Evangelion Rakugo Debuts at EVANGELION 30th Anniversary Festival as Asuka Awakens in “Sleeping Princess”

The Evangelion Rakugo stage premiered at the EVANGELION 30th ANNIVERSARY festival, marking a unique celebration of the Evangelion series 30th anniversary. The second day of “EVANGELION:30+; 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION” was held on the 22nd at Yokohama Arena, drawing enthusiastic fans for a special new program.

On the second day, the franchise introduced its first ever “Evangelion Rakugo” performance, an ambitious fusion of the iconic anime series with traditional Japanese comic storytelling. The stage opened with a special live instrumental version of the theme song “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis,” performed on shamisen and taiko drums. Accompanied by this unique musical arrangement, rakugo performer Kikuhiko Hayashiya appeared before the audience.

Hayashiya presented an original piece titled “Sleeping Princess.” The story centered on Asuka, who awakens from a deep sleep, only to be visited one after another by familiar Evangelion characters asking her what kind of dream she had. Demonstrating remarkable skill, Hayashiya shifted seamlessly between the voices of multiple characters, captivating the audience with his expressive storytelling. When he concluded the performance, the venue erupted in thunderous applause.

Taking on the unprecedented challenge of combining Evangelion with rakugo, Hayashiya revealed that he is a devoted fan of the series. He shared that he went to see the final installment in theaters more than a dozen times. Regarding “Sleeping Princess,” he explained that while he initially considered creating an entirely new story, he ultimately developed it as a fusion with the classic rakugo tale “Tengu Sabaki.” He also announced with a smile that a different story would be performed on the following morning.

Following the rakugo stage, a special voice drama exclusive to the event began. This “impossible” storyline could only be experienced at the EVANGELION 30th ANNIVERSARY festival. Part One was titled “The Gendo Ikari Incident.” The story revolved around a mysterious case that unfolded at NERV headquarters and gradually escalated into turmoil involving members of WILLE.

The voice drama featured a distinguished cast performing live in real time. Megumi Ogata as Shinji Ikari, Megumi Hayashibara as Rei Ayanami, and Yuko Miyamura as Asuka Langley were joined by Kotono Mitsuishi as Misato Katsuragi, Yuriko Yamaguchi as Ritsuko Akagi, Akira Ishida as Kaworu Nagisa, Fumihiko Tachiki as Gendo Ikari, Miki Nagasawa as Maya Ibuki, Hiro Yuki as Makoto Hyuga, and Koichi Yamadera as Ryoji Kaji.

Designed as a participatory drama, the performance actively involved the audience. Attendees were cast as new NERV crew members, practicing a synchronized salute together and responding vocally at key moments during the story. The interactive staging drew fans into the narrative, and the excitement in the arena was palpable as they joined in with shining eyes.

Source : ORICON NEWS