A special evening built around the beloved manga, anime, and film series "Nodame Cantabile" is coming to Sapporo. On Wednesday, July 29, 2026, Tacticart, HTB Hokkaido Television Broadcasting, and Doshin Bunka Jigyosha will stage "Nodame Cantabile" Story Live Orchestra at Sapporo Cultural Arts Theater hitaru, pairing live performances of classical masterpieces with video and narration. The immersive story of the R☆S (Rising Star) Orchestra's formation and its journey to concert success finally arrives in Sapporo.
About "Nodame Cantabile" Story Live Orchestra
The performance combines narration and orchestral music built on "Nodame Cantabile," the popular manga that blends classical music with human drama. Following the original story's arc from the formation of the R☆S Orchestra to its triumphant concert, the show builds to a climax with a full performance of Brahms's Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68.
Ayako Kawasumi and Tomokazu Seki, who voiced the characters in the TV anime, return for narration recorded specially for this production with an original script, performed alongside illustrations from the original manga.
The realistic orchestral sound evoking the manga is brought to life by Tacticart Orchestra, a group of young musicians active in Japan and abroad known for innovative programs — such as "Ping Pong Concerto Concert" and "SHIN SERIES" — that go beyond convention, led by conductor Kenshiro Sakairi.
Direction is by Takuma Suehara, who leads the theater company Obonro and handles the writing, direction, and performance for all of its productions, and who has also expanded his creative range to outside stage and reading performances in Japan and abroad, including 『club キャッテリア』, 『三國志演技〜孫呉〜』, and 『クルム童話』. Built around the fusion of music, story, and video, the concert lets the audience step into the world of "Nodame."
Photo: Taira Tairadate
Comments from the Cast
Kenshiro Sakairi (Conductor)
"A 'Nodame Cantabile' concert with the members of Tacticart Orchestra — a young ensemble that feels like the real-life embodiment of the R☆S (Rising Star) Orchestra. I'm really looking forward to bringing the performance that was such a huge success in Osaka to everyone in Hokkaido!"
Takuya Shinohara (Oboe)
"This performance lets the audience feel as if they've stepped into the world of 'Nodame Cantabile' themselves. Even people who don't usually listen to orchestral music are welcome to come and enjoy it. I'll be performing the first movement of Mozart's Oboe Concerto — the memorable piece played by Kuroki in the story, the scene where he starts out playing Mozart and is gradually enveloped in a pink-tinted world. Some of you may remember that scene. I want to play with that world in mind and put my heart into it. I hope you'll enjoy it at the venue."
Hina Inazumi (Piano)
"I personally love this 'Nodame Cantabile' Story Live Orchestra concert — it's so much fun. After Tokyo and Osaka, I'm really looking forward to performing in Hokkaido too. I hope everyone in Hokkaido will come and join us!"
Performance Overview
Title: "Nodame Cantabile" Story Live Orchestra
Date and Time: Wednesday, July 29, 2026. Doors open at 6:00 PM, performance begins at 7:00 PM, ending around 9:30 PM (scheduled)
Venue: Sapporo Cultural Arts Theater hitaru (Kita 1 Jo Nishi 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo)
Cast:
- Orchestra: Tacticart Orchestra
- Conductor: Kenshiro Sakairi
- Oboe: Takuya Shinohara
- Piano: Hina Inazumi
- Direction: Takuma Suehara
- Narration: Ayako Kawasumi and Tomokazu Seki (pre-recorded)
Program (planned): Brahms's Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 (complete), and more
Tickets (tax included): S Seats ¥9,900 / A Seats ¥7,700 (preschool-age children not admitted)
Organizers: Tacticart, HTB Hokkaido Television Broadcasting, Doshin Bunka Jigyosha
Production: Tacticart
Support: Tobetsu Town Board of Education
Special cooperation: © Tomoko Ninomiya / Kodansha, "Nodame Cantabile" Story Live Orchestra Production Committee
Official concert website: https://www.tacticart-orchestra.com/nodame-storylive
Where to Buy Tickets
- Doshin Play Guide: https://doshin-playguide.jp/ticket/detail/1917
- Sapporo Community Plaza Ticket Center (2F, Sapporo Community Plaza, Kita 1 Nishi 1)
- Seicomart in-store multi-copy machines (Seicomart code: A26072901)
- Ticket Pia (P-code: 327-410): https://t.pia.jp/pia/event/event.do?eventCd=2618005
- Lawson Ticket (L-code: 11929): https://l-tike.com/
