Sugeta Rinne (22) of theJohnnys' Junior group 7 MEN Samurai will star in a stage adaptation of the manga Hidamari no Ki (Tree in the Sun). The show will run from March 5th to 14th, 2021 at the Hulic Hall in Tokyo, with a two-day encore run March 27th and 28th at the Umeda Geijutsu Theatre Drama City in Osaka.
Sugeta,who will star as the carefree doctor "Tezuka Roan," is a member of the Johnnys' Junior group 7 MEN Samurai, created in 2018 and the last group to be personally incorporated by Johnny & Associates' late founder, Johnny H. Kitagawa (d. 2019). In addition to regular appearances in the bi-monthly music program The Shonen Club, they have held a number of solo concerts at Tokyo's Theatre Crea and the Tokyo Dome City Hall; and most recently completed a two month run in the musical DREAM BOYS, starring Kishi Yuta and Jinguji Yuta of JPOP group King & Prince. 7 MEN Samurai is also involved in the popular Johnnys' Jr. Channel on YouTube, and post videos every Friday at 8pm JST.
While Sugeta previously appeared on stage along with fellow 7 MEN Samurai member Sasaki Taiko (18) in the 2020 run of Ore-tachi Oh-En Ya!! ON STAGE (Nihon Seinenkan Hall), starring Johnnys' senpai group A.B.C-Z, this will be his first starring role. The athletic and acrobatic Sugeta is a regular on the sports competition TV show Honno no Taiikukai TV (TBS), and in 2020 made his debut on the hit reality competition series SASUKE Ninja Warrior, where he became the first Johnny's contestant ever to clear the first stage on his first try.
About this new acting challenge, Sugeta says:
I'm so nervous about my first time starring on stage. When I heard I got the role, I was really worried that I wouldn't be able to do it justice, but am benefitted by the advice and experience of my fellow group members.
I really want to do my best, not only to not sully the prestige of this amazing work by Tezuka Osamu, but so that fans of the manga can walk away content and even pleased with what I can bring to the role of Tezuka Roan.
Media References (External Links)
7 MEN Samurai on the Johnnys' Jr. Channel
About the Play
Hidamari no Ki was written by world-renown manga artist Tezuka Osamu (Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion, Black Jack, etc.) as a serial publication in the magazine Big Comic from 1981 to 1986. It tells the story of a friendship between a gentle yet womanizing doctor and a traditionalist samurai, set against the backdrop of the final days of the Tokugawa Shogunate. It was previously adapted into a 25 episode anime series in 2000, and a live-action TV drama in 2012.
※※※
Are you an international fan on reddit? Join the new community at r/JohnnysWorld!
SHARE
Log in to comment