Hyoen


Hyoen is a series of Japanese cross-genre ice shows produced by USM, starring 2010 Olympic men's figure skating bronze medalist and World Champion, Daisuke Takahashi. Hyoen fuses figure skating with Japanese culture, blending elements of Japanese traditional performing arts and contemporary storytelling, music and advanced visual effects into a unique theatrical spectacle. Each production features a narrative, integrating skating, acting, singing, dance and acrobatics, creating a multidisciplinary experience. Hyoen draws from Japanese heritage, whether through adaptations of classic literature, such as The Tale of Genji or modern reinterpretations of folklore, such as the Ura Legend, a legend from Okayama that inspired the Momotarō folk tale. Themes range from historical epics to contemporary fantasies, like Night on the Galactic Railroad in Hyoen 2024.
Hyoen stands out for its unique fusion of figure skating and various performing arts, lavish sets, intricate costumes, and innovative use of technology like projection mapping and spatial video production. The narratives often explore universal themes such as moral conflicts, justice, love, sacrifice/altruism and identity, framed within a distinctly Japanese cultural context. Sometimes underrepresented themes, such as same-sex attraction are addressed, e.g. in a scene called "Miroir", based on the Greek myth of Narcissus in the 2021 Hyoen spin-off production "LUXE".

Performers and creative contributors

The shows are headlined by Japanese men's figure skating pioneer Daisuke Takahashi, bringing both performance skill and star appeal. The casts are complemented by other popular top figure skaters, such as 2006 Olympic Champion Shizuka Arakawa, 2006 Olympic silver medalist Stéphane Lambiel, 2014 World silver medalist Yulia Lipnitskaya, 2012 World bronze medalist Akiko Suzuki, 2005 World Junior Men's Champion Nobunari Oda, 2010 World Junior Women's Champion Kanako Murakami and Takahashi's ice dance partner, 2022 Four Continents silver medalist, Kana Muramoto, as well as established actors, singers, dancers and performers like Blue Tokyo or Japanese taiko drum ensemble Tao (formerly: Drum Tao).
Notable directors from different fields, musicians and choreographers contribute to the productions. VOGUE Japan served as artistic consultant for the 2017, 2019 and 2021 productions.

Rehearsal process and Evolution of performers' skills

Because the Hyoen productions are interdisciplinary and performers from various backgrounds perform together on the ice, rehearsals involve intensive training camps lasting several weeks. While actors and singers are learning the basics of figure skating, the figure skaters are receiving acting instructions and, in some cases, singing lessons. Therefore, Hyoen pushes the performers to expand their abilities beyond their field of expertise, creating a unique synergy. For Takahashi in particular, as a lead, who often delivers live singing and dialogue, Hyoen is a platform for his growth as an entertainer, enabling him to showcase his vocal and dramatic talents alongside his skills as a figure skater.

Venue and Distribution

Hyoen is typically held at Yokohama Arena, accommodating large audiences. The shows are broadcast live on TV channels NHK BS Premium and CS Nittele Plus as well as streamed on Hulu Japan, , and and screened nationwide in cinemas.

Visual production

Hyoen utilizes large-scale staging, projection mapping, spatial video production and intricate lighting to create immersive experiences. It was the first Japanese ice show to implement projection mapping after Daisuke Takahashi had taken part in a test-run for the fusion of this technology with figure skating, performed to the song GIFT by the Japanese pop rock band Mr. Children, in March 2016. The test-run as well as the subsequent implementation in Hyoen were realized by the art collective teamLab, an interdisciplinary group of artists, programmers, engineers, CG animators, mathematicians and architects.

