Umebou 21st STAGE 'Love All!!' Official Interview: Ayumi Ishida, Yusuke Umezawa, Hideya Tawada

Umebou is a dance entertainment group known for depicting stories through dance and J-POP. Their 21st stage production, 'Love All!!', scheduled for May-June 2026, is a heartwarming comedy centered around sisters taking on a girls' group audition. We interviewed guest star Ayumi Ishida, along with Umebou members Yusuke Umezawa and Hideya Tawada.

◆A Major Reboot: Adding 'Family Bonds' to 'Idols' and 'Supporters'

Hideya Tawada explains, 'The base of having idols and otaku is the same, but the addition of family elements has significantly changed the unfolding of the story.' Yusuke Umezawa adds, 'It feels like a Reiwa-era version of someone working hard and those who support them. The variety of contestants from different genres gathering for the girls' group audition is also a highlight.' Ayumi Ishida expresses her excitement: 'I believe idols are performers who especially need individuality. As an idol alumna, I see my background as a weapon, but I am also very excited to see how men or non-idols will express themselves when portraying idols.'

◆Dedication to Roles

Ayumi Ishida notes, 'I play a shy younger sister who supports her sister aiming to be an idol. It's the polar opposite of my own character, which makes me look forward to playing it.' Yusuke Umezawa comments, 'I play the father of the sisters, a silent type with no connection to the arts. I am looking forward to seeing him change as he experiences new landscapes through his daughter becoming an idol candidate.' Hideya Tawada explains his role as the mother: 'In contrast to the father, the mother is the type who says everything she thinks. My own mother is like that, so I feel a bit of a connection. The change in the parents as their daughter grows is one of the key points.'

◆The Umebou Creative Approach

Regarding the charm of Umebou, Ayumi Ishida says, 'I felt the magnificence of entertainment and my heart was moved. I loved the passion and wanted to join.' Hideya Tawada describes his choreography focus: 'Since my base is acting, my priority is conveying the story, being conscious of the waves of a character's emotions.' Yusuke Umezawa adds, 'The most important thing to me is creating choreography that I personally want to dance.'

◆New Member and How to Enjoy the Show

Commenting on SuGuRu, who joined in the previous production, Yusuke Umezawa says, 'The addition of SuGuRu, whose dance style is different from existing members, has greatly expanded our range of expression.' Finally, regarding show etiquette, Ayumi Ishida notes, 'I want to convey that fan fans and penlights should not be brought out during the show.' Yusuke Umezawa adds, 'Anything is fine as long as it doesn't bother those around you. Please enjoy the process of deciding what to wear.'