"Chiruran Shinsengumi Requiem" Finally, the "Kyoto Decisive Battle" Begins! Takumi Kitamura Descends as Shinsaku Takasugi, a Revolutionary of the New Era! A Passionate Reunion of "Allies" Yuki Yamada x Takumi Kitamura Realized! An Overwhelming Outsider Appearing in the Bakumatsu Era Will Destroy the Shinsengumi and the Times—

The drama "Chiruran Shinsengumi Requiem," part of the "TBS x U-NEXT x THE SEVEN Global Project" announced by THE SEVEN Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director/CEO: Katsuaki Setoguchi; hereinafter "THE SEVEN"), TBS Television Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Masamine Ryuhou; hereinafter "TBS"), and U-NEXT Co., Ltd. (Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Tenshin Tsutsumi; hereinafter "U-NEXT"), aired its special drama "Edo Seishun Arc" on TBS for two consecutive nights on Thursday, March 26th and Friday, March 27th. It was then distributed on U-NEXT after each night's broadcast. Furthermore, the subsequent drama series "Kyoto Decisive Battle Arc" is now exclusively distributed on U-NEXT, with new episodes updated every Friday.

This work is the first live-action adaptation of the popular comic "Chiruran Shinsengumi Requiem," which features powerful artwork by Eiji Hashimoto and an original story by Shinya Umemura (also known for "Record of Ragnarok"). Set in Kyoto during the Bakumatsu period, it depicts the fierce and passionate lives of the samurai warriors of the Shinsengumi, the strongest samurai group, with spectacular action and bold interpretations based on historical facts.

Yuki Yamada plays the protagonist, Toshizo Hijikata, while other Shinsengumi warriors are portrayed by a cast of talented young actors with strong personalities and abilities, including Nobuyuki Suzuki, Aoi Nakamura, Kanata Hosoda, Shuhei Uesugi, Toki Fujiwara, Yosuke Sugino, Shuntaro Yanagi, Akito Miyazaki, and Hihio Iwanaga. Furthermore, a star-studded cast gathers, with Kento Nakajima playing Izō Okada, Hijikata's rival and ally known as "Hitokiri Izō," Jun Matsumoto as Katamori Matsudaira, the legendary lord of the Aizu Domain and founder of the Shinsengumi, and Go Ayano as Kamo Serizawa, the "strongest and most formidable enemy" who stands against Hijikata and his comrades.

While the excitement from the special drama "Edo Seishun Arc," which captivated Japan with its two-night consecutive broadcast on March 26th and 27th, is still fresh, Takumi Kitamura's appearance as Shinsaku Takasugi in the subsequent drama series "Kyoto Decisive Battle Arc" was revealed in a preview after the second night's broadcast of the "Edo Seishun Arc."

Takumi Kitamura's Appearance Announced as a Surprise! Playing Shinsaku Takasugi, the Renowned "Revolutionary" of the Bakumatsu Period!

Takumi Kitamura, who has been active on the front lines of Japan's entertainment industry, primarily in films and dramas, with his wide range of roles and reliable expressive power, has been confirmed to appear. Last year, he played a modern youth struggling to escape a dark business in the starring film "Gusha no Mibun" (The Fool's Identity), winning Best Actor at the 30th Busan International Film Festival. He also garnered attention for his excellent performance in the NHK morning drama "Anpan," playing a character modeled after Takashi Yanase.

Kitamura will play Shinsaku Takasugi, who did not appear in the special drama "Edo Seishun Arc." Takasugi is known as a revolutionary who made a name for himself during the Bakumatsu period and paved the way for a new era. We invite you to look forward to how the enigmatic Takasugi will be portrayed and what kind of presence he will bring to this work.

Yuki Yamada x Takumi Kitamura: A Transcendent Reunion of "Allies"

Having worked together on numerous projects, including the blockbuster film series "Tokyo Revengers," and building a deep relationship of trust both professionally and personally, these two are truly "allies" in the modern entertainment world. In previous works, they embodied a "bond of mutual reliance," but in this work, they will confront each other in the turbulent Bakumatsu period as "Toshizo Hijikata, Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi," and "Shinsaku Takasugi, a revolutionary from Choshu." One is an "oni" (demon) protecting the old era, and the other is a "revolutionary" creating a new era. Their relationship and how it will move the times and the fate of the Shinsengumi is something to watch closely.

The Fastest Sword Fighting in History Accelerates! "Kyoto Decisive Battle Arc" Begins Exclusive Distribution on U-NEXT