It was announced at the last performance of the live tour in Tokyo Dome City Hall on June 29, 2012.
In Winter of the same year, Yanagishita won the role of Kaoru Kaidoh, the viper-like 2nd year regular of Seigaku Middle School's tennis club, in the Prince of Tennis musical series, Tenimyu, as part of the third generation Seigaku cast.
He shared the role with Yuuichirou Hirata, who was cast as the new Kaidoh, for two shows: The Progressive Match Higa Chuu feat.
During his run of the series, he got to work with fellow D-Boys members Tetsuya Makita, Kōji Seto, and Masato Wada.
TENIMYU: THE PRINCE OF TENNIS MUSICAL SERIES (as Kaoru Kaidoh) D-Boys Other stage work