MJ the Musical Sets Its Sights on Tokyo, Opening a New Asian Chapter

MJ the Musical is heading to Japan. Original Broadway producers Lia Vollack and John Branca, alongside Michael Cassel, have announced the four-time Tony Award-winning production will launch its International Asian Tour in January 2027, opening at Tokyu Theatre Orb in Tokyo.

It's a fitting next stop. The show — set against the backdrop of Michael Jackson's Dangerous World Tour — arrives in Japan more than three decades after Jackson's historic eight-concert run at Tokyo Dome, bringing the story behind one of the defining periods of his career back to the audiences who lived it the first time. The Tokyo season, presented by Kinoshita Group with John Gore Organization and Kumiko Yoshii, marks the opening chapter of MJ's broader Asian tour.

For Brisbane audiences, the announcement closes a loop of sorts — MJ took its final Australian bow earlier this year, following sold-out seasons across the country. Now the production moves on to a new region entirely, joining Broadway, London's West End, Hamburg and the U.S. National Tour among the markets where more than 8 million people have already seen it.

Director and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon OBE, who won a Tony for the show's choreography, described the return to Tokyo's Orb theatre — where he previously staged An American in Paris — in personal terms: "Japan has given me thirty years of extraordinary experiences creating and performing in the ballet and musical theatre, so returning to the Orb feels like coming home. MJ is a different kind of electricity, and I can't wait for Japanese audiences to feel it. Full velocity from this incredible cast. See you in January."

Set in 1992, MJ offers a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Jackson's Dangerous World Tour, told through the eyes of a fictional MTV journalist granted rare access to the rehearsal room. Written by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage (Ruined, Sweat), the show goes beyond the hits and choreography to explore the creative mind — and complex history — behind one of the most influential entertainers of the twentieth century. More than 25 of Jackson's songs feature throughout, including Beat It, Smooth Criminal, Man in the Mirror and Thriller.

The production's creative pedigree runs deep: scenic design by Derek McLane (Moulin Rouge! The Musical), lighting by six-time Tony winner Natasha Katz, costumes by Paul Tazewell (Hamilton, Wicked), and sound design by Gareth Owen (Come From Away), among others.

Performance dates and ticket details for the Tokyo season will be announced closer to the January 2027 opening.

MJ the Musical's International Asian Tour opens at Tokyu Theatre Orb, Tokyo, in January 2027. More at mjthemusicalasia.com.