Asuka III’s “KAGUYA” and “MYSTERIO” Win MUSE Platinum Awards; Each Performed More Than 100 Times at Sea

“KAGUYA” and “MYSTERIO,” now playing at the onboard theater of the cruise ship Asuka III, received Platinum Winner awards at the international “MUSE Creative Awards 2026,” in the “Experiential & Immersive - Hologram / Projection” category. HITOHATA, INC., which produces both shows, announced the awards on September 24, 2026. Since their premieres in July 2025, each has passed 100 performances.

*Disclosure: “KAGUYA” and “MYSTERIO” are works produced by HITOHATA, INC., an affiliate of HITOHATA ASSOCIATION, the general incorporated association that operates TOKYO ART SPHERE (About us).

What are the MUSE Creative Awards? Platinum is the highest of three levels

According to the press materials, the MUSE Creative Awards were founded in 2015 by the International Awards Associate (IAA), an international awards organization based in the United States. The awards recognize creative work in advertising, design and digital media, and the MUSE Creative and Design Awards together receive more than 10,000 entries a year. In its announcement on September 28, the operator NYK Cruises explained that the awards have so far drawn more than 100,000 entries from 124 countries and are judged by more than 200 international jurors.

There are three levels, Platinum, Gold and Silver, and the two shows were selected for the highest, Platinum. According to the press materials, experience design, space, ideas and innovation were evaluated as a whole. At the same MUSE Creative Awards 2026, the company’s work also received two Gold awards: the “Ukiyo-e Immersive Art Exhibition” and the “Yokai Immersive Art Exhibition” in the “Experiential & Immersive - Exhibition Experience” category, and “ASAKUSA CULTURE & LIGHTS 2025” in the “Experiential & Immersive - Interactive Outdoor Event” category.

What are the two shows that passed 100 performances?

“KAGUYA” is an original work paying homage to the Heian-period “Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.” It depicts the moon, bamboo groves, the Milky Way, the world of folding-screen paintings and more through Japanese aesthetics and dance. It premiered on Monday, July 21, 2025 (national holiday), and on July 13, 2026 it was announced that it had passed 100 performances. About 100 performances a year are planned.

The theme of “MYSTERIO” is ancient Mexican civilization. Elements such as the sun, the jungle, brightly colored animals and prayers to the gods are woven through dance into a mysterious story. It premiered on Thursday, July 24, 2025, and its passing of 100 performances was announced on September 4, 2026. About 70 performances a year are planned.

Both are immersive performing arts works of about 30 minutes that layer dance over digital art video on holographic and LED screens. The general producer is Takeaki Higashiyama, the director Junya Yamada, the creative director Takaki Nagao and the choreographer MIWA. The video directors are Takeshi Dewa for KAGUYA and Naohiro Yako for MYSTERIO, and the cast varies by cruise.

Where can they be seen? An onboard theater for passengers

The shows are staged in the onboard theater of the cruise ship Asuka III, operated by NYK Cruises, which entered service on July 20, 2025. According to the operator’s introduction page, the Lumière Theater stages performances combining video on large LED and holographic screens with dance on stage.

On each cruise, the theater stages either the “HITOHATA, INC.” or the “Shiro A” program, with several performances per cruise. Passengers can watch at the time of their choice, and schedules can be checked after boarding on the tablets in their cabins and on digital signage on board. Which shows can be seen varies by cruise, and the introduction page says nothing about viewing fees or reservations. The four works at the onboard theater are introduced in detail in our feature on the Asuka III onboard theater.

Editor’s perspective

While most exhibitions and projection events on land run for a set period, shows at sea accumulate performances as the ship sails. KAGUYA, which passed 100 performances about a year after its premiere, has built up its count in line with the plan of about 100 performances a year.

The award category was “Hologram / Projection,” which, as the name suggests, covers experiences using holograms and projection, and the approach of combining video and dance in a cruise ship theater has now been recognized at an international award. The conditions remain unchanged, however: only passengers can see the shows, and which one they encounter depends on the cruise.

Award and performance overview

Award: MUSE Creative Awards 2026, Platinum Winner
Category: Experiential & Immersive - Hologram / Projection
Organizer: IAA (International Awards Associate)
Winning works: Asuka III original performing arts “KAGUYA” and “MYSTERIO”
Announced: September 24, 2026 (HITOHATA, INC.), September 28 (NYK Cruises Co., Ltd.)
Performances: Lumière Theater, cruise ship Asuka III (long-running, for passengers)
Premieres: “KAGUYA” Monday, July 21, 2025 (national holiday); “MYSTERIO” Thursday, July 24, 2025
Running time: About 30 minutes each
Operator: NYK Cruises Co., Ltd.
Producer: HITOHATA, INC.
Winner page (MUSE): https://museaward.com/winner-info.php?id=238101
Official website: https://www.asukacruise.co.jp/asuka3/entertainment/
*Information as of October 21, 2026. Please check the official website for the latest information.

*Top image: Visual for Asuka III’s original performing arts “KAGUYA” (from a press release by HITOHATA, INC.)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on press materials from HITOHATA, INC. (September 24, September 4 and July 13, 2026), an announcement by NYK Cruises Co., Ltd. (September 28, 2026) and information on the official website.

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team

A note from the publisher

*Disclosure: “KAGUYA” and “MYSTERIO” are works produced by HITOHATA, INC., an affiliate of HITOHATA ASSOCIATION, the general incorporated association that operates TOKYO ART SPHERE (About us).

The latest information on events produced by HITOHATA, INC. is available on HITOHATA, INC.’s event information page. Inquiries about planning immersive shows and spatial productions are accepted through the company’s inquiry form.