"Tsuka Kohei 17th Anniversary Special Performance "Atami Murder Case" Last Message" The last message to be delivered on the 17th anniversary of his death

The special performance "Atami Murder Case: The Last Message" commemorating the 2th anniversary of Tsuka Kohei's death began on February 14, 2026, at Kinokuniya Hall in Tokyo.
The role of Chief Detective Motomura Denbei, who was said to be "the one and only man in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department," will be continued by Atsushi Arai, who has been playing this important role since 2020 and is currently considered the only one of its kind in Japan.In the latest installment of director Nakae's "Kyojo" series, he was selected to play the role of the strict assistant instructor Kitami Arata, and has received high praise for his solid and reliable acting.
The heroine, policewoman Mizuno Tomoko, who conducts a risky undercover investigation, will be played by Ohara Yuno, a former member of Dream5 who has been active in a variety of fields in recent years as an actress, appearing in TV dramas and films.She played an impressive and charming female student in the latest installment of "Kyojo," and has now been selected to replace Nakae as the heroine.
The double role of Mizuno Tomoko will be played by Murayama Ayaka, who made her stunning Kinokuniya debut in 2025 as Okita Souji in "Shin Bakumatsu Junjoden" and graduated from AKB48 in the same year. She has appeared in over 1,300 theater performances and is known as the "goddess of the theater" for her solid expressiveness.
The role of the criminal, Oyama Kintaro, will be played by Yokota Taiga, a member of CLASS SEVEN who made his debut in 2025 and left a strong impression in the stage production of IMPACT. With this big selection, he will now break the previous record for the youngest actor to play the role of Oyama, aged 17 years and 1 month, held by Masuko Atsuki in 2017, at 16 years and 1 month.
Also playing the double role of Oyama Kintaro will be Hiroki Hyakuna, who received high praise for his role as Sakamoto Ryoma in the 2025 production of "Shin Bakumatsu Junjoden" and is known as a rising star in the musical world, continuing to achieve remarkable success in productions such as "ALTAR BOYZ."
And the role of Detective Kumada Tomekichi is played by Takahashi Ryuki, who is said to be an indispensable presence in Kinokuniya Tsuka Kohei's works.
Other familiar names on the cast include Hajime Kubota and Dai Yanagishita.
During the performance, there will be a variety of planned performances, including shuffle performances and special performances, which will liven up the 17th Tsuka Kohei event.
This time, we covered the Team Unicorn scene release that took place on February 17, 2026.

Photography: Sagisaka Yuuma

A Stage Where Words Breathe - Student Reports

It didn't take long for me to be drawn into the world of the work, and I was completely immersed in the story. Rather than being "drawn in," it felt more like I was "dragged in."
Each line is delivered with a sense of speed, and the actors' emotions and passion are so intense that it feels as if they have blood flowing through their veins. The intensity of the action makes you lean forward and become engrossed in the action, making it difficult to even blink. There are also modern scenes, which are appealing because you can watch it without having to worry about being on guard.
The final message of "Atami Murder Case" was as red as a raging flame, yet as fleeting as cigarette smoke that drifts in the air at an unexpected moment.
It was a rich and intense time filled with beauty and sadness.
Musashino University, 3rd year student, Akina Yoshimatsu

I was overwhelmed when I covered a public rehearsal some time ago, but I think the impact of the performance will be even greater with the addition of costumes and props.
I think the biggest appeal of this work lies in the vivid conversations that take place off-mic and the eye-catching visuals. The story is set in the past, but it's not difficult to understand, and I felt that the theme of "love" that Tsuka Kohei had been depicting since his lifetime resonates directly with the present day. It's also sprinkled with material that incorporates modern trends, making it a very enjoyable watch!
Every time I watch it, I feel a new emotion and realize that it is a play that makes me feel the depth of the work. I feel like I have once again experienced why this story has been loved for so long.
Yurie Watanabe, second-year student at Josai International University

[Outline of performance]

Tsuka Kohei 17th Anniversary Special Performance "Atami Murder Case" Last Message

[Written by] Tsuka Kohei

[Directed by] Isao Nakae

[Cast]
Detective Chief Denbei Kimura: Atsushi Arai
Mizuno Tomoko Policewoman: Ohara Yuno/Murayama Ayaka (double cast)
The perpetrator, Kintaro Oyama: Taiga Yokota (CLASS SEVEN) / Hiroki Hyakuna (double cast)
Detective Kumada Tomekichi: Takahashi Ryuki

[Performance Dates] Saturday, February 14th, 2026 - Monday, March 2nd, 2026

[Venue] Kinokuniya Hall

Official website:http://www.rup.co.jp/stage/atami_2026.html

*On February 18th, it was announced that Yuno Ohara, who stars in this film, will be stepping down due to poor health. Please check the website for announcements regarding cast changes and future appearances.

Interviewed by Student Newspaper Online on February 17, 2026 by Yurie Watanabe, second-year student at Josai International University and Akira Yoshimatsu, third-year student at Musashino University