top of page
2013
太陽を抱いた月
Moon Embracing the Sun (해를 품은 달) is a Korean original musical adapted from a bestselling novel and hit television drama, whose Japanese runs demonstrate how Hallyu television properties were successfully translated into stage productions for overseas audiences.
English:
Moon Embracing the Sun
Korean:
해를 품은 달
Country: Japan | Language: Korean
🔗 All images are linked to their original sources or articles. No copyright ownership is claimed.
ORIGIN
Premiered in 2013 as a Korean original musical based on the bestselling novel by Jung Eun-gwol, later popularized through a highly successful television drama. Produced in Korea with large-scale staging and strong emphasis on historical aesthetics, the work gained attention for adapting a well-known IP into musical form during the peak of Hallyu drama popularity.
STORY
Set in a fictional Joseon dynasty, the story follows a king destined as the sun and a woman destined as the moon, whose love is shaped by political intrigue and fate. After losing his first love, the king encounters a mysterious shaman who resembles her, blurring memory and reality. The narrative explores themes of love, loss, destiny, and identity. With a dramatic tone, the musical blends historical storytelling with emotional ballads and visually rich staging.
POSTER COLLECTION
Poster images are shown for documentation only. All rights belong to the original creators and producers.
KOREAN RUNS
2013 – Premiere, Korean original production
Recognized as a major original musical adaptation of a popular drama during the early 2010s Hallyu wave
Received attention as a large-scale historical musical based on established intellectual property
GLOBAL STAGINGS & ADAPTATIONS
Japan, 2013
Korean-language tour – Korean cast with Japanese audience targeting
Performed in December 2013 at Aoyama Theatre in Tokyo. Starring Korean idol performers, the production drew strong audience response, supported by the popularity of the original television drama. The staging retained Korean language performance while appealing to Japanese audiences through familiarity with the source material and high production value.
Japan, 2015
Encore performances – Korean-language tour
Following the success of the initial run, the musical returned for encore performances in Osaka and Tokyo, including Theatre BRAVA! and Roppongi Blue Theatre. The revival demonstrated sustained audience demand and reinforced the work’s position as a successful case of Korean musical export driven by Hallyu content.
REFERENCES
Rakuten Ticket – Japanese ticket information
https://ticket.rakuten.co.jp/stage/musical/rtzztay/
Ranran Entertainment – Tokyo opening report
https://ranran-entame.com/eventrepo/27007.html
T-Onkyo – Osaka and Tokyo revival announcement
KBS News – Japan premiere coverage
https://news.kbs.co.kr/news/pc/view/view.do?ncd=2771362
Daum News – Osaka encore performance article
https://v.daum.net/v/20150217182411094
bottom of page