A stage adaptation of Orb: On The Movements Of The Earth (Chi: Chikyu No Undo Ni Tsuite), based on Uoto’s manga, has been announced.
The production will premiere in October at Tokyo’s New National Theatre, with a tour scheduled for November.
The play will be directed by Avshalom Pollak, with a script by Keishi Nagatsuka. The music is composed by Umitaro Abe, while Ella Rothschild will handle the choreography.
A visual was revealed to commemorate the announcement.
While the cast members have also been revealed, the roles they will play are yet to be revealed. The cast can be viewed below:
- Masataka Kubota
- Toko Miura
- Yusuke Onuki
- Mitsuru Fukikoshi
- Songha
- Mirai Moriyama
Commenting on the adaptation, original author Uoto expressed excitement about seeing the manga’s panels transformed for the stage.
“I am truly honored. I’m simply looking forward to seeing how the ‘panels’ of the manga transform into a ‘stage’ production!“
Checkout the comments from other staff members below:
- Keishi Nagatsuka (Screenwriter)
Uoto’s dialogue is truly remarkable. In this adaptation, each character’s unique charm will shine in a way that differs from reading the manga. While all the characters come to life vividly, I focused on Nowak. Unlike those passionately pursuing the truth, he is thoroughly grounded in the present, living by the conventions of his time. Yet, he becomes deeply entangled with the heliocentric theory that challenges those very conventions. I hope to craft a play that captures the lifeblood of this struggle.
- Abshalom Pollak (Director)
When I was introduced to Chi. and the concept of its stage adaptation through HoriPro, I was instantly captivated. I have encountered many manga and graphic novels worldwide, but Chi. is truly a masterpiece. I am thrilled to embark on this journey, collaborating once again with my dear creative partners while also working with new, passionate, and talented individuals. Breathing life into this story on stage and sharing it with new audiences while offering long-time fans an even deeper experience is both an honor and a joy. Our goal is to express Chi. in a fresh and dynamic way and to share its brilliance with as many people as possible.
- Umitaro Abe (Music)
Imagining and empathizing with those who were drawn to the heliocentric theory is an immense joy. As a child, I loved pondering the mysteries of the universe. Perhaps it’s because I have always been fascinated by the unfathomable. I look forward to envisioning the music of celestial bodies appearing in the silence of the night and collaborating with this incredible team of staff and cast members.
- Ella Rothschild (Choreographer)
It is a great honor to once again create alongside Abshalom Pollak and the talented Japanese artists. The fear and thrill of questioning what is deemed unquestionable, the weight of defying fate, and the unstoppable urge to change the world—our goal is to bring all of these emotions to life in a compelling stage experience.
Orb: On The Movements Of The Earth is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Uoto.
It was serialized in Shogakukan’s seinen manga magazine Weekly Big Comic Spirits from September 2020 to April 2022, with its chapters collected in eight tankobon volumes.
A 25-episode anime television series adaptation produced by Madhouse aired from October 2024 to March 2025.
