Updated: 1/2/2021 – 5:55pm
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- The Cast
- Overview
- New Information
- Livestream on NicoNico
- Merchandise
- Links on Twitter
- Other Links
Introduction
This past Wednesday, December 3, saw the beginning of yet another stage play by Yoko Taro in his YoRHa series: YoRHa Girls Ver.1.1a.
- Original Work & Script: Yoko Taro
- Direction: Matsuda Ichidai
- Music: Okabe Keiichi (MONACA)
This new play is actually a reboot/revisioning of the previous YoRHa Boys Ver.1.0 play that first debuted early in 2018, and the novelized version was recently released in English.
The YoRHa Boys Ver.1.0 and YoRHa Girls Ver.1.1a share the same, overall narrative, but this one is a gender-swap of the originally all-male cast along the same lines as the YoRHa Ver.1.3a/aa plays (remember the “a” stands for “arranged version”). For more information on the differences between each of the plays, please check here.
First here’s a look at the main visual that depicts the characters standing in a zebra crosswalk. This is one of the visuals that is drastically different from the original play, which was set in the jungles of Madagascar. Once again, this is an illustration by Koda Kazuma!
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The Cast
First let’s take a closer look at the cast and share some of the images from the official YoRHa Stage Twitter account.
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Overview
As I mentioned earlier, the main difference between Girls Ver.1.1a and Boys Ver.1.0 is simply the switch over to an all-female cast. But for anyone who is familiar with Yoko Taro and his works, you’ll know that he can’t leave things alone and ALWAYS needs to change or update something. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does make it a little more difficult to remember what’s different between the various revisions.
The next main difference is that the story is no longer set in Madagascar but rather in the heart of Tokyo, Japan. We see many familiar areas and train stations such as Shibuya, Shinjuku, Shinjuku 3-chome, Yotsuya, Shinagawa, Yokohama, Minato Mirai, and… Tokyo Disney in Chiba (it’s never called out by name, but the reference is pretty obvious). Other notable locations include Tokyo Tower, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku, Landmark Tower in Yokohama, and, of course, Cinderella’s Castle. Instead of traveling around the area via aircraft, the characters use the train and subway system. Many of the locations take place in derelict subway stations with the train tracks standing vertically in the air.
Another main difference is the blatant school aesthetic. The YoRHa all wear a type of “sailor” style high school uniform and their overall personalities and outward demeanor resemble typical high school students in Japan. The very first scene shows No3 and No4 in a classroom with Instructor Black as they begin their initial training. This original play frequently jumps back and forth through time, so there are also several flashbacks of the YoRHa in school-like settings during their training.
The original Boys stage play had 3 stunt actors playing the role of the machines, but one of the actors, Hosokawa Akihiro (細川 晃弘), was injured during practice and had to drop out. It was quite unfortunate, but thankfully he appeared later in the second Thou Shalt Not Die play also by Yoko Taro. That being said, the Girls version also upgraded the number of stunt performers to 9 individuals. There were a few scenes in which they carried large, round machine props that resemble the centipede type of enemy in NieR:Automata.
The theater hall Tokyo Tatemono Brillia HALL in Ikebukuro seems to be the largest hall to host a YoRHa play. The set and visual effects used on the mesh backdrops are expansive and many interesting effects are able to be used in this version. Definitely keep an eye out for all the location-specific backdrops I mentioned above.
To avoid spoilers for those who may not be familiar with the story of this play, I will refrain from discussing anything in detail for now… But Yoko mentioned that if the Boys version represented “pride”, the Girls version represents “pain”… How spot-on he is with that description…
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New Information
** Beware of potential spoilers in this section. **
- During the after talk after the evening performance on December 5, Yoko Taro announced that this play will be the LAST YoRHa play *ever*. There will be no other future versions. This is the end.
- Yoko stated that No21 survives this mission and becomes one with the large machine that’s involved in Atlantis a month later. Please see the date for 6/5/11942 in the overall timeline for more information. Additionally, the novel states that No22 joins him as well…
- The play had two different endings.
- Ending A: The main ending depicts an earlier moment in a classroom setting on the Bunker where the YoRHa were taking “classes” by the Instructor. After a brief bit of dialogue between the characters, all but No9 leave the stage. She goes to set a chair upright that had been knocked over, and she notices a strange SS. A white one. She comments how strange it is because the all of theirs are black. She sets it on the chair and runs off stage to meet the others. Then in comes No2 who picks up her white SS and seems to be in considerable emotional turmoil as she looks in the direction No9 ran off. The stage fades to black and that’s the end.
- Ending B: The whole scene plays the say as Ending A up until No2 picks up her white SS. Instead of her just looking on in turmoil, No9 reenters the stage and runs up to her. She grabs No2’s hand and leads her off the stage, together. It’s a subtilely happier ending than the others.
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Livestream has English Subtitles!
The two shows to be broadcast on NicoNico Live on Sunday, December 6 will be subbed in English. To purchase the Net Tickets, please follow the instructions below, but first you must sign up for a NicoNico account. Please go to the top NicoNico page to do that first. You can find a guide to help you through that process here.
- YoRHa Girls Ver.1.1a Stage Play – Matinee Performance Net Ticket
- Sunday, December 6
- Open: 12:00pm
- Start: 12:30pm
- Standard Price: 2500 NicoNico Points
- Premium Price: 2000 NicoNico Points
- YoRHa Girls Ver.1.1a Stage Play – Evening Performance Net Ticket
- Sunday, December 6
- Open: 5:30pm
- Start: 6:00pm
- Standard Price: 2500 NicoNico Points
- Premium Price: 2000 NicoNico Points
Choose which show you’d like to see and click the link on the far right to purchase a Net Ticket. You will be taken to a screen similar to what’s shown below, which is an example of the evening performance Net ticket purchase screen. Next click on the large red button at the bottom. It says “Purchase Net Ticket”.
When you click the red “Purchase Net Ticket” button, you will likely see the following message, which means that you cannot purchase a Net Ticket because you do not currently have any points to make the purchase. Next, click on that red button to purchase Points:
You need 2500 Points to view one of the live performances, so you need to purchase at least that many. But first, click the link at the top of the screen to choose your payment method.
You will then see the following screen where you can select your payment method. For international users, you will likely choose the credit card option at the top. I typically add it to my monthly mobile payment, so that’s why the bullet further down is selected.
Unfortunately, I cannot show you how to do the rest since I don’t actually want to purchase more points at the moment, but you shouldn’t have much difficulty purchasing your NicoNico Points.
Once you have completed that, go back to the page for the play and purchase your Net Ticket with the NicoNico Points you just purchased. When that is completed, you can click on the individual link for the play to view it.
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Merchandise
Merchandise was sold at the venue and also through the DearStage online shop. Here’s a closer look at all the available items (although many are currently sold out!) Click the links below to be taken to the DearStage online shop page for each item.
- Please note that they will not ship internationally. It’s recommended to use a forwarding service such as BENLY express.
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Links on Twitter
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Other Links
- Reviews and Official Photos
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