Asuka III Shipboard Shows “KAGUYA” and “MYSTERIO” Pass 100 Performances: The Creative Team and How to See Them

On July 13, 2026, HITOHATA, INC. announced that “KAGUYA,” staged in the onboard theater of the cruise ship Asuka III, had surpassed a cumulative 100 performances. On September 4, it announced that “MYSTERIO” had also passed 100 performances. The two productions are roughly 30-minute performing arts pieces combining video and dance that have had long runs for passengers since their premieres in July 2025. In September they received Platinum awards at the international “MUSE Creative Awards 2026.”

*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).

A little over a year since the maiden voyage: 100 performances in a theater at sea

Asuka III is a cruise ship operated by NYK Cruises that entered service on July 20, 2025. According to a 2026 announcement, its gross tonnage of 52,265 GT makes it the largest Japanese-flagged cruise ship, with 351 staterooms and a capacity of 680 passengers. The onboard Lumière Theater stages shows combining video on large LED screens and holographic screens with dance on stage (NYK Cruises’ introduction page).

Both productions premiered in July 2025, just after the maiden voyage, and both passed 100 performances in a little over a year. On September 24, it was announced that the two productions had won Platinum awards at the MUSE Creative Awards 2026, organized by the US-based IAA, in the “Experiential & Immersive - Hologram / Projection” category; NYK Cruises also reported the news on its website on Monday, September 28. Details of the award are in our article on the MUSE Platinum awards.

What are the two productions that passed 100 performances?

“KAGUYA” is an original work paying homage to the Heian-period “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.” It depicts the moon, bamboo groves, the Milky Way and the world of folding-screen paintings together with dance. It premiered on Monday, July 21, 2025 (national holiday), and a pre-premiere announcement (June 2, 2025) planned about 100 performances a year.

“MYSTERIO” takes ancient Mexican civilization as its theme, weaving elements such as the sun, the jungle, brightly colored animals and prayers to the gods into a story told through dance. It premiered on Thursday, July 24, 2025, and the September 4 announcement said about 70 performances a year were planned. Neither announcement gives the date of the 100th performance or audience numbers.

Who are the creators? Choreography by MIWA, with video and costumes by production

According to the announcements, the general producer of both productions is Takeaki Higashiyama and the director is Junya Yamada. The creative director is Takaki Nagao, the choreographer is MIWA and the concept director is Nodoka Nakagawa. Sound designer Chiharu Shineha and lighting designer Michinari Marui are also credited on both productions.

Video and costumes are handled separately for each production. For “KAGUYA,” the video director is Takeshi Dewa and the costume designer is Ryuji Hashimoto. For “MYSTERIO,” the video producer is Yugo Chiba, the video director is Naohiro Yako and the costume designers include Kazuyo Sakai. Twelve dancers, including Hinano Kishida, Yuka and megu, are listed in the materials for both productions, and the cast varies by cruise.

Other works and viewing conditions: 2027 cruises go on sale November 11

In the same theater, the roughly 30-minute video works “Deep Ocean” and “Timeless Japan Art” also began long-run screenings on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. According to a June 2025 announcement, the former, an homage to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas,” was planned for about 50 screenings a year, and the latter, depicting ukiyo-e, Japanese dance and the gestures of shamisen playing, about 60. The four works are introduced in detail in our feature on the Asuka III onboard theater.

According to NYK Cruises’ introduction page, the theater stages either a “HITOHATA, INC.” or a “SIRO-A” program on each cruise. SIRO-A’s works are “TECHNO CIRCUS” and “GENJI,” and the two productions listed as HITOHATA, INC. works are KAGUYA and MYSTERIO. The two video works are not listed.

Performances are for passengers, with several shows per cruise that guests can watch at a time of their choosing. Schedules can be checked after boarding on stateroom tablets and onboard digital signage, and the introduction page makes no mention of viewing fees or reservations. On October 14, NYK Cruises announced 32 cruises departing from April to October 2027, with sales beginning at 10:30 on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. It has not said which productions will be staged on which cruises.

Editor’s perspective

KAGUYA, planned for about 100 performances a year, was announced to have passed 100 performances on July 13, less than a year after its premiere. MYSTERIO, planned for about 70 a year, also passed 100 on September 4, a little over a year after its premiere. That performances keep accumulating as long as the ship sails is a feature of shipboard productions not found in land-based exhibitions with fixed runs. However, the conditions remain that only passengers can see them and that which production one encounters depends on the cruise.

Performance overview

Name: Asuka III Original Performing Arts “KAGUYA” and “MYSTERIO”
Performances: Long run (“KAGUYA” from Monday, July 21, 2025 [national holiday]; “MYSTERIO” from Thursday, July 24, 2025)
Running time: About 30 minutes each
Cumulative performances: Each passed 100 (announced July 13 and September 4, 2026)
Venue: Lumière Theater, cruise ship Asuka III
Viewing: For passengers. Productions and cast may vary by cruise
Awards: MUSE Creative Awards 2026 Platinum
Operator: NYK Cruises Co., Ltd.
Producer: HITOHATA, INC.
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: “Asuka III” original performing arts “MYSTERIO” (from HITOHATA, INC.’s press release)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on announcements by HITOHATA, INC. (July 13, September 4 and September 24, 2026, and others), announcements by NYK Cruises Co., Ltd. (September 28 and October 14, 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 at HITOHATA, INC.’s event information. Inquiries about planning immersive shows and spatial staging are accepted through the company’s contact form.