Productions

Hyoen 2017 - Basara

Hyoen 2019 - Like the Moonlight

LUXE 2021 (Hyoen spin-off)

Hyoen 2024 - The Miracle of the Cross Star

  • Date: June 8–11, 2024
  • Venue: Yokohama Arena
  • Number of shows: 4
  • Duration: 150 minutes
  • Live Broadcast: CS Nittelle Plus
  • Cinema delayed viewing: nationwide
  • Streaming: ePlus
  • Theme: The 2024 production was a loose adaptation of the classic philosophical fantasy novel, Night on the Galactic Railroad by Kenji Miyazawa. The story, revolving around a cosmic journey and exploring themes of self-sacrifice and altruism, was reimagined as a contemporary fantasy, focusing on protagonists Kakeru, a mineralogist and Tokio, an aeronautics scientist. The show featured a cast of 38 performers and combined skating, singing, and acting with a focus on emotional depth.
  • Direction: The production was set to be directed by Amon Miyamoto again, who, due to an unspecified conflict, was replaced by Kikunosuke Onoe, who had worked on all previous Hyoen productions, one month before the opening of the show.
  • Music: The story was entirely told through pre-existing songs of the Japanese pop rock duo YUZU, who also performed a short set at the end of each show. Amon Miyamoto chose the songs from the band's back catalogue that suited the storyline best and Kenji Kawai rearranged and re-recorded them, adding original parts where needed. Yūjin Kitagawa, one of the two members of YUZU, was in charge of musical direction. The band also wrote a theme song specifically for the show, titled ', which was subsequently released on the album '.
  • Choreography: Kenji Miyamoto, Akiko Suzuki, Avecoo
  • Acting instruction: Seiji Fukushi
  • Singing/vocal coaching: Kai Hasegawa
  • Visual effects:
  • Notable Performers: Daisuke Takahashi as Kakeru, Takurō Ōno as Tokio, Kana Muramoto as Yuki, Kazuki Tomono as young Kakeru, Koshiro Shimada as young Tokio, Ayumi Urabe as young Yuki, Shizuka Arakawa as a "rich woman", Masahiro Ehara as the train conductor, Marie, Eliana and Kai Hasegawa portraying several roles, members of BLUE TOKYO, Ayumu Matsuoka of TOK¥O TRICKING MOB, YUZU

Hyoen 2025 - Kagamon no Yasha

  • Date: July 5–7, 2025
  • Venue: Yokohama Arena
  • Number of shows: 5
  • Duration: 155 minutes
  • Live Broadcast: CS Nittelle Plus
  • Theme: Inspired by the , that served as the basis for the popular Momotarō folktale, the story explored the clash of ideals between Ura and Kibitsuhiko. Set in Okayama Prefecture, it explored themes of "justice" and "evil", featuring intense acting performances, ice-based action and sword fighting, set against a backdrop of Japanese mythology, with a focus on dramatic confrontations and cultural motifs. The regional connection, due to Okayama being Takahashi's home Prefecture, added a personal layer.
  • Direction: The production was directed by movie director Yukihiko Tsutsumi, known for uniquely blending traditional and modern elements.
  • Screenplay: Takuma Suehara
  • Music: Rock musician SUGIZO of Luna Sea and X Japan composed the music for the entire play and performed live on guitar and violin throughout the show. SUGIZO said about his involvement in the production: "It has been my long-cherished wish for a quarter century to work with director Tsutsumi Yukihiko, whom I respect deeply as an artist. I think this rock opera that I will create with director Tsutsumi using the expressive method of ice skating will be the culmination of my musical career".
  • Choreography: Kenji Miyamoto, Kana Muramoto
  • Movement instruction: Kikunosuke Onoe
  • effects: Video production by RAM, Chūnori
  • Notable Performers: Daisuke Takahashi as Ura, Takahisa Masuda as Kibitsuhiko, Misato Morita as Asohime, Ryota Aoyama as Senshū, Seiji Fukushi as Yakumo, Eisaku Yoshida as Shadow Emperor, Shizuka Arakawa as Iron Goddess, Takuma Zaiki as Tometamaomi no Mikoto, Keiji Tanaka as Sasamorihiko no Mikoto, Koshiro Shimada as Takeru Inukai, Kana Muramoto as Kasumi, on-screen performance by Masachika Ichimura as Darkness Swallowing God, voice performance by Keiko Toda as Iron Goddess, members of BLUE TOKYO, Ayumu Matsuoka of TOK¥O TRICKING MOB, SUGIZO

Cultural Significance

Hyoen pushes the boundaries of ice shows by merging figure skating with Japanese storytelling and performing arts, appealing to both skating fans and theatergoers. By adapting Japanese stories and aesthetics, Hyoen celebrates and reinterprets the country's cultural heritage, making it accessible to both domestic and international audiences.