ABOUT

ABOUT

Introduction

Wishing for a bright future for the children of Okayama, creating a cultural legacy for the local community.

With the hope of creating a space where people from all walks of life can come together to support children, inspiring them to shine, the Okayama Children’s Future Support Project was launched in 2017.

The Okayama Kodomo Mirai Musical “Harold!” is a community-based cultural initiative that brings together children from across Okayama Prefecture, ranging from second graders to third graders of high school. Working alongside professional actors and staff, these young participants unite toward a shared goal.

Through this experience, children build connections with their peers, learn the importance of self-expression, and gain a sense of accomplishment from seeing a project through to completion. We believe these invaluable experiences contribute to their personal growth and development.

The Okayama Kodomo Mirai Musical aims to nurture “people” of future leaders in Japan, aiming to establish it as a part of Okayama’s “cultural legacy”. As a community-rooted initiative, it will continue to grow and evolve.

CHARACTER

CREATIVE TEAM

• 

  Original Prot

  Sakaguchi Riko

  

  Original Prot

  Sakaguchi Riko

  Debuted after winning the Creative TV Drama Award for "Oshasha no Shan!".

  Notable works include screenplays for films such as “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” (co-written with Studio Ghibli director Isao Takahata), “Father of the Milky Way Railroad”, “Mary and the Witch’s Flower”, “Fortuna’s Eye”, After the Rain, and “Cherry Magic THE MOVIE”.
  For television, major works include “Life As a Girl” and “Fairy Tale Mock Trials”.

  In theater, credits include the musical “Your Lie in April” (music by Frank Wildhorn, with a revival scheduled for August–September 2025), as well as projects with young performers through “Project Miraiken”. Additionally, she wrote the script for “Hyoen 2024 – The Miracle of the Cross Star”, an ice show starring Daisuke Takahashi.

• 

  General Director

  Sugimoto Tomotaka

  

  General Director

  Sugimoto Tomotaka

  Represented Japan at the 18th World Popular Song Festival (1987) at Nippon Budokan.

  From 1990 to 1991, performed in “Starlight Express” at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London.

  After returning to Japan, pursued a career as a theater director and music director.

  In 1997–98, wrote, directed, and choreographed the sign-dance musical “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, which was staged in Tokyo, Osaka, and five other cities across Japan.

  He has also actively participated as a scriptwriter and director for community-based musicals, including “The Magic of Umihotaru” (Chiba Prefectural Musical) and “NOW BEGINS AGAIN” (Shinagawa Environmental Musical).

• 

  Director

  Ichimura Keiji

  

  Director

  Ichimura Keiji

  A director, scriptwriter, actor, and performance coach from Tokushima, currently based in Tokyo.

  He has been involved in Okayama Kodomo Mirai Musical "Harold!" since its inaugural performance, contributing in various capacities, including direction, acting, and assistant directing.

  Other works include directing stage adaptations of anime series such as “Precure” and writing and directing numerous community-based and children’s musicals across Japan.

  Known for a directing approach that brings out individual strengths, helping each “performer shine with their unique personality”.

• 

  Music Director

  Shibata Naoyuki

  

  Music Director

  Shibata Naoyuki

  Trumpet player and arranger.

  Discovered jazz during student years and pursued it alongside classical music.

  After graduation, served as both arranger and lead musician in musical theater backing bands.

  Performed as a trumpet player in productions by Yukio Ninagawa, including “A Streetcar Named Desire” and three other works.

  He has participated in major label artist recordings, live events, and performances at international receptions.

  In 2024, received the Performance Award at the Hino-version Nodo Jiman Contest.

  Harold Band
  Ishiwatari Yuichi, Oshita Sayaka, Shibata Naoyuki, Suga Hiromu and Mori Hideki

• 

  Composer

  Micina

  

  Composer

  Micina

  A pop clarinet solo artist and composer/arranger, graduated from Tokyo College of Music.

  Produces and performs in the self-directed concert series “Clarinet on the BEAT”, handling performance, direction, and all arrangements. The show has been broadcast on Ichikawa and Urayasu TV.

  She has released five solo albums, two composition collections, and one live Blu-ray.

  As a composer, creates original works for ensembles, musicals, and corporate projects, while also running a publishing business. His compositions have been featured in competitions and concerts across Japan, Asia, the U.S., and Europe.

