“Black Lizard”
Based on the novel by Ranpo Edogawa“Diamond IMPULSE”
Written and directed by Yuichiro Takeda On sale from: June 21, 2026, at 10:00 AM(JST) - Price SS Seat : 14,000 / S Seat : 11,000 / A Seat : 5,500 / B Seat : 3,500
“Black Lizard”
Tokyo in the 1960s. More than a decade has passed since the end of World War II and Japan is in its era of rapid economic growth.
Kogoro Akechi stands in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city, gazing up at the newly built Tokyo Tower. With an ability to detect crimes committed in the shadows of human activity, Akechi is a detective who has solved many perplexing cases.
On Christmas eve, an unkempt figure appears on the main street. He looks out of place in the festive atmosphere, especially since he seems to be running for dear life. The man is suspected of murder and has a patrol squad in hot pursuit. He escapes onto a side street and into an underworld nightclub where only a few people — all of whom have managed to hide their identities — gather. They are here to buy and sell gems that cannot be traded on the open market. At the center of this secret party is a woman considered the queen of the underworld, a thief known as the Black Lizard. The fugitive begs the Black Lizard and her henchman, Junichi Amamiya, for help. By the time the police arrive to collar the man, the Black Lizard and her crew have all disappeared.
The man was wanted for a downtown murder. Had it been a crime of passion, or motivated by a grudge? At a glance, it seems no different from the usual unlawful act. The next day, however, Namikoshi and Masaki of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, First Criminal Investigation Division visit the Akechi Detective Agency. The two want Akechi’s opinion on the man who escaped them, a male corpse found floating in Tokyo Bay, and the gem trading Masaki encountered when their suspect made his way into the nightclub. Hearing all this, Akechi’s heart races at the prospect of a crime about to unfold.
Akechi then heads for Osaka at the request of Shobei Iwase, who runs the biggest jewelry business in Japan. He hired Akechi after receiving a letter threatening the life of his daughter, Sanae. Akechi arrives at the Nakanoshima K Hotel in Osaka, where Shobei and his daughter introduce him to the beautiful Madame Midorikawa, a longtime friend of the family. Iwase and Akechi retire to the bar, while Sanae and Midorikawa go to Room 522, where the Iwases are staying.
“Be on the lookout at midnight.” Late that night, a mysterious telegram is delivered to Iwase. Akechi decides to stand watch in Room 522. Midorikawa, too, is worried about the safety of Sanae and Shobei, and she and Akechi both end up staying the night of the impending crime. With an hour left until midnight, Midorikawa picks up a deck of cards and challenges Akechi to a game with high stakes. She wagers the entire collection of jewels she owns and Akechi bets his whole detective business. The game gets underway as midnight approaches. How will their first “gamble” end?
Finally, the clock strikes twelve. Nothing has happened, or so it seems. When Akechi runs to Sanae and Shobei’s room to check on them, Sanae, who is supposed to be asleep, has disappeared and been replaced with a doll. Does this mean Akechi has lost the bet? Just as he is about to admit defeat, Sanae, assumed to be kidnapped, shows up accompanied by the police. Akechi’s assistants, including Sakai, obeyed their boss’s orders to follow the girl and have succeeded in having her returned unharmed. It turns out Sanae had been shut in a trunk and kidnapped by a guest in the hotel, Kensaku Yamakawa (who turns out to be Amamiya). And as for Madame Midorikawa... Akechi has blown her cover, revealing her to be the notorious Black Lizard. At the last moment, though, she makes her escape from the hotel. But not before Akechi gets a good look at the tattoo of a black lizard on her left shoulder.
The private detective and the female thief. At some point the pursued becomes the pursuer. Akechi and the Black Lizard begin a pursuit — of each other.
“Diamond IMPULSE”
A shimmering diamond, bursting with the power to awaken countless emotions and impulses in us. This is a sparking stage performance that mixes IMPULSE—ephemeral feelings: the passion and love of those who keep on singing and dancing; desire and envy—with the transparent serenity and seductive scintillation of a diamond.
Enjoy this vibrant show full of vitality, brought to you by Cosmos Troupe and its top star, the brilliant Minato Sakuragi.
This performance also marks the debut of the 112th class in the Takarazuka Grand Theater.
“Black Lizard”
Kogoro Akechi:
The Black Lizard (Madame Midorikawa):
Junichi Amamiya (Kensaku Yamakawa):
Shobei Iwase:
Matsukichi:
Mrs. Iwase:
Delivery man Goro:
Inspector Namikoshi:
Maid Yumeko:
Maid Aiko:
Gifu [Akechi’s assistant]:
Sanae Iwase / Yoko Sakurayama:
Inspector Masaki:
Maid Iroe:
Kitamura [The Black Lizard’s henchman]:
Bodyguard Haraguchi:
Sakai [Akechi’s assistant]:
Bodyguard Toyama:
First woman:
Kurata [Iwase’s secretary]:
Kizu [Akechi’s assistant]:
Third woman / Maid Hanae:
Goda [The Black Lizard’s henchman]:
Yoshino [Akechi’s secretary]:
Haijima [The Black Lizard’s henchman]:
Second woman:
Omi [Akechi’s assistant]:
Kageyama [The Black Lizard’s henchman]:
Hina / The Blue Turtle:
Bodyguard Okawa:
Ibitsu (The Black Lizard’s servant):
Tanba [Akechi’s assistant]:
Utsuro (The Black Lizard’s servant):
Police officer 1:
Kogoro Akechi’s shadow:
Abutani [The Black Lizard’s henchman]:
Kogoro Akechi’s shadow:
The Black Lizard’s servant:
Police officer 2:
The Black Lizard’s servant:
The Black Lizard’s servant:
The Black Lizard’s servant:
Kogoro Akechi’s shadow:
The Black Lizard’s servant:
Kogoro Akechi’s shadow:
Kogoro Akechi’s shadow:
Kogoro Akechi’s shadow:
The Black Lizard’s servant:
Kogoro Akechi’s shadow:
Kogoro Akechi’s shadow:
