It has been revealed that actor Seishiro Kato will star in the stage adaptation of "Minotaur's Dish," a masterpiece from the late Fujiko F. Fujio's "SF Short Story" manga series. Kato will play a crew member who crash-lands on the planet Inox, which is ruled by a type of cow called the Zun. It has also been announced that Mirai Uchida will play Minoa, a girl the crew member meets on Inox. This will be the world's first stage adaptation of "Minotaur's Dish," and it will be performed at the New National Theatre, Small Theatre (Shibuya Ward, Tokyo) from December 10 to 28.
Takuro Suzuki, a rising artist who won the 75th Arts Selection Award in the dance category and the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award for New Artists, is in charge of the script, choreography, and direction, bringing the universal questions of the original work back to life for the modern age, aiming to create a stage that can be enjoyed by all generations, from preschoolers aged 4 and up to adults. The cast includes members of Suzuki's dance company "CHAiroiPLIN," such as Masakazu Morita, Tomohiro Taniyama, Toshihiko Kashiwagi, Koji Suzuki, Lara Kobayashi, Hatsune Hoshi, Momo Mimori, and Haru Sekiguchi, as well as members who have previously appeared in productions directed by Suzuki.
It was also announced that a performance will be held in Toyama on January 10, 2027, at the Overd Hall Medium Hall (Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture). As a one-day-only special edition, Suzuki himself will appear as a crew member.
Kato commented, "From the time I was born and raised until now, I have been exposed to Fujiko F. Fujio's works in all sorts of forms. Not only is there a museum in my hometown, but I have also had the experience of appearing in a film adaptation of one of his science fiction short stories. So, this opportunity was a wonderful experience for me, and I couldn't help but feel a connection to Fujiko F. Fujio. 'The Minotaur's Plate' is about 'food,' something that is always close to humans, and I think it is a work that people of all ages can think about and appreciate. I still can't even imagine what will happen, but I will do my best to express Fujiko F. Fujio's worldview in the New National Theatre's small theater as Planet Inox, infused with Takuro Suzuki's unique style!"
Uchida said, "When I first read the original work, I was overwhelmed by its mysterious worldview, but at the same time, a refreshing feeling spread throughout my chest. It seemed to quietly question our values, and my heart was beating faster when I finished reading it. I am both scared and excited to be able to face this work as Minoah in its stage adaptation. I myself am excited to see how a work that is only a little over 30 pages long in the original will gain depth on stage. It is also a great honor to be able to stand on the stage at the New National Theatre, which I have always admired. I would like to work wholeheartedly together with director Suzuki and the rest of the cast, drawing on the power of the theatre space and the work itself. I look forward to seeing you at the theatre."
Suzuki commented, "I was honestly surprised when Satoshi Uemura proposed this work to me. I have always dreamed of adapting 'Minotaur's Plate' for the stage. I am once again reminded of the power of Fujiko F. Fujio's words, 'Children's dreams and desires are the foundation of all human beings.' The 'lighthearted horror' that emerges behind the cuteness of the illustrations gives the illusion of cutting into one's own heart with a knife. Kato, who plays the protagonist, possesses extraordinary global athletic abilities that will transcend the boundaries of manga and take us into a fantastical universe. Uchida, who plays Minoan, will surely receive the same impact that I received from this work 20 years ago. I look forward to seeing Minoan, who is like a child with a straightforward sensibility that sees through things sharply. With these two young talents and my trusted dancers, we will deliver an exciting and slightly mysterious (SF) entertainment."
"Minotaur's Dish" is a short story published in 1969 in "Big Comic" (Shogakukan). The story follows "me," the survivor of an interplanetary rocket that malfunctions, as he crash-lands on an Earth-like planet where he meets a girl named Minoa. Set in a world where the roles of "eater" and "eaten" are reversed, the story sharply depicts the dilemma of humans who, despite understanding each other's language, cannot understand each other's values and cannot escape their own common sense.
