stage plays since its production commencement in May 2016 up until the present one relay the tales and incidents that took place during the Sengoku (Warring) Period in Japan’s history; the stories and lives of famous historical personages the likes of Nobunaga Oda, Masamune Date, Ieyasu Tokugawa, Kanbei Kuroda, and the current Yoshiteru Ashikaga are re-enacted on stage.

© DMM / Nitroplus / Theatrical “Touken Ranbu” Production Committee

Stage play “Touken Ranbu – Tragedy of the Greyheaded Cuckoo” will run from 2 June to 29 July to a total of 55 scheduled performances across three major Japanese cities – Tokyo, Kyoto and Fukuoka. The final Tokyo performance on 29 July will also get live-viewing streams in selected cinemas nationwide in Japan, as well as paid subscription videos-on-demand live-streams on DMM.com’s official channels.

Sources: Natalie, Numan Tokyo