Flag Pictures unveiled additional cast members, character visuals, and a character video for the upcoming live-action sequel film “Tonde Saitama Biwako Yori Ai o Komete” (Fly Me to Saitama: From Lake Biwa With Love) on Tuesday.
The fresh character visuals showcase Gackt as Rei Asami (upper left in both images) and Fumi Nikaidō as Momomi Dannoura (upper right). Joining the ensemble are newly announced cast members Anne (Anne Watanabe) portraying Kai Kikyo, the elegant noble of Shiga Prefecture (lower left), and Ainosuke Kataoka as Akira Kashoji, the unyielding governor of Osaka (lower right).
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Returning to the film are Ryō Katō, Tsubasa Masuwaka, Maju Ozawa, and Shoko Nakahara, reprising their roles as Nobuo Shimokawa, Okayo, Sazae, and Awabi, respectively.
The sequel is set to premiere in Japan on November 23, after being postponed from its original release date last year. Production was halted when lead actor Gackt announced an indefinite hiatus in September 2021 due to an early onset neurological disease progressing into a “life-threatening condition,” leading to dysphonia (voice disorder). Gackt revealed in May 2022 that his physical recovery was on track, and filming resumed in October 2022.
The storyline revolves around the second phase of the “Japan Saitamization Plan” by the Saitama Liberation Front, led by Rei Asami (Gackt) and Momomi Dannoura (Nikaidō). The group’s pursuit of greater freedom and tranquility takes them to the Kansai region in the west, triggering a fierce clash between the east and west.
The initial “Tonde Saitama” film debuted in Japan in February 2019, raking in 191,000 tickets and 259,038,800 yen (about US$2.33 million) in its opening weekend, claiming the top spot at the Japanese box office.
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The original one-volume manga was launched by Maya in Hakusensha’s Hana to Yume magazine in 1982. In 2015, a compiled version titled “Kono Manga ga Sugoi! comics Tonde Saitama” was published by Takarajimasha. The manga boasts over 660,000 copies in circulation. Maya is also the creator of the Patalliro! comedy manga, which has inspired multiple anime projects.
Source | Press releases
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