“WOWOW Original Drama Hakuoki” will be broadcasted and distributed on WOWOWOW Prime and WOWOWOW On Demand with a total of 10 episodes. Wakayanagi Kotoko (playing Yukimura Chizuru), Yano Masato Yano (playing Saito Hajime), and Kanai Sonde (playing Okita Souji) have been announced as cast members in the second round of announcements, and their character visuals have also been released.
“Hakuoki” is a romantic adventure game for women, the first of which was released in 2008. Set in the turbulent period at the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, the game follows the heroine Yukimura Chizuru as she travels to Kyoto in search of her missing father and finds herself in the Shinsengumi (Edo period police). The game depicts the hardships that confront the Shinsengumi as shown in historical fact, the love between Chizuru and the troopers, the whereabouts of Chizuru’s father Tsunamichi, and the shocking facts hidden about Chizuru herself.
The series has been developed through various media mixes including games, TV anime, theatrical anime, stage shows, musicals, and comics, and 13 years after the release of the first game, the series is still going strong.
Recently, it was announced that Sakiyama Tsubasa will be playing the role of Hijikata Toshizo, the second-in-command of the Shinsengumi, and there was a huge response on SNS. Three additional cast members that have been revealed are Wakayanagi Kotoko, Yano Masato, and Kanai Sonde.
Wakayanagi-san will play the role of Yukimura Chizuru, the heroine who holds the key to the story and was unanimously supported by the judges in an audition in which more than 200 people participated, winning the title of heroine.
Yano-san, who has appeared in such dramas as “Legal High” and the movie “HiGH&LOW THE WORST,” will play the role of Saito Hajime, the leader of the Shinsengumi’s Sanbangumi (the 3rd Group), as well as in the stage productions of “HiQ! and “PATARILLO! Kanai-san, who has appeared on stage in “Haikyu!” and “Patarilo!”, will play Okita Souji, the leader of the Shinsengumi’s Ichibanbumi (the 1st Group).
In addition to the above, other familiar Shinsengumi members from the original story, the cast members who will play the “demons” who are in conflict with them, and the details of the broadcasting and distribution schedule will be announced in the future. In addition to this “WOWOW Original Drama Hakuoki”, a new OVA of the anime has been decided to be produced, and the “Hakuoki” series will continue to gain momentum through various media mixes.
Wakayanagi Kotoko (playing Yukimura Chizuru)
●How did you feel when you were chosen to appear in this film?
Before the audition, I had been watching the same scenes from the anime over and over again, studying the lines and movements, and practicing the sword fighting, so I was very happy. I was filled with a sense of excitement and thrill at the prospect of playing Chizuru-chan. But at the same time, I was very anxious because I knew that “Hakuoki” is a work that has been loved by many people and cherished for many years.
●What was your role and how did you create it?
Of course, I watched all of the anime, and I also looked at the social networking sites of the actors who played Yukimura Chizuru in the musical, and I worried a lot about what I should pay attention to and how I should act like them.
In the end, the most important thing I tried to do was to love and cherish “Hakuoki”, the character Yukimura Chizuru, the Shinsengumi, and the people around me.
●Message to the viewers
Hello everyone, my name is Wakayanagi Kotoko and I play the role of Yukimura Chizuru.
I was able to play the role with the help and support of the cast and staff, including Sakiyama-san, the lead actor.
The drama “Hakuoki” team and I put all our energy into creating this work, which is filled with many different feelings.
I want to share it with as many people as possible! I want to deliver it to many people! I want it to resonate with you!
Please watch the drama “Hakuoki”!
Yano Masato（playing Saito Hajime）
●How did you feel when you were chosen to appear in this film?
When I first joined the agency, I saw the stage production of “Hakuoki” (2010) as a learning experience.
More than 10 years have passed since then, and I am very happy to be reunited with them in the form of a drama, and to be able to play a role in it. Since this work has been loved by fans for a long time, I faced the work with the feeling that I wanted to create a delicate worldview.
●What is your role and how do you create it?
At first glance, Saito Hajime may seem cool and unmoved by things, but as he describes himself as a “left-handed, wicked swordsman,” he is naïve, but he is also more confident than others in his sword skills, and he has something very passionate, like a blue flame.
To be specific, I listened and talked with my head held high to give a cool impression, kept my tone of voice low and constant, and blinked less to express the passion inside. I had to think about many things while acting.
●Message to the viewers
To “Hakuoki” fans and newcomers, I’m Yano Masato, and I’m playing Saito Hajime!
We’ve been working on this work for about a year, and we’ve put a lot of time and effort into it.
The staff and producers have spent even more time on this work.
I hope you will warmly watch over the “Hakuoki” that is filled with so much love.
One of the highlights of the film is the first time I worked with a sword choreographer, using my left hand, which is the opposite of my dominant hand!
Kanai Sonde（playing Okita Souji）
●How did you feel when you were chosen to be in this film?
First of all, I was surprised and happy at the same time because I never thought that I would be playing Okita Souji. When I read the original story and script of “Hakuoki”, I wondered why men’s tragedies are so beautiful. (laughs).
I think fans of “Hakuoki” will be attracted to it, even though it’s painful, painful, painful!
At the same time, I felt that this work depicts the feelings of men for their fellow Shinsengumi members, their responsibility and honesty, and the sadness of fate.
●What is your role and how did you create it?
My impression of Okita Souji from the Shinsengumi was that he was thin, gentle, and like a loving younger brother. However, when I read the original story and the script, I found that Okita Souji in “Hakuoki” is cynical and mischievous. I felt that this was not too far from me, so I relied on my senses to a large extent. I was conscious of not making too much of it.
Also, more than anything else, I love Kondo-san.
●Message to the audience
“Hakuoki” is a popular work that has been released in a variety of media, so I think there are high expectations for it. Since this is a live-action adaptation, the director and all the staff were eager to take on the challenge! We actors played the role with the enthusiasm of the director and staff. During the filming, we gradually deepened our friendship by living as the Shinsengumi, and our days were hot, cold, and intense. We hope that fans of the original story, period drama fans who like the Shinsengumi, and people who like human dramas will all enjoy this film.
