Atami Murder Case Monte Carlo Illusion 2025

Tawada Tomoyoshi, Yoshishima Riku, Torikoshi Yuki, and Kizaki Yuria are reunited!

Photography: Sagisaka Yuuma

From December 18, 2025 at Kinokuniya Hall in Tokyo"Atami Murder Case: Monte Carlo Illusion 2025"has opened.
"Monte Carlo Illusion" opened in 2020 and caused a sensation among audiences. However, due to the impact of the pandemic, the performance was forced to be canceled. Later, in 2024, a new cast was brought in to commemorate Kinokuniya Hall's 60th anniversary, and the final performance was met with a full house and a standing ovation, sparking many requests for a re-run.
And in December 2025, "Monte Carlo Illusion" will make its long-awaited return to Kinokuniya Hall!
Tawada Tomoyoshi, who continues to captivate audiences with his bewitching and insane acting, plays the lead role of Detective Chief Kimura Denbei. Kizaki Yuria, who will be continuing her role as Policewoman Mizuno Tomoko from 2024, will portray her heartbreaking yet powerful side. Also reprising her role from 2024, Detective Hayami Kensaku will be played by Yoshijima Riku, who has a wide range of impressive performances from TV to film. Suspect Oyama Kintaro will be played by Torikoshi Yuki, whose dignified presence, backed by his extensive stage experience, has been a key player in this production and troupe. Directed by Nakayashi Norihito, who has masterfully elevated this unorthodox play, this production will once again be directed by Noda Yuki of the dance entertainment group Umebou, which creates a theatrical worldview through dance and J-POP. Don't miss this all-new "Monte Carlo Illusion."
This time, we covered the scene reveal, stage greeting just before the opening, and full rehearsal, which took place on December 17, 2025, prior to the opening.

"We won't let it end as just a re-run" Bonds reaffirmed through a week of rehearsals - Stage greeting just before the opening

■ Mr. Tawada Tomoyoshi
I will be playing the role of Detective Chief Kimura Denbei. My name is Tawada Tomoyoshi. "Monte Carlo Illusion" was a production that was completed in 2024, four years after it began, and it is a production that we hold very dear.
At the final performance last year, I felt the enthusiasm of everyone, to the point that I wondered if the Olympics were really happening. As an actor, I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to be on such a stage. Also, "Monte Carlo Illusion" is a work that Abe Hiroshi has performed for a long time, so I hope that those who saw Abe's Monte Carlo will also come and see the current Monte Carlo. Please come to the theater. Thank you very much.

■Riku Kashima
I play the role of Detective Hayami Kensaku. My name is Yoshijima Riku. I first encountered "Atami Murder Case: Monte Carlo Illusion" last year and fell in love with the show. Even during rehearsals, I could sense from each cast member that they loved the show. I'm very happy to be standing here again with the same cast as last year, and I'm excited to be able to present it to you all again, even more powerful than last year.
I hope that the people who come to see this love for the work will also take it in and spread the love for Monte. Thank you very much.

■ Yuria Kizaki
I will be playing the role of policewoman Mizuno Tomoko. My name is Kizaki Yuria. I am very happy to be performing a work by Tsuka, which I love, but since we will be performing with the same cast as last year, we will be having a little more fun than last year...!? I would like to deliver a fun and lively Montezuma, so I would be happy if you would come to the theater. Thank you very much.

■Yuki Torikoshi
I'm Torigoe Yuki, who plays Oyama Kintaro. I'm really happy to be back in my beloved Monte with this cast, and to be able to perform this "love story" at the end of the year.
And, although seats are limited on December 23rd, 24th, and 25th, word on the street is that "if you come here, love will grow!" so I would be delighted if everyone could go and see it.

Q. This will be a repeat performance following last year, but what kind of changes and bonds have emerged within the team?

Tawada: Actually, we only had one week to rehearse this time, so it was an incredibly short time to create the piece. But strangely enough, no one seemed worried when rehearsals began. This showed a mutual trust that "we can do it with these members," and I felt on the first day of rehearsal that the Monte team had a strong bond."

Yoshishima: I'm trying my best to keep up...

Torikoshi: Even though he said he was desperate, something has changed about Riku after a year...