• 

  Choreographer

  Yaegashi Madoka

  

  Choreographer

  Yaegashi Madoka

  Representative of Bambi Dream LLC and Founder of Musical School “Dance with Me”.

  After performing with Shiki Theatre Company, built a career in musicals, theater, TV dramas, films, music shows, events, and commercial song dubbing.

  Currently based in Shibuya, Tokyo, managing a talent agency and training school, while also working as a choreographer and instructor for artists, corporations, entertainment agencies, and educational institutions.

• 

  Special guest

  Wang Shaofei

  

  Special guest

  Wang Shaofei

  A Master Artist redefining the future beyond the concept of the universe

  An internationally renowned master painter, he began drawing at the age of three and held his first solo exhibition at a local cultural center at thirteen. At twenty-one, he became the youngest-ever member of the The HunanProvincial of the China Artists Association.

  Since the late 1980s, he has held over 60 solo exhibitions in Japan, the U.S., France, Australia, and other countries, while also participating in numerous international exhibitions and invitational shows. He founded and led the World Style Painters Association.

  Often referred to as the “Picasso of the East” and a “genius painter”, he is one of the few artists to have fused ink painting and traditional Chinese art, pushing the boundaries of contemporary abstract art.

  In 2005, he held an exhibition in Japan, with a portion of the proceeds donated to charitable flood relief efforts in China and Japan.

  His ink painting “High Sun” set a record as the most expensive artwork in the history of the China Art Exposition. Following a special exhibition commemorating the 150th anniversary of the port of Kobe in 2017, the piece was valued and transacted at 8.5 billion yen ($74 million, 560 million RMB) by a major international collector, setting a world record for ink painting.

  His artistic philiossophy is “pursuing a new artistic world that transcends the concept of the universe, envisioning a future beyond conventional boundaries”.

  Awards & Honors
  ・France International Prize (1990s)
  ・United Nations Gold Award (2008)
  ・Highest Honor in New China Painting Art (2009)

• 

  Producer

  Watanabe Ryo

  

  Producer

  Watanabe Ryo

  After graduating from Ritsumeikan University, spent over 10 years as a musical theater actor, performing in nationwide tours and appearing in events such as Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan and Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki.

  Currently serves as the head of the performance course at Clark High School Osaka Umeda Campus and is also part of the Faculty of Next-Generation Education at IPU (International Pacific University), specializing in expressive arts education.

  In addition to coaching and stage production, actively coordinates student performances at major venues such as Kyocera Dome Osaka and National High School Baseball Championship and leads expressive arts programs, where university and elementary school students collaborate to create a show in just three days.

• 

  Producer

  Sofue Yoshimi

  

  Producer

  Sofue Yoshimi

  Graduated from Music Division of Nagoya University of the Arts.

  Inspired by participation in a community musical at Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan joined a musical theater company.

  After leaving the company in 2008, produced a stage production at the request of a local government, marking the start of a career in musical production. Since then, has collaborated with schools and local communities to create musicals that contribute to regional revitalization.

  In recent years, has been active as an event producer promoting arts education. In 2023, served as the stage director for an event that drew over 20,000 visitors.

• 

  General Producer

  Ouchi Miki

  

  General Producer

  Ouchi Miki

  She has produced numerous community-based musicals, including children’s participation musicals, prefectural musicals, and citizen musicals, in collaboration with local governments, municipalities, corporations, and national ministries. Recognized for seamlessly blending social themes with entertainment.

  Led the production of Japan’s first prefectural participation musical as part of the Kobe-Naruto Route Completion Commemoration Project. Other notable works include a 60-day long-run community musical at the Expo 2005 Aichi’s Morizo-Kiccoro Messe, as well as regional original musicals in Okinawa, Shikoku, and a nationwide touring musical on forests, rivers, and water sources.

  Since 2016, has served as the executive producer of “Okayama Kodomo Mirai Musical ‘Harold!’”.

  In 2006, founded Onstage Miki Co., Ltd. and became its CEO, driving projects in cultural education, regional cultural development, and drama education (theater × education). Also conducts research on education in Japan, contributing articles on “The Current State of Education and Children” for educational publications.

  Currently serves as the chairperson of the Children and Earth Future Support Project and is a member of the Japan Writers Club.