Starring Koji Kominami! S.S. Van Dine's Masterpiece Mystery Novel Resurrected on Stage: "The Bishop Murder Case" Opens!
The stage play "The Bishop Murder Case," starring Koji Kominami and based on S.S. Van Dine's classic mystery novel, opened at the Hakuhinkan Theater in Tokyo on April 22, 2026.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 23:30
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The stage play "The Bishop Murder Case," starring Koji Kominami, opened on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at the Hakuhinkan Theater in Tokyo. The original work is the highly acclaimed mystery novel "The Bishop Murder Case" by S.S. Van Dine, widely considered his masterpiece. It is an installment of the globally beloved detective Philo Vance series. This marks the second time the series has been adapted for the stage, with Ei Sugai handling the script and direction, and Minoru Nosaka serving as general director.
The play is set in 1928 New York. It revolves around a murder at the mansion of physics professor Dillard and the subsequent eerie serial killings carried out by someone calling themselves "The Bishop." The murders mimic the nursery rhymes of "Mother Goose," and the mystery deepens with each new incident. The story follows amateur detective Philo Vance (Koji Kominami) as he tackles this difficult case.
Sugai's version centers on the plot of the original novel but introduces an original character, a former police detective turned private investigator named Simon Bray (Taiga Nakamoto). Together with detective Vance and District Attorney John F.X. Markham (Keishi Yamamoto), they form a trio that closes in on the truth behind the murders. Thanks to these bold arrangements, the play has been crafted into a high-quality mystery that can be enjoyed with a fresh perspective not only by those unfamiliar with the original work but also by seasoned mystery fans who know it well.
Triggered by the first murder, the investigative team led by Vance and the people related to the household gather at the mansion of Bertrand Dillard (Yasushi Kageyama). All the individuals involved are eccentric and suspicious, and as the story progresses, the problems and secrets they each harbor are unraveled. In the initial assessment by detectives Vance and Simon, everyone is a suspect. From this situation, the careful structure of picking up puzzle pieces one by one—using the suspects' words and actions, the detectives' lines, and their gazes as clues—allows the audience to fully savor the thrill of a genuine mystery.
Precisely because everyone's individuality stands out, Kominami's portrayal of Vance—an anomalous figure who effortlessly toys with not only the suspects but the entire play like a game—was strikingly prominent. During the play, Markham remarks that every word Vance speaks has a meaning, yet Kominami tosses out these supposedly meaningful words very lightly. He built a characterization of Vance who proceeds at his own pace, with absolutely no intention of letting those around him read his true motives. Sometimes giving hints to manipulate others, and other times asking questions whose intentions are unreadable. The moment when Vance's seemingly chaotic dots connect into a line heading toward the climax delivers a catharsis unique to classic mysteries. Amidst his elusive nature, Kominami's intelligence, elegance, and sex appeal blended together to create a Vance that can only be encountered in this production.
Exuding a presence that could be called another protagonist was Simon, played by Nakamoto. Simon is a character with a backstory: he quit the police force and became a private detective following the Greene Murder Case, which occurred before the events of this play. In contrast to the brilliant, unpredictable Vance, Simon is also sharp but possesses an emotional side that makes it easy for the audience to empathize with him. His presence serves as an entry point for the audience to step into the story, and through Simon's emotional reactions, one is naturally drawn into the vortex of the complex case.
Rounding out the trio is Markham, played by Yamamoto, who is also active as a member of the six-member Showa pop group SHOW-WA. At the press conference, Kominami and Nakamoto mentioned that Yamamoto's "natural airhead tendencies" created a warm atmosphere in the rehearsal room. This trait also translated to his role as Markham; amidst the tense crime scenes, Markham produced a soft atmosphere that seemed to relieve the tension in one's shoulders, bringing rhythm to the production.
A major highlight of this work is how the love-hate dramas of the suspects intertwine with the puzzle-solving fun brought by these three. At the center is Belle Dillard, performed excellently by Miria Watanabe. With glamorous yet affectionate behavior, she moves the story forward as a key person. Yasushi Kageyama's Professor Bertrand Dillard emphasized his presence as the master of the house with a dignified bearing, while Minehiro Kinomoto's Adolph Drukker gave off a unique presence that mixed eccentricity with purity. Chiaki Omigawa, who is also active as a voice actress, vividly portrayed the duality of the maid, Daisy Pine, and Yusuke Kondo embodied the competence of mathematician Sigurd Arnesson with his inherent aura. Furthermore, Yu Matsumura's Raymond Sperling and Rihito Saki's John Pardee added a color of affection to the piece as two individuals bound by genuine friendship despite their contrasting temperaments.
