Musical ‘Spirited Away’ Sells Out 30,000 Seats... Anticipation Builds for Korean Premiere

[Financial News] The musical ‘Spirited Away’, co-produced by Toho and CJ ENM, received an explosive response by selling out approximately 30,000 seats as soon as the first round of tickets went on sale.
When the first ticket sales began at 2 p.m. on the 29th, more than 120,000 people logged in simultaneously, creating a long virtual queue. Based on the Studio Ghibli animation of the same name, the production has already signaled box office success in Korea following its popularity in Japan, London, and China.
The musical ‘Spirited Away’ depicts the fantastical adventure of a girl named Chihiro, who accidentally enters the forbidden ‘world of gods’ and embarks on a journey to save herself and her parents. Directed by Tony Award winner John Caird, who also directed ‘Les Misérables’, the show has been praised for its imaginative and visually striking stage adaptation of the original story.
The music of maestro Joe Hisaishi, who composed the film’s original soundtrack, will be brought to life on stage by an 11-piece live orchestra. Since its Tokyo premiere in 2022, the musical has received an enthusiastic response while touring major Japanese cities such as Osaka, Fukuoka, Sapporo, and Nagoya. The encore tour from 2023 to 2024 and performances at the West End of London extended their runs, attracting a cumulative audience of over 300,000. This year’s Shanghai performances also sold out every show.
The Korean premiere will feature original tour stars such as Mone Kamishiraishi, who led the world premiere at the Imperial Theatre in Tokyo in 2022 and the London premiere in 2024, as well as Rina Kawaei, who performed in both the Japan tour and the London production.
The musical ‘Spirited Away’ will be staged at the Opera Theater of Seoul Arts Center from January 7 to March 22, 2026.
jashin@fnnews.com Shin Jin-a Reporter