"DANDADAN" Gets Its First Stage Play Adaptation! Set for Summer 2026, Led by Director Imagine Ito and Scriptwriter Shinjiro Kameda

It has been confirmed that the manga DANDADAN will receive its first stage play adaptation in celebration of its 5th anniversary. Titled DANDADAN: The Stage, the production is scheduled to run in Tokyo and Osaka during August and September 2026.

Written and illustrated by Yukinobu Tatsu and serialized on Shueisha's Shonen Jump+ app, DANDADAN is an occultic battle and coming-of-age story. It follows Momo Ayase, a high school girl who believes in ghosts but not aliens, and "Okarun" (Ken Takakura), an occult fanatic who believes in aliens but not ghosts, as they confront various supernatural phenomena. The series has garnered massive popularity for its high-octane storytelling and breathtaking battle scenes, boasting over 12 million copies in circulation and surpassing 1 billion views on the app. The TV anime adaptation launched in 2024 was a global sensation, with a third season already greenlit.

The production will be directed by Imagine Ito, the leader of the dance entertainment group Umebō, known for directing MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES THE STAGE and choreographing for the Touken Ranbu stage play series. Ito intends to use a unique method that seamlessly merges dialogue, music, and physical expression, aiming for a staging that immerses the audience through "emotional expression that goes beyond mere words."

Shinjiro Kameda, the writer behind numerous hits such as the MANKAI STAGE "A3!" series and Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- Rule the Stage, will handle the script. The music will be composed by Ryo Konishi, who served as the music director for the opening ceremony of the 2025 World Exposition (Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai) and has composed for various dramas and films. This project marks his first participation in a 2.5D stage production.

Alongside the announcement, comments have been released from the original creator Yukinobu Tatsu and the creative team. The latest information regarding the performances will be announced periodically via the official stage X account.