Shimizu Akane’s hit manga Hataraku Saibou (Cells at Work!) has been announced as the first production under a brand-new theatrical format called “Scramble Kabuki,” set to run in April 2027 at Shinbashi Enbujo in Tokyo.
About Hataraku Saibou
Hataraku Saibou follows personified cells as they carry out their duties inside the human body. The series has surpassed a cumulative print run of 11 million copies and has previously been adapted into a TV anime and a stage play. The live-action film released in 2024 topped Japan’s domestic box office for four consecutive weeks and grossed ¥6.36 billion.
What Is Scramble Kabuki?
“Scramble Kabuki” is a new theatrical initiative that explores fresh possibilities for kabuki-style performance by casting not only traditional kabuki actors but also performers from a wide range of other disciplines. Hataraku Saibou will serve as the format’s very first production.
Cast and Staff
Kataoka Ainosuke, who played the pneumococcus bacterium in the 2024 live-action film, will take on the role of White Blood Cell (Neutrophil). He is joined by Nakamura Kazutaro, Ichikawa Chusha, Sekiguchi Mendy, and Ishikawa Ryoga.
- Original work: Shimizu Akane’s Hataraku Saibou (serialized in Monthly Shonen Sirius, Kodansha)
- Script and direction: Yokouchi Kennosuke
- Production: Shochiku Co., Ltd.
Comments from the Cast and Creator
Shimizu Akane said she is deeply honored that her work will be performed on the kabuki stage — a pillar of Japan’s traditional performing arts — and that she herself is looking forward to seeing what the production becomes.
Kataoka Ainosuke noted that while he played an attacker in the film, he will now switch to the defending side as White Blood Cell. He expressed excitement about working with Sekiguchi Mendy and Ishikawa Ryoga for the first time, and hopes Scramble Kabuki will be a first step toward a new genre that audiences of all backgrounds can enjoy.
Nakamura Kazutaro admitted he was surprised that the series was being adapted into kabuki, but quickly felt that the personification of cells was “very kabuki” and that kumadori face paint would suit the characters perfectly. He hopes the production will become “a new kabuki that parents and children can enjoy together.”
Ishikawa Ryoga said he is honored to step into the world of kabuki and pledged to draw on every skill he has developed as a performer to convey the art form’s appeal, especially to audiences encountering kabuki for the first time.
Sekiguchi Mendy recalled staring at the ceiling in his bath the night he received the offer, unable to believe he would ever stand on a kabuki stage. He said he could find no reason to decline, and vowed to approach the role with full respect for kabuki’s tradition and history while giving everything he has.
Ichikawa Chusha offered a philosophical reflection, marveling at the human body as a kind of universe — a heart beating hundreds of millions of times without rest, breath drawn and released in precise repetition. He said the production will attempt to recreate that miracle on the kabuki stage.
Production Details
- Title: Scramble Kabuki “Hataraku Saibou”
- Date: April 2027
- Venue: Shinbashi Enbujo, Tokyo
- Cast: Kataoka Ainosuke, Nakamura Kazutaro, Ishikawa Ryoga, Sekiguchi Mendy, Ichikawa Chusha, and more
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