Yu Shirota to Guest Star in Takashima Chisako's "12 Violinists" 20th Anniversary Tour at NHK Hall in September

Yu Shirota has been confirmed as the second special guest for the "Takashima Chisako 12 Violinists Concert Tour 2026-2027," which will be held nationwide starting June 2026. He will appear at the performance on Sunday, September 6, at NHK Hall in Tokyo.

Violinist Chisako Takashima began playing the violin at age six, later graduating from Yale University's Graduate School of Music in 1994. After her CD debut in 1995, she moved her base of operations to Japan in 1997 and now performs nearly 100 concerts a year in addition to television appearances.

The "12 Violinists" ensemble was formed in 2006 to mark the 10th anniversary of Takashima's solo debut and celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. To commemorate this, the tour will hold 56 performances across all 47 prefectures of Japan for the first time. Based on Takashima's desire to "deliver something more special than a regular performance," special projects featuring notable guests will be implemented.

Following the first special guest, Seiko Niizuma (July 1, NHK Hall), Yu Shirota has been announced as the second.

Since his debut in 2003, Yu Shirota has been active in a wide range of fields including television, film, stage, and music. He has captivated audiences with his overwhelming vocal power and expressiveness, particularly in stage roles such as トート in "Elisabeth" and by directing and starring in "Phantom." He has also recently shown his talent as a creator.

Anticipation is high for the one-night-only, premium collaboration fitting for the 20th anniversary, and what chemical reaction will be sparked by the beautiful violin tones and Shirota's unique voice. Further special guest announcements are planned.

The tour will start with a performance in Chiba on June 24, 2026, and will travel throughout Japan until the Okinawa performance on February 28, 2027. An additional performance in Aichi on September 23 has also been decided.

General ticket sales begin today, Saturday, May 30. For details, please visit the Chisako Takashima official website.

■ Guest Appearance Schedule
- July 1, 2026 (Wed) Tokyo, NHK Hall / Guest: Seiko Niizuma
- September 6, 2026 (Sun) Tokyo, NHK Hall / Guest: Yu Shirota

■ Performance Outline
- Title: FJ Next Presents - 20th Anniversary - Takashima Chisako 12 Violinists Concert Tour 2026-2027
- Performers: Chisako Takashima, 12 Violinists, Aki Kondo (Piano), Guests
- Ticket Price: All seats reserved 8,000 JPY (tax incl.)

■ General Ticket Sales
- Tickets are now on sale through Lawson Ticket, e+, Ticket Pia, and CN Playguide.