Suspense Thriller 'Face' Starring Onoe Matsuriku and Wao Yoka at Waseda's 90-Seat Intimate Theater — Waseda University Commissioned Play Announced with Visual Design by Taro Aso, Creator of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Emblem

Waseda University's commissioned play 'Face FACE / FAITH' will be performed from Friday, July 31, 2026 to Sunday, August 9, 2026 at Waseda Drama Hall (1-101 Nishi-Waseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo).

Tickets will be available through Confetti (operated by Longrun Planning Co., Ltd., Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President: Daigo Kuriomatsu).

Confetti Ticket Website
https://www.confetti-web.com/

Official Website
https://face-faith.jp

The distance to the actors: just a few meters.

An intense psychological battle

by performers from diverse fields

is about to begin.

Starting July 31, 2026, Waseda University's commissioned play 'Face FACE / FAITH' will be staged at Waseda Drama Hall.

Written and directed by Hideyuki Nishimori, this work is an intense, thrilling dialogue-driven chamber drama between a psychiatrist and his former patient. The stage, Waseda Drama Hall, has only 90 seats. With audience surrounding the central stage on all sides, both performers and spectators are placed in an 'inescapable space,' where a tense two-person drama unfolds. The audience will not be allowed to remain passive observers—they will experience raw tension with all five senses.

Highlights

This production will be performed in multiple formats, each with a completely different approach, despite using the same script.

Five powerhouse performers—Onoe Matsuriku, Wao Yoka, Ryo Hirano, Hiroyuki Kawamoto, and Toshihiro Yashiba—will unite, forming multiple pairs to confront each other. Each time the cast combination changes, the power dynamics between characters shift, and the same lines take on entirely different contours. This is a gripping psychological suspense.

Profiles

Hideyuki Nishimori (Playwright, Director)

Founded the theater company 'InnocentSphere' at Waseda University in 1997.

Renowned for his mastery across a wide range of theatrical forms, from tightly woven dialogue plays to traditional performing arts, grand ensemble dramas, and musicals.

Major works include the musical 'Yuukoku no Moriarty' (script, lyrics, direction), MUSICAL 'Fate/Zero' (script, lyrics, direction), and the new kabuki play 'Arakawa Jutayu'.

Onoe Matsuriku
A kabuki actor who honors classical traditions while expanding into new and contemporary works.

A long-time collaborator with Nishimori, he previously appeared in Nishimori's kabuki production 'Arakawa Jutayu'. This marks his return to the intimate theater stage following 'Harikyaku' (2008) by InnocentSphere, also written and directed by Nishimori.

Wao Yoka
Former top star of the Takarazuka Revue's Cosmos Troupe. After leaving the troupe, she has starred in numerous musicals and straight plays, including the lead role of Marlene Dietrich in 'Marlene Dietrich' and Velma Kelly in 'CHICAGO'. With overwhelming stage presence and elegance, Wao reveals a new side of herself in this suffocating chamber setting.

Ryo Hirano
An actor active across straight plays and 2.5D musicals. He has built a strong relationship with Nishimori through the 2020 streamed version of 'Face' and the musical 'Yuukoku no Moriarty'.
This time, he will once again demonstrate his skill in masterfully handling vast amounts of dialogue.

Hiroyuki Kawamoto
Member of the theater company Shonen Shachuu. With solid acting skills and exceptional expressiveness that fully utilizes the intimate theater space, he has performed in every installment of the 'Hakuouki' musical series from 2017 to 2025. He now takes on this new challenge.

Toshihiro Yashiba
An actor with deep ties to Waseda Drama Hall, having originated from Waseda University's theater group 'Mori'. He has appeared in numerous visual works such as the dramas 'What Did You Eat Yesterday?', 'The 13 Lords of the Shogun', and the streaming series 'Ikusagami', leaving a strong impression on viewers as a top-tier supporting actor. He brings unsettling realism and profound nuance to this intense setting.

Taro Aso (Main Visual Design)

Photo: Matthew Jordan Smith

Artist and designer. Born in Tokyo in 1969. After graduating from the Department of Design, Architecture Course at Tokyo Zokei University, he has worked across the boundaries of art, architecture, and design, with 'connection' as his central theme. In 2016, his design 'Kumi Ichimatsu Pattern' was adopted as the official emblem for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Face FACE / FAITH Synopsis

Two men face each other in a silent, enclosed room—after nine years apart.

One is a psychiatrist, the other his former patient.

An incident triggers the resumption of time that had once stopped—

[Story]

Psychiatrist Sato Oda (Owada Satoshi) visits Kazuki Seo, his former patient. Though they rejoice at their reunion after nine years, both harbor complex emotions.

When Kazuki asks about the reason for this sudden visit, Sato replies that he is investigating a woman's disappearance from a criminal psychology perspective. Sensing that Sato is hiding something from his hesitant manner, Kazuki presses him. Finally, Sato opens up with a heavy heart.

"It's my wife who's gone missing."

A baffling incident—the sudden disappearance of his beloved wife. Desperate for a solution, Sato has come to ask Kazuki for help. But this involves a taboo method—something only Kazuki can do.

"No, this is insane," Sato hesitates. Kazuki offers his cooperation.

"If I can't be of help to you here, I'll regret it for the rest of my life."

What shocking truth about his wife's disappearance will the two of them uncover?

Performance Overview

'Face FACE / FAITH'

Performance Period: July 31 (Fri), 2026 – August 9 (Sun), 2026

Venue: Waseda Drama Hall (1-101 Nishi-Waseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo)

■ Cast
Onoe Matsuriku, Wao Yoka

Ryo Hirano, Hiroyuki Kawamoto, Toshihiro Yashiba

■ Staff
Playwright, Director: Hideyuki Nishimori

■ Ticket Prices

Regular Performance: General ¥9,800, Under 25 ¥5,800

Open Campus Period: General ¥9,800, High School Students ¥2,500
(Reserved seating with assigned entry numbers)
*Performance schedule and cast pairings to be announced later

Streaming Performance: ¥4,800

Organizer: Face Executive Committee

Cooperation: Waseda University Cultural Planning Office, Waseda Drama Hall

Waseda Drama Hall

Tracing its roots to the Waseda Little Theatre founded in 1966, Waseda Drama Hall has nurtured theatrical culture for over 60 years. From this stage, professionals from film, theater, and traditional performing arts gather with the mission of delivering 'theatrical experiences that become a starting point for audiences.' A variety of programs, including workshops, are also planned.

Confetti Ticket Website

Ticket purchase guide and Confetti member benefits
https://service.confetti-web.com