Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Film's 4 TV Ads Posted

posted on 2012-08-10 01:40 EDT

Action, cast, romance showcased from August 25 film based on Nobuhiro Watsuki's manga

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The official YouTube channel for the live-action film adaptation of Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin manga began streaming four television commercials on Friday.

The cast and combined commercials feature the theme song "The Beginning" by the rock band ONE OK ROCK.

Keishi Ōtomo is directing this samurai film with 22-year-old actor Takeru Satoh (Kamen Rider Den-O, Rookies, Beck, Ryōmaden) as the titular character. 17-year-old actress Emi Takei plays the heroine Kaoru Kamiya. Yuu Aoi (Hana and Alice, Honey and Clover) plays Megumi Takani, Munetaka Aoki (The Last Message Umizaru, live-action The Girl Who Leapt Through Time) plays Sanosuke Sagara, and Taketo Tanaka plays Yahiko Myōjin. Kouji Kikkawa (Let's Dance With Papa) as Jine Udō, Yosuke Eguchi (Shonan Bakusozoku, Tokyo Love Story) as Hajime Saitō, and Teruyuki Kagawa (From Up On Poppy Hill, 20th Century Boys) as Kanryū Takeda round out the cast.

The film will open in Japan on August 25.

Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin's 3-Minute TV Preview Aired

posted on 2012-08-12 12:35 EDT

Kenshin's sword fight with Hajime Saitō featured before August 25 premiere

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The Japanese television show Hiru Nan Desu! ranked the live-action adaptation of Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin manga at #4 in its list of movie picks on Friday. The television segment features 23-year-old actor Takeru Satoh (Kamen Rider Den-O, Rookies, Beck, Ryōmaden) as the titular swordsman in a sword fight with Hajime Saitō (Shonan Bakusozoku and Tokyo Love Story's Yosuke Eguchi). 18-year-old actress Emi Takei also appears as the heroine Kaoru Kamiya.

Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Bloopers Lead to Gum Ads

posted on 2012-08-20 01:00 EDT

Stars Takeru Satoh, Emi Takei flub lines, end up promoting Lotte chewing gum

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The official YouTube channel for the live-action Rurouni Kenshin film began streaming bloopers — as television ads promoting Lotte's Fit's Link and Fruitio chewing gum.

In the gum ads, the film's stars Takeru Satoh (Kamen Rider Den-O, Rookies, Beck, Ryōmaden) and Emi Takei (Kyō, Koi o Hajimemasu, For Love's Sake/Ai to Makoto) flub their lines, leading audience members to exclaim, "Kanda?" — the Japanese word for "chew" (kamu) is also the word for "flub."

Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Previewed in Behind-the-Scenes Video

posted on 2012-08-21 16:00 EDT

Director Keishi Ōtomo profiled in interviews with cast, crew

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The official YouTube channel for the live-action Rurouni Kenshin film began streaming the "'Kenshin' ni Nikutai ga Yadotta Hi ~Eiga Kantoku Ōtomo Keishi no Sekai~" (The Day "Kenshin" Was Given a Body: The World of Film Director Keishi Ōtomo) video on Tuesday. The video profiles Ōtomo's work through behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the cast and crew.

Not only did Ōtomo direct Takeru Satoh (Kamen Rider Den-O, Rookies, Beck) in the film's titular role, but the two also worked together in another live-action historical period piece, Ryōmaden.

Emi Takei (Kyō, Koi o Hajimemasu, For Love's Sake/Ai to Makoto) plays the heroine Kaoru Kamiya. Keishi Ōtomo is directing this period drama film after working with Satoh on Ryōmaden. Yuu Aoi (Hana and Alice, Honey and Clover) plays Megumi Takani, Munetaka Aoki (The Last Message Umizaru, live-action The Girl Who Leapt Through Time) plays Sanosuke Sagara, and Taketo Tanaka plays Yahiko Myōjin. Hajime Saitō (Shonan Bakusozoku and Tokyo Love Story's Yosuke Eguchi), Kouji Kikkawa (Let's Dance With Papa) as Jine Udō, and Teruyuki Kagawa (From Up On Poppy Hill, 20th Century Boys) as Kanryū Takeda round out the cast.

Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Earns 555 Million Yen in 1st 5 Days

posted on 2012-08-27 03:45 EDT

Film tops weekend box office & was seen 424,143 times in 1st five days

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Keishi Ōtomo's live-action Rurouni Kenshin film opened on 329 screens throughout Japan this past weekend, and it earned 399,530,400 yen (about US$5.07 million) in those two days to top Japan's box office. It was seen 295,319 times over the weekend.

In addition, some of the theaters screened the film early between Wednesday, August 22 and Friday, August 24. As a result, the film's total tally across all five days was 555,476,800 yen (US$7.05 million) and 424,143 tickets.

Takeru Satoh (Kamen Rider Den-O, Rookies, Beck) stars in the film's titular role, and Emi Takei (Kyō, Koi o Hajimemasu, For Love's Sake/Ai to Makoto) plays the heroine Kaoru Kamiya. Yuu Aoi (Hana and Alice, Honey and Clover) plays Megumi Takani, Munetaka Aoki (The Last Message Umizaru, live-action The Girl Who Leapt Through Time) plays Sanosuke Sagara, and Taketo Tanaka plays Yahiko Myōjin. Hajime Saitō (Shonan Bakusozoku and Tokyo Love Story's Yosuke Eguchi), Kouji Kikkawa (Let's Dance With Papa) as Jine Udō, and Teruyuki Kagawa (From Up On Poppy Hill, 20th Century Boys) as Kanryū Takeda round out the cast.

Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin's Satoh Wants to Play Hunter x Hunter's Killua

posted on 2012-08-28 23:00 EDT

Actor Takeru Satoh also expresses interest in Kenshin sequel

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Takeru Satoh, the star of the recently released live-action Rurouni Kenshin film, told the Japanese website Hollywood Channel that he wants to play the youthful assassin Killua from the Hunter × Hunter manga. In an article published on Thursday, the website had asked Satoh about which real-life character he would like to play next (Shinsengumi swordsman Okita Sōji), as well as which manga character.

Satoh did acknowledge with a laugh, "But since [Killua] is 12 years old…He's a little young for me."

In a separate Saturday report by Oricon Style, Satoh also expressed interest in reprising his role in a sequel to the Rurouni Kenshin film, to fans present at an opening-day screening where he made an appearance.

Before taking on the titular role in Rurouni Kenshin, Satoh appeared in Kamen Rider Den-O, Rookies, Beck, and Ryōmaden. Rurouni Kenshin opened in Japan this past Saturday.

Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Film Licensed in 60+ Countries

posted on 2012-09-02 11:25 EDT

17 more are in talks; cast & director celebrate 1 million tickets sold in Japan

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Keishi Ōtomo's live-action film adaptation of Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin manga has been licensed for overseas distribution in over 66 countries. The countries span Europe, Latin America, and Asia and include Germany, Mexico, and Taiwan. In addition, the rights for another 17 countries are under negotiations.

Back in Japan, the film has been seen over 1 million times as of Saturday, the eighth day of its theatrical run which started on August 25. In particular, it was seen 103,447 times on August 29 alone; that day was a weekday, but it was also a "Ladies Day," the traditional day for discounted prices for female moviegoers. As of Saturday, the film has earned 1,213,540,000 yen (about US$15.49 million).

The film's stars Takeru Satoh (Kamen Rider Den-O, Rookies, Beck) and Emi Takei (Kyō, Koi o Hajimemasu, For Love's Sake/Ai to Makoto), along with director Ōtomo, appeared at a surprise onstage greeting at Tokyo's Shinjuku Piccadilly theater on Sunday to reveal the news. The post-screening event capped off a whirlwind two-day tour of eight cities — Sapporo, Sendai, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, and Tokyo.

Satoh not only expressed his joy at seeing the fan support during this cross-country tour, but also at the announcement of the wide international release plans. "It's a dream come true." Takei added that this is the first time she has taken part in such a cross-country theater tour for a hit film, and that she is delighted so many people from grandfathers to children are seeing the film.

Ōtomo noted that he studied abroad, so the news of the widespread overseas plans had special meaning for him personally. The film's teaser trailer and full trailer have already been translated into English, Spanish, French, and Chinese.