Yoshihiko Inohara (of V6) is teaming up with young acting troupe Europe Kikaku as he stars in a play titled "Showajima Walker." As a fan of the troupe, Inohara has been visiting some of the Kyoto-based group's practices and performances since a year ago. As a result, he was invited by the troupe's chairman, Makoto Ueda, to star in one of their productions.

Ueda is hailed by some as "the next Kankuro Kudo." One of his better known works is "Summer Time Machine Blues," which was turned into a movie in 2005.

"Showajima Walker" is a comedy set in the near future. Inohara plays the president of a struggling robot factory, who inherited the company after his father mysteriously committed suicide. Unlike his father, his efforts always end in failure, but he aims to revive the company with a newly designed robot.

The play also features Kotomi Kyono and Marika Matsumoto. It will run at The Globe Tokyo between November 2 and 23, and at the Theater Drama City in Osaka from November 27 to 30.