Anime Anime Global

Additional cast members have been announced for “Rurouni Kenshin: The Last Chapter, The Beginning”, which will premiere on June 4, 2021. Takahashi Issei will play Katsura Kogorou, Murakami Nijiro will play Okita Soji, and Andou Masanobu will play Takasugi Shinsaku.

“Rurouni Kenshin: The Last Chapter” will be developed in two parts: “The Final,” which is based on the last episode of the original story, “Real Crime Story,” and will depict the climax of Kenshin’s battle with Enishi, and “The Beginning,” which is based on “Remembrance Story” in which Kenshin recounts his past and approaches the mystery of the cross-shaped scar.

The role of Enishi, the head of the Shanghai Mafia who knows the mystery of Kenshin’s “cross-shaped scar,” NItta Kensuke has already been decided to play the role, and the role of Tomoe Yukiyo, the for the former wife of Kenshin, who holds the mystery of the “cross-shaped scar,”, Arimura KasumiAimura Jun has been decided upon by . This time, three important characters who fought for their lives at the end of the turbulent Edo period in “The Beginning” were also newly announced.

Takahashi Issei will play Katsura Kogoro, a Choshu clan member who becomes the catalyst for the birth of “Hitokiri Swordsman”, Andou Masanobu will play Takasugi Shinsaku, another Choshu clan member, and Murakami Nijiro will play Okita Soji, the leader of the Shinsengumi’s first squad.
The visuals of Katsura-san and Takasugi-san that were unveiled at the same time show a scene where Kenshin’s fate changes drastically as he is discovered by both of them. The visual of Okita-san shows a scene where they exchange swords while he glares at Kenshin with piercing eyes.

“Rurouni Kenshin: The Final” will be released on April 23, 2021, and “Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning” will be released on June 4, 2021.

＜The full text of the comments is below.
Takahashi Issei (Katsura Kogoro)
This is the third film I’ve worked on with director Otomo-san, and I was grateful and fascinated to be able to act in the Otomo group again.
When I played Katsura-san, I tried to observe Kenshin’s mind, but Sato-san was always there as Kenshin, so I could act without worry.

Murakami Nijiro (as Okita Soji)
I feel extremely happy to be able to play the role of Okita Soji.
I tried my best to keep the originality of the character, while at the same time working hard on the action.
This time “Kenshin” is different from the previous ones because he is the “Hitokiri Swordsman”, so the air he wears as Kenshin and what Ken-kun looks at in his eyes are different and impressive.

Andou Masanobu (as Shinsaku Takasugi)
I had an image of Otomo-san as a unique, energetic, and vigorous director.
I wanted to have a session with such a person, so I was honestly happy to receive the offer.

Otomo Keishi (Director/Screenplay)
About Takahashi-san
The end of the Tokugawa shogunate was a time of ephemeral moments, a time when a murderous glamour was appropriate. Issei is able to find the one and only way to express this. Moreover, his depth is unbelievable. The way he plays Katsura-san, you can feel his detailed feelings for Kenshin, and at the same time, I think he will definitely be a strong accent for the film.

About Murakami-san
The image of Okita-san naturally overlapped with Nijiro’s sharp image of small stature. I think he did a wonderful job of portraying this fascinating character with a unique mood, including the dream confrontation with Kenshin.

About Andou
I really felt that Andou Masanobu has a unique charisma that captivates people’s hearts in an instant. The extras were instantly uplifted and taken in by his charm. I think that Takasugi-san’s boldness and delicacy, his presence that cannot be summed up in one word, were more than adequately embodied.

(C) Watsuki Nobuhiro Watsuki/Shueisha (C) 2020 “Rurouni Kenshin: The Last Chapter The Final/The Beginning” Production Committee