Note: Kamui Haruyama is currently appearing as Billy in the Japanese production of Billy Elliot the Musical (BETM) in Tokyo and Osaka from July 27 to November 24, 2024.
Kamui Haruyama was 13 years old (born January 2011) when he debuted as Billy in the 2024 Japan production of BETM at the Brillia Theatre in Tokyo.
Kamui has had success in ballet competitions, including second place in the 2023 NBA National Ballet Competition (5th and 6th grade elementary school division) and third place in the 2022 Ballet Competition in Yokohama (3 junior divisions). In addition to ballet, Kamui is also a keen gymnast.
After being taken by his mother to see the last production of BETM in Japan, Kamui was so moved that he couldn’t forget it, so he applied for the role right away, thinking, “I want to be Billy too!” He says that he thinks he is similar to Billy in that I can become so absorbed in ballet that he loses track of time.
Kamui says: “Through the auditions, I was able to do things that I couldn’t do at first, and I enjoyed every day. When I was chosen to play Billy, I felt the happiest in the world.Billy is a boy full of hope and has a strong will to make his dreams come true! I want to pursue my own version of Billy and be able to give hope to the audience.”
At a press event prior to the opening of the production, Kamui performed ‘Express Yourself’ alongside Istuka Takahashi as Michael:
With his debut performance as Billy on 30-Jul-2024, Kamui becomes the 12th Billy in Japan and the 360th worldwide to perform in a professional, regional or community theatre production of BETM.
Kamui Haruyama (Billy) and Istuka Takahashi (Michael) in ‘Express Yourself’
