Dress rehearsal report for the stage play "Kakegurui" ~All in on this production! Let's play Kakegurui!~

Press conference photo: From left, Yuki Sasamori as Kaede Toda, Ayaka Umeda as Kirari Momobami, Moeko Kanisawa (≠ME) as Yumeko Jabami, Seiichiro Nagata as Ryota Suzui, and Moeka Koizumi as Meari Hayami

From Friday, September 5, 2025 at Theater H in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo,Stage play "Kakegurui"has opened.
The original work is the manga "Kakegurui" written by Kawamoto Homura and illustrated by Naomura Toru, which has been serialized in the monthly "Gangan Joker" (Square Enix) since March 2014.
The TV anime began airing in 2017, and a live-action drama was aired in 2018, becoming a huge hit.
The story is set at Hyakkaou Private Academy, a school ruled by a class system based on gambling among students. The school gambling story, woven together by a diverse cast of characters, will keep you glued to your seat. You'll be transported to the new world of "Kakegurui," adorned with songs and dances, as psychological battles unfold before your very eyes. We had the opportunity to cover the official press conference and dress rehearsal, which took place at Theater H on September 5, 2025.

■ A crazy and beautiful world for everyone ~Official press conference~

Moeko Kanisawa (≠ME) as Jabami Yumeko
The stage production of "Kakegurui" features a lot of singing and dancing. The music is tailored to each character's personality, and the dance has both powerful and graceful elements, which I think are unique to the stage, so I hope you'll pay close attention. Before rehearsals began, I was really nervous, but director Nishida and the rest of the company created a very bright and energetic atmosphere in the rehearsal room, and I learned a lot. They carefully and meticulously crafted each scene, comparing it to the original manga, so I hope everyone will pay close attention to the details. I hope we can fully convey this insanely beautiful world to everyone, and I hope I can run through it together with you as Jabami Yumeko. I would be thrilled if you could share your thoughts with me. To everyone at the theater, please immerse yourself in this world! Thank you!

Seiichiro Nagata as Ryota Suzui
The highlights are really everything! The world of "Kakegurui" is colored with expressions that can only be seen on stage, and I think it's an unprecedented production that no one has ever seen before. I'm the strongest mob character, so I appear in many scenes, but they're all beautiful and powerful, so I hope you'll come and see it with high expectations.

Moeka Koizumi as Hayami Meari
From the moment we announced that "Kakegurui" would be adapted into a stage play, so many people expressed their joy, and we would like to create a production that exceeds their expectations. There are parts where the ensemble members perform acrobatics, so I think it will be a production worth seeing, and I hope you will enjoy it.

Yuki Sasamori as Kaede Mameda
Every single actor was extremely expressive, so I learned a lot from them during rehearsals and have been able to get to where I am today. I myself have been performing, and it has allowed me to embody a new form of theatre, and the work clearly shows the significance of being performed by real people. It can be enjoyed with all five senses... well, there is no smell, taste or touch, but... I think it is a work that can be enjoyed to the fullest with the eyes and ears. I will do my best.

Ayaka Umeda as Momobami Kirari
Director Nishida Daisuke said to me during rehearsals, "While the script has already decided who will win, I want you to remember the thrill of not knowing which way it will go." Hearing those words, I felt like everyone's energy and the atmosphere were more lively than usual during rehearsals. The audience may already know which way it will go from reading the original manga or watching the anime, but I hope they will watch with that thrill of "maybe something different will happen today."
"Kakegurui" has been adapted into an anime and a movie, and I had the opportunity to watch both before starting rehearsals. Both were very good. However, the stage adaptation is just as amazing! I look forward to seeing you there.

■The production is reminiscent of the original! ~Student report~

Right from the start, I was captivated by the production, which was reminiscent of the original work.
Director Nishida's composition of having multiple events progress simultaneously and intertwine is on full display in this production as well! Jabami Yumeko, played by Kanisawa Moeko, is captivating with her insane and overwhelming beauty. The lighting accentuates Yumeko's strangeness and beauty, so I hope you'll pay close attention to her facial expressions.
Nagata Seiichiro, who plays Suzui Ryota, describes the character as the strongest mob character, and his acting skills bring the character to life.
Of the actors, one who deserves special mention is Umeda Ayaka, who played Momobami Kirari. From the moment she appeared on stage, she had such an overwhelming presence that she changed the atmosphere of the room, embodying the charisma of her character.
The scene that made the biggest impression on me was when idol Yumemite Yumemi spoke about her feelings for her fans. Combined with the lighting effects, it really struck a chord with me personally.
It's a fantastic stage that can be enjoyed by both men and women!
I sincerely hope that we can reach the final performance without anyone missing!

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on July 5, 2025 by Yurie Watanabe, second-year student at Josai International University

<Stage play "Kakegurui" performance information>