Azalea story
Kokubunji, Japan | Theatre
Mystery, Musical
A young boy, called weak by those around him, enters a mysterious mountain covered in red azaleas to prove his courage. There he meets strange creatures, a hidden valley, and a mysterious woman whose secret changes everything. His journey becomes a story of family, sacrifice, forgiveness, and hope.
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Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$150
Goal: $10,800 for development
A young boy, called weak by those around him, enters a mysterious mountain covered in red azaleas to prove his courage. There he meets strange creatures, a hidden valley, and a mysterious woman whose secret changes everything. His journey becomes a story of family, sacrifice, forgiveness, and hope.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Timid boy, mocked for his weakness, ventures alone into a mountain covered in red azaleas, determined to prove that he can be brave.
What begins as a simple journey soon carries him into a mysterious world of ghostly children, strange creatures, hidden valleys, and a woman who seems to know far more about him than she should. As he travels deeper into the mountain, he begins to uncover a secret that has been buried by his family and his village for years.
THE AZALEA STORY– The Mystery of the Red Azaleas is an original musical about courage, memory, family, and the stories we inherit. 
We are an independent creative team with experience bringing Japanese stories and performance to audiences in Japan and the United States.
With the AZALEA Story, we are creating an original musical rooted in Japanese memory, landscape, and imagination, while aiming to connect with audiences across cultures.
Why now?
After years of workshops, rehearsals, and concert presentations, AZALEA is ready for its next stage of development.
At a time when fear and division often shape how we see one another, we believe this story about looking beyond fear and discovering what lies beneath it feels especially meaningful.
Our immediate goal is to present the next concert production in Japan this November. The funds raised through this campaign will support music development, rehearsals, performers, venue and production costs, design, recording, translation, and promotion.
This November presentation will be an important step toward our next goal: developing AZALEA for a U.S. showcase and introducing the musical to international audiences, presenters, and production partners.
This is the moment to help AZALEA take that next step—from Japan toward the international stage.
The AI-generated images used in our pitch video were created specifically to support the storytelling of the concert version of AZALEA STORY. Because the concert presentation does not use a full theatrical set, these images serve as visual references—helping suggest locations, atmosphere, and key moments from the story.
Each image was developed to reflect the musical's scenes and narrative, rather than to replace the work of our performers or creative team.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Creative development
Costs $2,200
This will support music development, including further arrangement and score preparation. Also staging development, including choreography.
Studio rental, and rehearsal pianist
Costs $1,300
The cost of renting rehearsal rooms where the cast, musicians, and creative team can rehearse.
Performers and creative team fees
Costs $2,800
Performers / Creative Team Fees for for actors, pianist, music director, director/staging support.
Recording and documentation
Costs $1,800
It covers Recording, promotion and International Presentation Materials
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Our creative team brings together artists from music, theatre, dance, and performance to develop this original musical for future presentation.
Joe Canty — Composer
Joe Canty creates the music that gives the story its emotional voice, shaping the atmosphere, characters, and dramatic journey of the piece.
Ron Bautista — Musical Director / Performer
Ron Bautista leads the musical preparation while also performing in the production, supporting both the sound of the ensemble and the storytelling onstage.
Joy Kawamura — Performer
Joy Kawamura brings warmth, depth, and expressive power to the stage, helping reveal the emotional world of the musical.
Kaoru Inoue — Performer / Jazz Vocalist
Kaoru Inoue brings the sensitivity and color of a jazz vocalist to the production, adding musical sophistication and individuality to the performance.
Masaka Miyake — Performer
Masaka Miyake contributes as a performer, helping create the characters, atmosphere, and theatrical energy of the piece.
Nanae Shimizu — Performer
Nanae Shimizu brings charm, humor, and lively theatrical energy to the production. Her performance adds comical elements that help balance the story’s emotional depth with playfulness and warmth.
Rena Washino — Choreographer / Performer
Rena Washino creates movement for the production and performs as part of the creative team, bringing together dance, physical storytelling, and theatrical expression.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Timid boy, mocked for his weakness, ventures alone into a mountain covered in red azaleas, determined to prove that he can be brave.
What begins as a simple journey soon carries him into a mysterious world of ghostly children, strange creatures, hidden valleys, and a woman who seems to know far more about him than she should. As he travels deeper into the mountain, he begins to uncover a secret that has been buried by his family and his village for years.
THE AZALEA STORY– The Mystery of the Red Azaleas is an original musical about courage, memory, family, and the stories we inherit.
We are an independent creative team with experience bringing Japanese stories and performance to audiences in Japan and the United States.
With the AZALEA Story, we are creating an original musical rooted in Japanese memory, landscape, and imagination, while aiming to connect with audiences across cultures.
Why now?
After years of workshops, rehearsals, and concert presentations, AZALEA is ready for its next stage of development.
At a time when fear and division often shape how we see one another, we believe this story about looking beyond fear and discovering what lies beneath it feels especially meaningful.
Our immediate goal is to present the next concert production in Japan this November. The funds raised through this campaign will support music development, rehearsals, performers, venue and production costs, design, recording, translation, and promotion.
This November presentation will be an important step toward our next goal: developing AZALEA for a U.S. showcase and introducing the musical to international audiences, presenters, and production partners.
This is the moment to help AZALEA take that next step—from Japan toward the international stage.
The AI-generated images used in our pitch video were created specifically to support the storytelling of the concert version of AZALEA STORY. Because the concert presentation does not use a full theatrical set, these images serve as visual references—helping suggest locations, atmosphere, and key moments from the story.
Each image was developed to reflect the musical's scenes and narrative, rather than to replace the work of our performers or creative team.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Creative development
Costs $2,200
This will support music development, including further arrangement and score preparation. Also staging development, including choreography.
Studio rental, and rehearsal pianist
Costs $1,300
The cost of renting rehearsal rooms where the cast, musicians, and creative team can rehearse.
Performers and creative team fees
Costs $2,800
Performers / Creative Team Fees for for actors, pianist, music director, director/staging support.
Recording and documentation
Costs $1,800
It covers Recording, promotion and International Presentation Materials
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Our creative team brings together artists from music, theatre, dance, and performance to develop this original musical for future presentation.
Joe Canty — Composer
Joe Canty creates the music that gives the story its emotional voice, shaping the atmosphere, characters, and dramatic journey of the piece.
Ron Bautista — Musical Director / Performer
Ron Bautista leads the musical preparation while also performing in the production, supporting both the sound of the ensemble and the storytelling onstage.
Joy Kawamura — Performer
Joy Kawamura brings warmth, depth, and expressive power to the stage, helping reveal the emotional world of the musical.
Kaoru Inoue — Performer / Jazz Vocalist
Kaoru Inoue brings the sensitivity and color of a jazz vocalist to the production, adding musical sophistication and individuality to the performance.
Masaka Miyake — Performer
Masaka Miyake contributes as a performer, helping create the characters, atmosphere, and theatrical energy of the piece.
Nanae Shimizu — Performer
Nanae Shimizu brings charm, humor, and lively theatrical energy to the production. Her performance adds comical elements that help balance the story’s emotional depth with playfulness and warmth.
Rena Washino — Choreographer / Performer
Rena Washino creates movement for the production and performs as part of the creative team, bringing together dance, physical storytelling, and theatrical expression.