There’s loads of love and fondness from fans keen on actor Junichi Okada, even some who share a preference to see him in serious action roles.
His most recent festival delight,
manga adaptation The Fable, was a grand feast of action and comedy during 2019 hitherto its release in Japan, and you’re welcome to read my thoughts about it here, at my NYAFF review for the film.
For now, we have Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai to continue onward with as we approach the new year. Masato Harada, best known for playing the loathesome villain role in films such as The Last Samurai and Jet Li’s Fearless, adds to his prominent, decades-long career at the helm, reuniting with Okada since wrapping 17th century war epic, Sekigahara, which scored 2.4 billion yen at the box office.
Opening on May 22, Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai takes its cues from Shiba Ryotaro’s 1964 Shukan Bunshun publication, centered on the wartime chronicles of Hijikata Toshizo, the Shinsengumi vice-commander who led the shogunate forces against the imperialist Meiji government during the Boshin War.
Rounding out the principal Shinsengumi roles of Kondo Isamu and Okita Soji are Hentai Kamen star Suzuki Ryohei and Hey! Say! JUMP member, Fullmetal Alchemist star Yamada Ryosuke, with Ito Hideaki (Lesson of Evil) as Serizawa Kamo and Shibasaki Kou (Battle Royale, Nobunaga Concerto) as Hijikata’s romantic interest Oyuki.
Peep the trailer above and poster below! (Hat tip to Cesar at Filmsmash)
