Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away Stage Show Reveals 7 Chihiro Actresses for Upcoming World Tour
Image by James RichardsonToho has officially announced the leading cast for the upcoming world tour of Studio Ghibli’s acclaimed Spirited Away stage adaptation, revealing three new actresses who will take on the role of Chihiro.
The “Spirited Away 2026–2028 World Tour” will feature seven performers alternating in the central role, including original stars Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi alongside newcomers from Japanese television, film and music.
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki and released in 2001, Spirited Away follows ten-year-old Chihiro after she becomes trapped in a mysterious spirit world and must find a way to rescue her parents from a curse.
The movie celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2026, having become one of Studio Ghibli’s most successful productions and winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003.
Its stage adaptation premiered at Tokyo’s Imperial Theatre in March 2022, with British director John Caird transforming Miyazaki’s animated world into a live production featuring elaborate sets, theatrical puppetry and a live orchestra performing Joe Hisaishi’s music.
The production has since toured Japan and enjoyed successful overseas engagements in London, Shanghai and Seoul, with its 2024 West End run attracting more than 300,000 spectators and winning Best New Play at the 2025 WhatsOnStage Awards.
For the newly announced cast, Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi will both return to the role they originated during the 2022 premiere, continuing their involvement in the production as it expands internationally.
Momoko Fukuchi, who joined the cast during the 2024 revival and made her London West End debut that year, has also been confirmed to return.
The fourth returning performer is Rina Mori, who previously served as an understudy for Chihiro during the London, Shanghai and Seoul engagements and has now been promoted to a principal performer for the world tour.
Three additional actresses have been selected through auditions overseen by John Caird, introducing new interpretations of Chihiro alongside the established cast.
One of the biggest additions is Nagi Inoue, a member of the popular Japanese idol group Nogizaka46, who will make her professional stage debut as a leading performer in Spirited Away.
Inoue has previously appeared in Japanese television productions and will also contribute to the Japanese voice cast of Toy Story 5, making her new role in the Studio Ghibli adaptation another major step in her acting career.
During her audition, Inoue discussed her experiences performing with Nogizaka46 before Caird asked her to sing and dance, prompting her to perform the group’s song “Same numbers”.
Hana Toyoshima is another new addition, having built a substantial acting career since childhood through television dramas and films, including appearances in Amachan, Gochisousan and the Netflix film Bullet Train Explosion.
Spirited Away will mark Toyoshima’s first professional stage production, with the actress expressing both excitement and nervousness about taking on such a demanding role.
The third newcomer is Kokoro Hirasawa, whose previous credits include Studio Ghibli’s Earwig and the Witch, alongside numerous Japanese television and film appearances.
Hirasawa described her audition as an opportunity to learn the differences between acting for the camera and performing on stage, particularly the need to project her voice and emotions across a large theater.
All seven actresses have been confirmed for the production’s upcoming engagement at Tokyo’s Meijiza Theatre, although the individual casting schedules for the international performances have not yet been announced.
The expanded cast follows Toho’s earlier announcement of a major 2026–2028 world tour, which confirmed that Spirited Away would make its long-awaited North American stage debut before returning to London’s West End.
The international tour will begin in Taiwan before returning to Japan for an extended series of performances, with further engagements scheduled across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.
Let’s take a look at the complete confirmed world tour schedule!
- Taipei, Taiwan: National Theater, December 2026 to January 2027
- Tokyo, Japan: Meijiza Theatre, March to May 2027
- Toronto, Canada: Princess of Wales Theatre, May 6 to August 15, 2027
- Nagoya, Japan: Misonoza Theatre, June 2027
- Osaka, Japan: Umeda Arts Theater Main Hall, June to July 2027
- Fukuoka, Japan: Hakataza Theatre, July to August 2027
- Sapporo, Japan: Sapporo Cultural Arts Theater hitaru, August 2027
- Los Angeles, United States: Ahmanson Theatre, September 2 to October 24, 2027
- London, United Kingdom: London Coliseum, March to July 2028
The Toronto and Los Angeles engagements will mark the first time the Japanese stage production has been performed in North America, with the London run bringing Spirited Away back to the West End four years after its original British premiere.
The international production will continue to be performed in Japanese, with English surtitles confirmed for the London engagement.
Further information about which actresses will appear at individual international performances is expected to be announced closer to each engagement.
Ticket availability and on-sale dates vary by location, with fans able to check the official Spirited Away world tour website for more details.
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