Yoshishima: I'm trying to be more adventurous than last year, but I'm not sure if it's going in the right direction...I've started to go off track in some cases, so I'd like to get my seniors to pull me back in and tell me that I'm not right, and continue to power up.

Q. Is there any memorable moment during practice?

Kizaki: It was thrilling to have a full rehearsal from the very first day of rehearsal.

Torikoshi: Because we all trust each other, we were able to pass the baton to each other during the full rehearsal, and I felt a renewed sense of bond between us.

Tawada: This time, rehearsals were short, but on the flip side, we had a lot of time with Noda Yuki, a senior at Umebou, who came in and helped us brush up on the choreography. Monte is an important element in the creation of its worldview, so we all worked together to really refine and update that, and it was a lot of fun.

Torikoshi: We all shared the same feeling that we didn't want it to end as just a revival.

Q. Please give a message to everyone attending.

Tawada: This work, "Atami Murder Case: Monte Carlo Illusion," is a play that has been performed since the Showa era, so I'm sure there are people who think it's a difficult subject. That's actually how I felt at first, too.
However, as mentioned earlier, this Monte play in particular from the Atami Murder Case series contains many entertainment elements such as singing and dancing, making it an easy entry point into theater, and we also feel a lot while performing it.
I believe that by coming to this theater and immersing yourself in this worldview through our passion, you will be able to feel the beautiful words that Tsuka-san has written and the uplifting feeling, so I hope you will come to the theater. And if everyone thinks, "Monte is fun!", I think "Atami Murder Case" will spread even further.
We will continue to deliver this work, "Atami Murder Case: Monte Carlo Illusion," with a sense of responsibility, so we would be grateful if you could continue to help us spread this work to as many people as possible. Thank you in advance.

Photography: Sagisaka Yuuma

Confrontational words illuminate the weaknesses and strengths of people - Student theater report

It was a work in which words and emotions collided head-on.
The lines are delivered one after the other at a rapid pace, and while there are scenes that will make you laugh, the film also mercilessly exposes human weaknesses and flaws.
It makes you think that the stronger a person appears, the more vulnerable they may actually be, and the more vulnerable they are, and the more frankly they clash with each other, without hiding their emotions, leaving them completely exposed, deeply stirring the hearts of the audience. By taking in the emotions rather than thinking about them, it was a time for me to face my inner self. I think this play leaves you feeling open and relaxed after seeing it.
Musashino University, 3rd year student, Akina Yoshimatsu

Each line felt more like it was being delivered directly to the audience, rather than as an explanation.
So it wasn't difficult to understand, and with the singing and dancing, it was a very enjoyable performance.
The opening was particularly impressive, with lighting, music, and dance all coming together in a production that clearly showed respect for Tsuka Kohei's direction, but also had an arrangement unique to this production that was very fresh and cool! I was immediately drawn into the world of the work, and was excited to see what was about to happen!
It was hard to believe that they had only been rehearsing for a week; the sense of unity and trust that comes from spending time together as a cast member was palpable throughout the entire performance.
"Atami Murder Case: Monte Carlo Illusion 2025" was born from the power of words, the power of physical expression, and the unity of the cast. It was a work that left a lasting impression, as if it had absorbed a very strong energy.
Yurie Watanabe, second-year student at Josai International University

Outline of the performance

[Performance Dates] Thursday, December 18th to Sunday, December 28th, 2025, 11 performances in total
[Venue] Kinokuniya Hall (4F Kinokuniya Bookstore Shinjuku Main Store, 177 Shinjuku 3-chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0022)
[Ticket Price] 8,500 yen (all seats reserved, tax included) [Tickets on sale now]
[Cooperation] Tsuka Kohei Office
[Partner] Kinokuniya Bookstore
[Production] R.U.P./Gauche Brothers
[Organizer] Atami Murder Case Monte Carlo Illusion 2025 Production Committee
[Inquiries] Mitt 03-6265-3201 (weekdays 12:00-17:00)
[HP]http://www.rup.co.jp/stage/atami_2025.html

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on December 17, 2025 by Musashino University third-year student Yoshimatsu Akina and Josai International University second-year student Watanabe Yurie