NOW PLAYING: The Letters

A tale of heartbreak, loneliness, and the god of oblivion is unveiled in Tokyo this weekend by immersive theatre troupe daisydoze in the form of The Letters.

We’ve been fascinated with daisydoze since 2022’s Dancing in the Nightmare, with our Tokyo correspondent Benjamin Beardsley previously interviewing daisydoze artistic director Yui Takeshima for us in 2023.

Now we’re checking in with Takeshima on the new production, which will run as part of DIG SHIBUYA 2025 as a full scale production, and once that’s wrapped an audio version of the experience will persist, allowing people to return to the site of the show and hear the story as it unfolded.

The full production of The Letters runs Feb. 8–11, with the audio-only edition available after that.

Read on for more!

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NO PROSCENIUM: Tell us a little bit about your experience! What’s it about? What makes it immersive?

Yui Takeshima: In this experience, the audience follows voices in their headphones through the streets of Shibuya, one of the world’s busiest urban areas. As they cross the famous Shibuya Crossing and watch a performance at the historic “BYG” rock café, the familiar surroundings transform, revealing a new layer of fantasy.

Listening to whispers while walking, the ordinary urban interactions and noises take on deeper meanings, uncovering hidden fantasy in daily life and offering a fresh perspective.

An immersive experience, to me, is about creating “a parallel world just beyond the everyday.” While digital technology creates immersive worlds with stunning visuals, I believe true fantasy lies in our daily lives.

In Japan, the culture of “fantasy” is deeply embedded in everyday life, especially in Shinto, where gods govern nature and protect daily rituals. In my home, gods are believed to reside in places like the entrance and bathroom, influencing practices like offering salt and cleaning daily. The everyday world is the most real, and finding fantasy in the most familiar scenes creates the most immersive experience — this was the core idea behind this work.

NP: What was the inspiration for your upcoming experience?

YT: The theme of this piece is “loneliness and connection.” With the rise of smartphones, we once believed that constant connectivity would heal our loneliness. However, in reality, loneliness remains. People send their inner voices into the virtual river of Social timelines, feeling connected to others in an imagined way, yet their loneliness seems to deepen.

Even when walking through Shibuya, it feels like, people are disconnected from one another, despite the crowds. The history and faces of people get lost beneath layers of new things, and the discomfort of it all makes you want to leave quickly.

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I’ve been thinking about how to understand and express this feeling. That’s when we came across B.Y.G.

This place offers the luxury of having your own time alone, while also providing the warmth of being loosely connected to society. Young people listening to music while checking their phones, staff working without pressure, and individuals quietly enjoying their drinks. Though they are all strangers to one another, their shared presence in the same space creates a resonant sense of connection, forming a comforting community that embraces solitude. This small connection within B.Y.G, amidst the city, is something beautiful and deeply important.

NP: What do you think fans of immersive will find most interesting about this latest experience?

YT: One of the key aspects of this experience is the opportunity to discover hidden aspects of the city that you might not notice in everyday life. Shibuya is a well-known tourist destination, but by following the voices of the characters through your headphones, you’re guided to explore its history and venture into alleys or shops that are usually out of reach.

Another important feature is the blend of respect for Japan’s traditional culture with a modern approach. In creating my work, I thoroughly research the area, weaving in stories I’ve learned from locals. This creates a seamless fusion of reality and fantasy, allowing the work to transcend fiction and become something more immersive.

Additionally, the incorporation of various genres into the piece is a highlight. My co-director, Kaori Kondo, is an expert in costume design and also provides costumes for the street dance professional league “D-League.” As a result, the visuals are more sophisticated than those of typical immersive theater. The collaboration between world-class street dancers and seasoned actors is also a key aspect, adding to the appeal. The blending of different artistic genres in a boundary-less way is one of the unique features of this piece.

NP: Once you started designing and testing what did you discover about this experience that was unexpected?

YT: I made a few unexpected discoveries during this process. First, the depth of immersion created by combining street walking with the story. In previous works, the sounds of the city and performance were distinct, but this time they blended so seamlessly that I couldn’t tell which was which, making the transition into the story world feel natural.

Another discovery was how using audio helped break language barriers. By focusing on audio, I realized I could create an experience that anyone, regardless of culture or language, could enjoy. This approach made the performance accessible to a wider audience in multiple languages.

Lastly, the collaboration between street dancers and actors was a pleasant surprise. Working with stage actors helped clarify the roles of both dance and dialogue, adding depth to the performance. This has taken my work as an immersive theater director to the next level.

NP: What can fans who are coming to this, or thinking about coming to this, do to get into the mood of the experience?

YT: You might get a better sense of the project by checking out our Instagram account and website!

Instagram: @daisydoze.immersive

Website: https://www.daisydoze-immersive.com/

Also, this production has been selected as part of DIG SHIBUYA 2025, an event hosted by the SHIBUYA CREATIVE TECH Executive Committee in collaboration with Shibuya City. The event showcases cutting-edge culture that blends technology and art. You might get a better idea by visiting this website:

https://digshibuya.com/