Haruka Manase Announces 20th Anniversary Concert Storia at EX Theater Roppongi

Haruka Manase will mark her two decades on stage with a milestone solo concert titled 20th Anniversary Concert 〜Storia〜, scheduled for January 11, 2027, at EX Theater Roppongi in Tokyo.

Birthday Timing and a Sudden Theater Window

The performance lands on Manase’s birthday. She chose the timing deliberately to connect with the audiences who have supported her career.

Selecting the venue required moving quickly. A sudden opening appeared in the theater’s schedule, prompting the actor to seize the opportunity immediately.

Reflecting on a Winding Path to Principal Roles

The concert title draws from the word for history, story, and trajectory. It reflects the performer’s winding path to leading roles.

Manase acknowledged that breaking into the principal actor tier took longer than expected. She hopes her journey will encourage others facing obstacles.

Manase said that she is the type of person who took a very long time to enter the so-called principal tier, but she has realized that if you do not give up, you can get closer to your goals little by little and achieve them.

Collaborators and Guest Duets for Two Shows

To celebrate the milestone, Manase has invited significant collaborators to join her for guest duets across two separate performances.

The afternoon show features Mario Tashiro. He is a frequent co-star from Elisabeth who shares the same birthday and has exchanged annual greetings with Manase for years.

The evening performance features Asaka Manato. She is a colleague who has watched Manase since her early days in the Flower Troupe at Takarazuka.

Manase noted that Asaka provided guidance during both of her departures from Takarazuka and the Shiki Theatre Company. This cemented a deep personal history between the two performers.

Hybrid Performing Style Forged Across Two Major Companies

Manase credits her distinct stage identity to the contrasting training methods of her past affiliations. Her background spans the visual showmanship of Takarazuka Revue, which she joined in 2006 as a male-role performer in the Flower Troupe, alongside subsequent work with the Shiki Theatre Company.

That dual foundation equipped her with a wide stylistic range for different theatrical demands. Where Takarazuka emphasizes the aesthetics of visual presentation, Shiki focuses on a stripped-down approach to performance. Director Koike Shuichiro, who has mentored Manase since her entry into Takarazuka, praised her ability to synthesize the strengths of both institutions.

While originally trained as a high soprano, Manase expanded her vocal range significantly through her years playing male roles. Her broader training also encompasses traditional Japanese dance, the tea ceremony, and the koto. These elements contribute to her versatility across major musicals including Wicked and The Ghost and the Lady.

Repertoire Choices and Future Goals for the Stage

The upcoming concert features carefully structured setlists designed to reflect different facets of Manase’s career. The afternoon and evening shows will feature distinct selections, including pieces performed live for the first time as a demonstration of her artistic direction.

Manase intends to maintain a broad repertoire without stylistic blind spots, ensuring she can tackle any vocal challenge presented by future theatrical projects. She describes the musical stage as an inseparable home that combines acting, singing, and dancing into a unified whole.

The January 2027 concert at EX Theater Roppongi marks a single-day opportunity for audiences to experience the culmination of her twenty-year career, with tickets aimed at both longtime supporters and newcomers discovering musical theater.