The 4th edition of the Akarenga Art Planetarium® is set to take place at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Hall 1 (3F Hall) from August 1 (Saturday) to August 30 (Sunday), 2026. This year's theme is "A Journey Through the Stars" (星空を旅する).
The event features the MEGASTAR-II projector, created by internationally acclaimed Yokohama-based planetarium creator Takayuki Ohira (大平貴之). The MEGASTAR-II projects up to 10 million stars onto the dome, filling the space with a breathtaking starry sky that descends from above.
Under the new theme, visitors embark on an immersive journey — departing from Yokohama's nighttime harbor, drifting through tropical landscapes, and eventually crossing into another dimension beyond the darkness. Along the way, crashing waves, wind, rainbows, and countless shooting stars surround the audience. Narration is provided by voice actor Soma Saito (斉藤壮馬), and the music is composed by pianist and improviser Eric Aron, together creating a rich, multi-layered experience.
Event Details
Title: Akarenga Art Planetarium® "A Journey Through the Stars" (星空を旅する)
Dates: August 1 (Saturday) to August 30 (Sunday), 2026
*Final admission on August 30 is at 2:30 PM
Venue: Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Hall 1, 3F Hall
Screening Times (15 sessions per day):
10:30 AM–11:00 AM / 11:00 AM–11:30 AM / 11:30 AM–12:00 PM / 12:00 PM–12:30 PM
12:30 PM–1:00 PM / 1:00 PM–1:30 PM / 1:30 PM–2:00 PM / 2:00 PM–2:30 PM
2:30 PM–3:00 PM / 3:00 PM–3:30 PM / 3:30 PM–4:00 PM / 4:00 PM–4:30 PM
4:30 PM–5:00 PM / 5:00 PM–5:30 PM / 5:30 PM–6:00 PM
Each session is approximately 30 minutes; loop format with free entry and exit during sessions.
Ticket Prices:
- Adults (middle school age and above): ¥1,500
- Elementary school age and under: ¥1,000
Ticket Sales: Available on teket starting July 1 (Wednesday) at 1:00 PM
- Tickets are date and time specific; capacity is 50 per session.
For more information: https://akarenga.yafjp.org/event/art-planetarium2026/
About Planetarium Creator Takayuki Ohira
Takayuki Ohira is a Yokohama-based planetarium creator with international recognition. In 1998, he unveiled "MEGASTAR," capable of projecting more than 100 times more stars than conventional planetariums. In 2004, MEGASTAR-II was certified by Guinness World Records. His home planetarium series "HOMESTAR," co-developed with SEGA TOYS, has surpassed cumulative sales of 1.7 million units. In 2023, the "MEGASTAR-IIA (GIGAMASK)" installed at はまぎん こども宇宙科学館 was certified by Guinness World Records for the highest number of stars projected (one-off). The professional MEGASTAR series is installed in science museums and facilities across 14 countries worldwide.
About Narrator Soma Saito
Born April 22 in Yamanashi Prefecture, Soma Saito won the Excellence Award at the 2nd 81 Audition in 2008 and has been with 81 Produce since 2013. He received the Newcomer Male Actor Award at the 9th Voice Actor Awards in 2015. His major roles include 緋村剣心 (Kenshin Himura) in 『るろうに剣心‐明治剣客浪漫譚‐』, 千切豹馬 (Hyoma Chigiri) in 『ブルーロック』, and 山口忠 (Tadashi Yamaguchi) in 『ハイキュー！！』. He also debuted as a music artist in 2017 with the single "Fish Story."
About Composer Eric Aron
Born in France, Eric Aron is a composer, pianist, and improviser. He graduated from a French conservatoire and works across classical, healing, and electronic music, contributing hundreds of compositions to commercials and television programs. As a solo pianist performing in complete improvisation, he starts each concert from a blank slate — a rare ability. In recent years, he composed "MEGASTAR Symphonies," inspired by MEGASTAR, and has served as composer for many of Takayuki Ohira's planetarium programs.
