National Ballet Of Japan 2024-2025 & 2025-2026 Season, Shows, Reviews

byCherilyn J. Lee

January 1, 2020 - Updated on February 20, 2025

National Ballet of Japan

♦ Location: Tokyo – Japan

♦ Artistic Director: Miyako Yoshida

♦ Affiliated School: New National Theatre Ballet School

♦ Founded in 1997

♦ Official Website of National Ballet of Japan

Table of Contents

National Ballet of Japan 2025-2026 Season

The National Ballet of Japan 2025-2026 season, announced by Artistic Director Miyako Yoshida, presents a comprehensive program of nine different productions balancing new creations with established repertoire.

A highlight of the season is Will Tuckett’s new production of The Nutcracker in collaboration with set and costume designer Colin Richmond.

Four other works from the full-length classical repertoire are also featured accompanied by either the Tokyo Philharmonic Orcehstra or the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra:- Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella, which opens the season
– Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon
– Asami Maki’s Raymonda (2004)
– Peter Wright’s Swan Lake, last performed in the 2021-2022 season

National Ballet of Japan adds Hans van Manen’s 5 Tango’s to its repertoire as part of Ballet Coffret 2026, a triple bill which also includes David Dawson’s A Million Kisses to my Skin and George Balanchine‘s neoclassical Theme and Variations.

A double bill closes the National Ballet of Japan season pairing the world premiere String SAGA by emerging choreographer and former company dancer Naoya Homan with Jessica Lang’s Escaping the Weight of Darkness.

The company will also be presenting the more contemporary side of the spectrum with works such as Kaori Ito’s Robot, l’amour éternel, marking the choreographer’s debut at the New National Theatre Tokyo since becoming director of Centre Dramatique National Strasbourg-Grande Est’s TJP.

They will also present William Forsythe’s FRIENDS OF FORSYTHE which examines dance evolution through collaborations with contemporary artists, incorporating elements from folk dance, hip hop, and classical ballet.

National Ballet of Japan 2024-2025 Season

The recently announced National Ballet of Japan 2024-2025 season, titled “With a Sense of Adventure”, will feature several world and company premieres as well as full-length classical ballet favorites.

This season will also mark the UK debut of National Ballet of Japan at the Royal Opera House in London, where they will give five performances of Artistic Director (and former Principal Dancer of The Royal Ballet), Miyako Yoshida’s production of Giselle. For this production, which premiered in 2022, Yoshida, together with British choreographer Alastair Marriot, who had a long time successful career at The Royal Ballet, worked to recreate one of the most enduring masterpieces of 19th century romantic ballet. One of the major highlights is the set design by Dick Bird inspired by Lithuania’s Hill of Crosses, showcasing a blend of Christianity and indigenous cultures.

Opening the season is Wayne Eagling’s production of The Sleeping Beauty which maintains a classical style while also employing modern sensibilities. It features sophisticated, colorful costumes by Toer van Schayk and set design by Kawaguchi Naoji.

DANCE to the Future is a program featuring selected world premiere contemporary works from the National Ballet of Japan Choreographic Group whose objective is to nurture choreographers from within the company. Former dancer of the Nederlands Dans Theater Kenta Kojiri will serve as this year’s advisor, developing his pioneering, futuristic choreography with the dancers.

The version of The Nutcracker that National Ballet of Japan performs premiered in 2017 and is full of the most famous snow scene and flower waltz, grand pas de deux, and divertissements of the second act, all set to Tchaikovsky’s unmistakeable score.

Curated in order to showcase the company’s versatility, the Ballet Coffret program features two company premieres – Harald Lander’s Etudes and William Forsythe’s The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude – as well as Michel Fokine’s The Firebird, which returns after 12 years.

Closing the season at New National Theatre Tokyo is Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, based on the surreal story by the famous British author Lewis Carroll. The creative team who worked alongside choreographer Christopher Wheeldon includes film and television music composer Joby Talbot, and multiple award-winning designer, Bob Crowley.