SONG OF THE SAMURAI Slashes Its Way Onto HBO Max In May
Yuki Yamada is set to lead Kazutaka Watanabe’s new period samurai drama which hails from TBS, U-Next and THE SEVEN in Japan. Its regional title is Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem, as I mentioned back in December, while the word now – following Variety’s reporting on Wednesday – is that HBO Max has acquired the rights and will launch the show on May 9 as Song Of The Samurai.
There are a slew of promos already online for Japan streamers as of last year and you can spot those here, with multiple looks at the cast roster. You also get some glimpses of the killer action from Kensuke Sonomura whose work can also be peeped in Baby Assassins Everyday which is also available on HBO Max.
Read on below and check out the first several stills from Song Of The Samurai just below!
Tokyo – Wednesday, February 25 – HBO Max today announced the acquisition of SONG OF THE SAMURAI, a bold new Japanese samurai action drama based on the popular manga series “Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem.” The new series is the latest Japanese title to launch exclusively on HBO Max through WBD’s partnership with U-NEXT and is set to premiere internationally on May 9.
Tapping into the timeless allure of jidaigeki (classic Japanese period dramas) and samurai culture, the series is the first large scale collaboration between Japan’s leading commercial broadcaster Tokyo Broadcasting System, the country’s largest local video streaming platform U-NEXT, and acclaimed studio house THE SEVEN (“Alice in Borderland,” “Yu Yu Hakusho”).
Created by Shinya Umemura – the mind behind the globally acclaimed, anime-adapted “Record of Ragnarok” – “Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem” has been running for 13 years and spans 36 volumes, with more than three million copies in circulation. Its story has since expanded across anime and stage production, cultivating a loyal, multi-demographic fan base.
SONG OF THE SAMURAI is a live-action adaptation that translates this deep legacy to the screen. Set in Kyoto at the end of the Edo period, the story depicts the intense and passionate lives of the Shinsengumi – the iconic samurai force that defended Kyoto in the final years of Japan’s shogunate – through spectacular action and a bold interpretation based on historical facts. The story follows street brawler Toshizo Hijikata (Yuki Yamada), who finds a new kind of family in Isami Kondo and Soji Okita. Hijikata and his comrades in the Shinsengumi forge a bond of loyalty – tested by betrayal, illness, and war – as they fight not only their enemies but their own ideals.
The series features an ensemble cast including Yuki Yamada, Ayano Go and Kento Nakajima; is written by Masaaki Sakai, directed by Kazutaka Watanabe, and produced by Akira Morii, Mamoru Inoue and Kazuya Shimomura.
James Gibbons, President, Asia Pacific, Warner Bros. Discovery said: “SONG OF THE SAMURAI is the next series to launch on HBO Max through our partnership with U-NEXT, focused on spotlighting Japanese content. With a growing appetite for this genre, we hope fans enjoy this captivating new samurai story – rooted deep in Japanese culture, with passionate action and a charismatic ensemble cast.”
Tenshin Tsutsumi, President and Representative Director, U-NEXT Co., Ltd. said: “We are delighted to bring this new series to fans around the world through our partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery. This project was developed with global distribution and broadcast integration in mind, aiming to expand the reach of Japanese content. With THE SEVEN’s production quality, TBS’s creative strength, and a world-renowned manga at its core, we are confident the series will captivate international viewers.”
Masamine Ryuho, President and Representative Director, TBS Television, Inc. said: “As the TBS Group, we remain committed to delivering world-class stories from Japan to audiences everywhere. Our commitment to content creation, THE SEVEN’s globally driven vision, and the powerful platforms of U-NEXT and HBO Max help us to achieve this. Set against the upheaval of the Bakumatsu era, this large-scale drama captures the spirit of young men living through one of Japan’s most transformative periods.”
Akira Morii, Vice President, CCO, and Chief Producer, THE SEVEN, Inc. said: “Our goal was to reimagine Japanese period drama as entertainment that could engage younger audiences. Built on an exceptional manga original, SONG OF THE SAMURAI is brought to life through the committed performances and action of Yuki Yamada and an outstanding cast, with a contemporary vision of the samurai spirit. As a producer, it is deeply rewarding to see this production launch on a premier platform like HBO Max.”
Yuki Yamada added: “In mid-19th century Japan, the Shinsengumi were among the so-called last samurai warriors who upheld the way of the sword during a time of profound change. To me, the samurai spirit is the wish to protect someone; a universal feeling that is shared across borders. I hope audiences can enjoy the action, while also feeling the emotion carried within each blade.”
SONG OF THE SAMURAI will premiere on HBO Max on May 9. Local language subtitles and dubs will be available in select markets.
Native New Yorker. Been writing for a long time now, and I enjoy what I do. Be nice to me!
