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The information about the cast of the animated movie “Josee, the Tiger and the Fish”, which is based on the youth romance novel by Tanabe Seiko who won Akutagawa Prize, has been revealed, and it includes Nakagawa Taishi and Kiyohara Kaya as the main protagonists, Miyamoto Yume, Okitsu Kazuyuki, Lynn, Matsutera Chiemi as other characters.
Also, the new release date has been set to Dec. 25, 2020, and artist information for the theme song and special promo vides has also been revealed.

“Josee, the Tiger and the Fish” is a story about Josee, a girl in a wheelchair who lives in her world and loves drawing, reading books, and fantasizeing, meets Tsuneo, a college student who is chasing his dreams, and decided to go outside her world together with him.

Nakagawa Taishi plays Tsuneo, a college student who works part-time to make his dream of studying abroad come true, and Kiyohara Kaya plays Josee who looks awkward in her wheelchair but still cute.
About the cast for surrounding characters, Miyamoto Yume as Ninomiya Mai, Tsuneo's senior from a part-time job at a diving shop, Okitsu Kazuyuki as Matsura Hayato, Tsuneo's friend about the same age, Lynn as Kishimoto Kana, the librarian at the library where Josee and Tsuneo went together, and Matsutera Chiemi as Yamamura Chizu, Josee's grandmother.

Moreover, it has been revealed that Eve's song “Ao no Waltz” becomes the theme song of this work, and the new release date was set on Dec. 25, 2020.

In the special promo video that was released at the same time, in the first half, we see a comical exchange between Josee, who issued various commands saying, “You are in charge from now on”, and Tsuneo who is full of dissatisfaction with it. Second half shows to us Josee who looks like a mermaid and freely swims around, along with a line that exclaims the inside of her, “Well, you can go to your favorite place”.

When Tsuneo said, “How scary it is to reach for what you want…”, they both get worried about their relationships and their future, but can they both reach their dreams? Expectations for “new Josee” who will reborn as anime, are rising.

The animated movie “Josee, the Tiger and the Fish” will start roadshow from Dec. 25, 2020.

<Full comments are below>
[Nakagawa Taishi as Suzukawa Tsuneo]
The more I played Tsuneo, the more I fell in love with Josee.
After meeting with Josee, the scenery around becomes colorful.
I would be happy if you could enjoy this scenery at the theater with Josee and Tsuneo.

[Kiyohara Kaya as Josee]
It's a story about two people who, join hands and jump into a new world after meeting each other.
I remember being very happy when I heard that I will play Josee. Although I went into an unfamiliar area, the director carefully taught me, and thanks to Nakagawa-san who pulled the atmosphere, I was able to finish the recording safely.
I think that actors who put themselves into voice acting and the passion of the director and staff for this work made me learn something. I'm really grateful for this experience.
You will love not only Josee and Tsuneo, but other characters as well.
We hope that you can feel the beauty of images that can only be drawn by animation on the screen.

[Miyamoto Yume as Ninomiya Mai]
When I went to auditions, I've read the original book and watched a live-action movie.
It is a wonderful work filled with various human charms, and once I saw it, I read it, it became an unforgettable world view. I am really happy to be involved in a new version of expression for such a wonderful work.
Mai-chan, who I played, is a healthy, cheerful, and very affectionate girl.
From the point of reading the script, my sensitivity to Mai got very high, and I think I became able to understand and love Mai.
I hope everyone will love this work a lot. Thank you.

[Okitsu Kazuyuki as Matsuro Hayato]
When I heard, “Josee, the Tiger and the Fish”? Is it this title!? It's a really old one!
But Josee? Tiger? Fish? I've been thinking about this work but never touch it.
This time, I read the Tanabe Seiko's book again. It's a short story with the scent of Osaka.
My chest feels tight. Wonderful…
I'm really looking forward to seeing how this ephemeral, beautiful and deep story will become an animated movie.
I will do my best.

[Lynn as Kishimoto Kana]
Illustrations that I saw during the audition were very beautiful, delicate, and ephemeral.
I was truly excited to see the world of “Josee, the Tiger and the Fish” drawn as an anime, so I think it is a great honor to be part of it. I will play Kana who is a woman with a very soft aura that Josee meets when she opens a new door, and I'm very careful about playing naturally so that I could get along with the work.
This work has been loved for many years, and I hope that even more people will love it.

[Matsutera Chiemi as Yamamura Chizu]
Eh! I'll be voicing one of the characters in anime? I remember being surprised and happy. The voicing in the anime is something I've always wanted to try! !! Moreover, it is based on Tanabe Seiko's original book. I've participated in a work based on Tanabe Seiko's original, “Ube” that had been staged at Kansai Performing Arts Center. After touching Tanabe's work for the first time in a while, I remembered how I got to know it.
Josee's grandmother doesn't trust the world outside, she is stubborn and unfriendly. But…
It would be great if viewers could finish watching this movie and feel warm and kind while coming back home.

[Eve is in charge of theme song]
I am in charge of the theme song for “Josee, the Tiger and the Fish” .
I got a storyboard from the director, and from the start, it looked like the characters were about to move, so I was impressed by the delicacy and beauty as if the image jumped in.
While carefully facing the song, I made music while searching for the main points of Josee, who is clumsy and awkward to see what doesn't fade over time.
I am very happy that I am a part of this work.
I look forward to seeing you at the movie theater.

（C）2020 Seiko Tanabe/ KADOKAWA/ Josee Project