The intense days built up from the rehearsal room were unleashed as a solid heat on stage for about 2 hours and 15 minutes (with an intermission). We highly recommend witnessing the differing deductions and investigations of Vance, Simon, and Markham, as well as the fate of the love and hate swirling in the mansion, at the Hakuhinkan Theater.
At a press briefing held prior to the opening, Koji Kominami, who plays Philo Vance...
The play is set in 1928 New York. It revolves around a murder at the mansion of physics professor Dillard and the subsequent eerie serial killings carried out by someone calling themselves "The Bishop." The murders mimic the nursery rhymes of "Mother Goose," and the mystery deepens with each new incident. The story follows amateur detective Philo Vance (Koji Kominami) as he tackles this difficult case.
Sugai's version centers on the plot of the original novel but introduces an original character, a former police detective turned private investigator named Simon Bray (Taiga Nakamoto). Together with detective Vance and District Attorney John F.X. Markham (Keishi Yamamoto), they form a trio that closes in on the truth behind the murders. Thanks to these bold arrangements, the play has been crafted into a high-quality mystery that can be enjoyed with a fresh perspective not only by those unfamiliar with the original work but also by seasoned mystery fans who know it well.
Triggered by the first murder, the investigative team led by Vance and the people related to the household gather at the mansion of Bertrand Dillard (Yasushi Kageyama). All the individuals involved are eccentric and suspicious, and as the story progresses, the problems and secrets they each harbor are unraveled. In the initial assessment by detectives Vance and Simon, everyone is a suspect. From this situation, the careful structure of picking up puzzle pieces one by one—using the suspects' words and actions, the detectives' lines, and their gazes as clues—allows the audience to fully savor the thrill of a genuine mystery.
Precisely because everyone's individuality stands out, Kominami's portrayal of Vance—an anomalous figure who effortlessly toys with not only the suspects but the entire play like a game—was strikingly prominent. During the play, Markham remarks that every word Vance speaks has a meaning, yet Kominami tosses out these supposedly meaningful words very lightly. He built a characterization of Vance who proceeds at his own pace, with absolutely no intention of letting those around him read his true motives. Sometimes giving hints to manipulate others, and other times asking questions whose intentions are unreadable. The moment when Vance's seemingly chaotic dots connect into a line heading toward the climax delivers a catharsis unique to classic mysteries. Amidst his elusive nature, Kominami's intelligence, elegance, and sex appeal blended together to create a Vance that can only be encountered in this production.
Exuding a presence that could be called another protagonist was Simon, played by Nakamoto. Simon is a character with a backstory: he quit the police force and became a private detective following the Greene Murder Case, which occurred before the events of this play. In contrast to the brilliant, unpredictable Vance, Simon is also sharp but possesses an emotional side that makes it easy for the audience to empathize with him. His presence serves as an entry point for the audience to step into the story, and through Simon's emotional reactions, one is naturally drawn into the vortex of the complex case.
Rounding out the trio is Markham, played by Yamamoto, who is also active as a member of the six-member Showa pop group SHOW-WA. At the press conference, Kominami and Nakamoto mentioned that Yamamoto's "natural airhead tendencies" created a warm atmosphere in the rehearsal room. This trait also translated to his role as Markham; amidst the tense crime scenes, Markham produced a soft atmosphere that seemed to relieve the tension in one's shoulders, bringing rhythm to the production.
A major highlight of this work is how the love-hate dramas of the suspects intertwine with the puzzle-solving fun brought by these three. At the center is Belle Dillard, performed excellently by Miria Watanabe. With glamorous yet affectionate behavior, she moves the story forward as a key person. Yasushi Kageyama's Professor Bertrand Dillard emphasized his presence as the master of the house with a dignified bearing, while Minehiro Kinomoto's Adolph Drukker gave off a unique presence that mixed eccentricity with purity. Chiaki Omigawa, who is also active as a voice actress, vividly portrayed the duality of the maid, Daisy Pine, and Yusuke Kondo embodied the competence of mathematician Sigurd Arnesson with his inherent aura. Furthermore, Yu Matsumura's Raymond Sperling and Rihito Saki's John Pardee added a color of affection to the piece as two individuals bound by genuine friendship despite their contrasting temperaments.
The intense days built up from the rehearsal room were unleashed as a solid heat on stage for about 2 hours and 15 minutes (with an intermission). We highly recommend witnessing the differing deductions and investigations of Vance, Simon, and Markham, as well as the fate of the love and hate swirling in the mansion, at the Hakuhinkan Theater.
At a press briefing held prior to the opening, Koji Kominami, who plays Philo Vance...