ENTERTAINMENT
Studio Ghibli's 'Spirited Away' Comes to Life as a Musical in Korea
On the morning of the 7th, a media call for the musical 'Spirited Away' was held at the CJ Lounge of the Seoul Arts Center. The event was attended by director John Caird, co-adaptor Maoko Imai, and cast members including Mone Kamishiraishi and Rina Kawaei, who play Chihiro, as well as Mari Natsuki, who portrays Yubaba and Zeniba. They shared various insights about the production.
The musical 'Spirited Away' is based on the iconic film by animation master Hayao Miyazaki. It tells the story of Chihiro, who accidentally enters a forbidden world of gods and embarks on an extraordinary mission and fantastical adventure.
The two actresses playing Chihiro are primarily known for their work on Japanese TV and media. What draws them to the stage? Rina Kawaei highlighted, "The unique aspect of the stage is having the audience right in front of you." She added, "We've traveled from Japan to London, and although I didn't go, the production also went to Shanghai before coming here. The audience reactions vary by city, and this seems to influence the performance. I'm curious to see the expressions and learnings from the Korean audience. I hope to create a wonderful production together."
Mone Kamishiraishi noted, "Unlike drama and film, which don't have rehearsal periods, the stage allows us to build from scratch over 1-2 months of rehearsals, which is different and enjoyable." She added, "I tend to get very nervous before going on stage, but I think the charm of the stage is channeling that nervousness into a positive energy that reaches the audience."
The enchanting journey of 'Spirited Away' exclusively in Korea opened today and will run until March 22, 2026.
