The live-action stage play of the popular cycling manga series Yowamushi Pedal will return with a new production titled Yowamushi Pedal The Day 1. The key visual, full cast and character visuals have also been revealed.
The stage play, which celebrates the 10th anniversary of the series, will run from August 4 to August 13, 2023, at Tennozu Galaxy Theater in Tokyo, Japan.
Following the success of Yowamushi Pedal The Cadence! which debuted in July 2022, the same production team and main cast members are returning for the new production. New cast members joining the stage play include Ruito Aoyagi as Touichirou Izumida and Arai Sho as Akira Midousuji. Tickets will be available for pre-sale starting March 7.
Yowamushi Pedal has gained a massive following since its manga debut in 2008, and TV anime in 2013. The play is expected to be an experience that will allow fans to relive the early days of the series.
The Yowamushi Pedal stage is known for its Puzzle Ride System created by supervisor Shatner Nishida, who brings a realistic road race on stage that was once said to be impossible. The method of using a single handlebar and a mimic performed by the actors has been praised from all quarters as a revolutionary technique in the theatrical world.
The actors, who are active in a wide range of stage productions, run as fast as they can across the stage in order to express a road race. The heat generated by their earnest running and sweat as they challenge the limits of their physical strength heats up the hearts of the audience and moves many of them.
Since the 10th anniversary in 2022, the new series of stage plays have started with a script by Shatner Nishida and direction by Kōsuke Kujirai, who has played Junta Teshima up to now.
▍Yowamushi Pedal The Day 1 Stage Play Cast
Sohoku High School:
■ Ryunosuke Shimamura as Sakamichi Onoda
■ Shuya Sunagawa as Shunsuke Imaizumi
■ Satsuki Kitano as Shoukichi Naruko
■ Ryōsuke Yamamoto as Yuusuke Makishima
■ Yūsaku Kawasaki as Shingo Kinjou
■ Kōdai Takikawa as Jin Tadokoro
Hakone High School:
■ Shungo Takasaki as Juichi Fukutomi
■ Aizawa Rita as Yasutomo Arakita
■ Nobuki Fukushi as Jinpachi Todo
■ Ei Hyakunari as Hayato Shinkai
■ Ruito Aoyagi as Touichirou Izumida
■ Takuto Nakajima as Sangaku Manami
Kyoto Fushimi High School:
■ Arai Sho as Akira Midousuji
Puzzle Riders:
■ Puzzle Rider Director: Genki Ito
■ Puzzle Rider: Wataru Murakami
■ Puzzle Rider: Kensei Yamaguchi
■ Puzzle Rider: Yuta Wakabayashi
▍About Yowamushi Pedal
Yowamushi Pedal is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Wataru Watanabe. It began serialization in the 12th issue of Akita Shoten’s Weekly Shōnen Champion in 2008, and as of December 2021, the series has been compiled into 75 tankōbon volumes. The manga has been licensed in North America by Yen Press since December 15, 2015.
The story centers on Sakamichi Onoda, a rather timid, anime-loving first-year student at Sohoku High School. His life changed after meeting Shunsuke Imaizumi, a renowned cyclist since middle school, and Shoukichi Naruko, who swept the Kansai cycling championship. That is how Sakamichi ended up joining the competitive cycling club.
▍Yowamushi Pedal The Day 1 Staff
Original Work: Yowamushi Pedal by Wataru Watanabe (Serialized by Akita Shoten’s Weekly Shonen Champion)
Screenplay/Race Production Method Creation/Supervisor: Shatner Nishida
Director: Kōsuke Kujirai
Music: manzo
Lyrics/Songs: Haruko Momoi
Race Direction Cooperation: Takuya Kawaharada