Yuzuru Hanyu Announces Prequel Ice Show at Miyagi Solo Performance

Professional figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu announced the fourth installment of his solo ice show series, ICE STORY: PREQUEL, on April 11, 2026. The announcement took place during the opening night of the Yuzuru Hanyu ‘REALIVE’ an ICE STORY project at the Sekisui Heim Super Arena in Miyagi, where Hanyu serves as the executive producer.

Hanyu, a two-time Winter Olympic champion now in his fourth year as a professional, stated that the upcoming production will feature an original story and original music. While he did not specify a date for the performance, he confirmed that the conceptualization of the original story, which he wrote himself, is already complete.

Collaborative Composition and Themes

The music for ICE STORY: PREQUEL will be composed entirely by Marihiko Hara, 43, who is recognized for his work on the film National Treasure. Hara’s contributions will extend beyond the skating performances to include all video segments within the show.

Hanyu indicated that the collaboration with Hara was intended to ensure the production remained entirely original. The story written by Hanyu is centered around the theme of white, a concept that Hara’s compositions are intended to bring to life.

I wanted the entire show to be original, and thought about who I wanted to work with. After creating the original story, I discussed it with Mr. Hara. He’s incredibly busy, so at first I just hoped he could write even one song, but he said he wanted to compose everything.

Yuzuru Hanyu

The Evolution of the ICE STORY Project

The announcement of PREQUEL follows a series of productions that have explored themes of existence and the human experience. The ICE STORY project began with Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 2023 ‘GIFT’, which was staged at the Tokyo Dome. This was followed by the Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 2nd ‘RE_PRAY’ TOUR, which focused on the theme of being alive.

The third installment, the Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 3rd ‘Echoes of Life’ TOUR, further expanded these themes by presenting programs and a narrative centered on the question of what life itself means.

Prior to the ICE STORY series, Hanyu produced Prologue in 2022. That solo show, held in Yokohama and Hachinohe, served as the initial introduction to the series and featured a flashback of Hanyu’s skating career.

REALIVE and the Concept of Living Works

The current event, REALIVE, is designed as a one-day live performance that reimagines programs Hanyu created throughout his career. The project treats these past programs as living works, bringing them back to life to showcase Hanyu’s current artistic evolution and emotional resonance.

The performance held at the Sekisui Heim Super Arena in Miyagi on April 12, 2026, is scheduled for a special theater broadcast. This special viewing will be available in movie theaters across Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau on April 14, 2026, starting at 18:30 (GMT+8).

Through these successive projects, Hanyu continues to integrate skating, music, visuals, and lighting to explore narrative forms of expression in his professional career.