Kemono Jihen Hits the Stage: "Tokyo Arc" Announced!
The Kemono Jihen (Monster Incidents) series, which has reached a wide fan base with its world full of supernatural events and mystery, is preparing to step onto the theater stage. According to the official announcement, the manga series written by Sho Aimoto will be adapted into a live stage play under the subtitle "Tokyo Arc." This new production will offer fans of the series the opportunity to watch a young boy, who is half-human and half-yokai, search for his own origins on stage.
Kemono Jihen first began serialization in December 2016 in Shueisha's Jump SQ magazine and has since become one of the beloved examples of the dark fantasy genre. The story begins when Kabane Kusaka, an outcast in a rural village known by the nickname "Dorotabo," meets the mysterious detective Kohachi Inugami from Tokyo. As Inugami realizes the supernatural potential in Kabane, the duo begins working together with other half-human children at the Inugami Strange Affairs Consulting Office in Tokyo.
The series creator Sho Aimoto is an artist also known for works such as Hokenshitsu no Shinigami, noted for character depth and a unique drawing style. Kemono Jihen was also adapted into a 12-episode anime series by the Ajia-do Animation Works studio in 2021. The stage play announcement comes after the manga's success, which reached 24 volumes as of late 2025. The "Tokyo Arc" title suggests that the play will likely focus on the Tokyo-based adventures in the early chapters of the manga and the period when characters like Shiki and Akira were introduced.
In Japan, the adaptation of popular manga and anime series into stage plays is considered an important step that reinforces the cultural impact of the series. Although the cast and exact performance dates have not yet been announced, the sharing of the official logo proves that production is actively underway. Fans are eagerly waiting to see how Kabane's transformation scenes and the series' iconic battles will be brought to life on stage. More details regarding casting and ticket sales are expected to be shared in the coming months.
