Yoko Zan
Born in Kisarazu, Chiba Prefecture, on September 23, 1973. Member of the agency Imagination.
She joined the theater company Kifujin in 1998 and performed in nearly all of its productions until her departure in 2014. Since then, she has continued to work extensively on stage as well as in film and television. In 2025, she produced and performed in her own live concert Zan Yoko’s Birthday Song Celebration!.
Her recent stage credits include Shinigami-tsukai no Jikenchō: The Final (2025), Behold the Plane Soars High (2025), Kageki Shoujo!! (2024), Shutter Guy (2024), Anne’s Day (2024), Zenitendō (2023), BALLO (2023), Diary (2023), The Angel Descends upon the Cherry Blossoms (2022), Futamatsuzuki (2021), Romeo and Rosaline (2021), Osomatsu-san: The Comedy (2019), and The Song That Cannot Be Forgotten (2019).
Her television credits include the drama The Winner in February (NTV).
Motomi Nakajima
Born with sensorineural hearing loss, she completely lost her hearing at age 16 during her first year of high school, forcing her to give up her childhood dream of becoming a ballet dancer. Soon after, she discovered sign language, which opened the door to a new form of expression. She began performing with a theater company, creating works that could be enjoyed visually while incorporating her love of music.
After leaving the company to pursue new challenges, she has been working independently, mainly through YouTube and live performances. She also appeared as a performer in the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. In addition to performing, she works as a sign language coach for television dramas and films.
A passionate theatergoer herself, she continues to pursue her dream of performing on stage in musicals.
Ken Nakaseko
Born in Shingū, Wakayama in 1986.
After graduating from the University of Kitakyushu with a degree in Chinese Studies, he began his professional career in 2010 with Flash Up before moving on to work as a freelance actor. He has appeared in numerous stage and screen productions, particularly with the Tokyo-based company DogaDoga+.
In 2018, he received a Chinese Government Scholarship to study acting at the Beijing Film Academy, where he performed his graduation play entirely in Chinese. Since then, he has been active in both Japan and China, with credits including the acclaimed film Nanjing Photo Studio.
Since 2022, he has focused on solo performances, particularly staged readings and monologues based on the works of Osamu Dazai. His goal is to bring these works to international audiences through multilingual performances that bridge cultures.
Di Wang
WANG DI is a vocalist and songwriter from China, now based in Tokyo. He is the frontman of the international band ONEsONE, produced by renowned artist Chris Peppler. As the group’s primary songwriter, he creates original music that blends disco, bossa nova, R&B, and modern pop. His career in Japan officially began in December 2024 with the band’s debut live performance at J-WAVE Inspire Tokyo in Yoyogi Park, marking a fresh step into the Japanese music scene. Since then, he has performed widely at live houses and events across Tokyo. Known for his warm yet powerful vocals and evocative lyrics, he continues to create music that resonates with audiences across cultures. Although this is his first appearance in a theatrical production, he aims to bring his unique experience as a musician to enrich the story of How to Make a Love Song.
Laura Benítez
Laura is a 30-year-old actress and dancer from Spain who has pursued her passion for the arts since childhood. She has trained and performed in dance, theater, and especially musicals, where she combines her three greatest loves: dancing, singing, and acting. Throughout her career, she has appeared in numerous musicals, plays, and cabarets, always seeking to move and inspire audiences.
In addition to dance and acting, singing is one of her deepest passions. Specializing in comedy, she has earned several award nominations and won Best Supporting Actress at the “Última Estación, Gran Vía” awards in 2024.
Alongside her performing career, she has spent seven years teaching the performing arts to others. Recently, she relocated to Japan to enrich both her artistic and personal life, explore new perspectives, and seek opportunities in a different cultural environment.
Jasmin IP
An actress born and raised in Hong Kong with Thai heritage, Jasmin is fluent in six languages: Cantonese (her mother tongue), Thai, English, Mandarin, Taiwanese, and Japanese.
She trained in the Tang Shu-Wing Theatre Studio’s Professional Physical Theatre Youth Training Programme (2021–2022) and continued her studies in the Bachelor’s program at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (2022–2023). In 2024, she began her acting career in Japan as a member of Shochiku Entertainment’s Actor School.
Her training includes Japanese stage combat (tate), traditional Japanese performance movement (shosa), as well as Sanford Meisner’s and Michael Chekhov’s acting techniques. She has performed in stage and film productions, music videos, and commercials in Hong Kong, and is eager to expand her acting career across Asia and beyond.
Concept and Music
Yu Okuda
Yu Okuda is a Tokyo-based Musical theatre Writer, Composer, Arranger, Music Director, Bandleader, and Pianist. She was selected as a Fellowship for the 2023 Program of Overseas Study for Upcoming Artists by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, as well as the 2023 U.S.-Japan Creative Artists Fellowship Program by the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission and completed a one-year residency in NYC during 2023–2024.
Yu holds a BA in Music (Composition) from Kunitachi College of Music, Tokyo, Japan. She is the Founder and President of Musical Theatre Writers Japan (NPO). She is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, Maestra and MUSE.
Storyboard and Directed by
Ei Sugai
Playwright, Stage Director, Actor, and Workshop Instructor
He holds a BA in Art History from Waseda University. While at Waseda, he was an active member of the legendary student society Theatre Company Teatro 50’, which has produced many theatre professionals and companies, such as Caramel Box. After graduation, he joined Hakoniwa Enbukyoku in 2007 and performed as an actor until he left the theatre group in 2013. In 2010, he launched the theatre unit monophonic orchestra (went on hiatus in 2018). He currently presides over the theatre unit Mo’xtra.
His major playwriting credits include the New National Theatre Tokyo-sponsored play My Month (script), Dekalog I-X (adaptation), Toyohashi Arts Theatre PLAT-commissioned play Star Prayers to the Perishing Children (script and direction), Murder on the Orient Express (adaptation), and Teru, You’re Out of this World! (script). Karaoke Night, a film he wrote the screenplay for, won the Best Film Award in the film category at the Kadoma International Film Festival 2019.
Dramaturge
Yuka
Theatre Director, Associate Director, Acting Coach, Dramaturge
After co-founding the Tokyo-based theater company KAKUTA, Yuka began a career as
both an actor and director before transitioning into behind-the-scenes creative work. Since
2015, they have been active as an associate director, acting coach, and dramaturge,
contributing to a wide range of theatrical productions as well as large-scale events and
concerts. Currently, they have resumed directing while continuing to specialize in associate
directing and coaching actors.
Selected credits include: Jujutsu Kaisen: The Stage, Haikyu!! The Stage, Loserville, If We
Could Meet That Night, Shukushuku to Unshin, The Little Prince: A Music Drama, and the
Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony.
Dramaturge
Yasuko Uchida
Yasuko Uchida is a Tokyo-born actress, producer, and lecturer based in Japan.
Her theatre performance credits include Hello Dolly, Me And My Girl, HONK! (Penny), Angels in America (Harper), Betrayal (Emma), and Hamlet (Guildenstern). She has worked with several internationally renowned directors, such as Simon Godwin and Roger Castellano.
She is a teaching member of Forum Theatre at Faculty of Medicine, Gunma University. Through teaching the class, which is a method of sharing, debating, and dialogue on issues through theatre, she found her passion for Drama Education as an effective medium for addressing community problems.
She holds an Associate Degree of Drama from Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music.