The Asahi Shinbun – August 1, 2016 – A two-part, live-action feature film adaptation of the manga series “March Comes in Like a Lion” has gained a louder roar with additional cast members being announced.
It will all leap into action on the big screen in spring 2017.
The star-studded cast includes both veteran and up-and-coming actors, and now includes Kasumi Arimura and Kuranosuke Sasaki. It’s all raising expectations among fans.
As previously revealed, leading young actor Ryunosuke Kamiki will play the main protagonist, Rei Kiriyama, in the film adapted from Chika Umino’s critically acclaimed shogi (Japanese chess)-themed manga of the same name.
“March Comes in Like a Lion” runs in the Young Animal comic anthology. In it, Rei becomes a professional shogi player as a ninth-grader. He had been living a lonely life after he lost his family when he was small. But Rei begins to change after he meets the three Kawamoto sisters.
The live-action film adaptation will be directed by Keishi Otomo, whose past credits include live-action feature film adaptations of the swashbuckler manga “Rurouni Kenshin,” in which Kamiki also appeared.
Many fans rooted for Kamiki to be cast as Rei when the film project was initially announced. Similarly, they called for Sasaki to play the role of 8-“dan” (rank) shogi player Kai Shimada.
Arimura will portray Rei’s half-sister Kyoko Koda, a beautiful but quick-tempered woman who holds a grudge against Rei.
Other cast members include Kana Kurashina as Akari, the eldest of the three sisters, Ryo Kase for master player Toji Soya and Hideaki Ito for 9-dan player Masamune Goto.
Newcomer Kaya Kiyohara will play the role of Hinata, the second of the Kawamoto sisters, while veteran actor Etsushi Toyokawa will portray Rei’s stepfather and Kyoko’s father, Masachika Koda.
Visit the film’s official website at (http://3lion-movie.com/).
* * *
To learn more about the latest developments in Japanese anime, visit the official site of Anime Anime (http://animeanime.jp/).