takuya kimura

Japan Cuts XVI Review: In THE LEGEND & BUTTERFLY, Love Is A Subversive Sengoku-Era Battlefield

Indeed, Oda Nobunaga is one of the most well-documented figures in world history. His is a recurring legacy in many a multimedia product in film and TV, and to no one’s surprise is source material rich with potential that filmmakers to this day are curious to adapt stories illustrating his life. Keishi Otomo, the mind behind adapting the biggest manga-inspired franchise of the past decade with Rurouni Kenshin, found a way in fitting fashion with his usual caliber of work alongside The Confidence Man JP trilogy and Parasyte adaptation screenwriter Ryota Kosawa. For this, it becomes a major point of interest as to how anyone interprets history, especially when obscurity befalls one half of the subject matter. Otomo’s 70th anniversary production for Toei, The Legend & Butterfly, makes a daring attempt to christen the genre once more with a peculiar revisit of the late legendary daimyo, born into power and […]

New THE LEGEND & BUTTERFLY Poster Revealed

Lee B. Golden III

Set to arrive just in time to celebrate the 70th anniversary in Toei, Rurouni Kenshin franchise director Keishi Ohtomo’s newest period epic, The Legend & Butterfly is coming to Japan theaters on January 27. Headliners Takuya Kimura and Haruka Ayase star from a script by Ryota Kawase (The Confidence Man: JP trilogy, Parasyte Part 1 & 2). The 16th century period epic tells of nefarious warlord Nobunaga Oda, his dissenting relationship with wife Nohime following their arranged marriage, and the synergy that ensued between them as war strategists in the face of a pending attack by Nobunaga’s rival during the Warring States Period. Rounding out the cast are Hideaki Ito, Miki Nakatani, Hio Miyazawa, Kinya Kitaoji, Somegoro Ichikawa, Takuma Otoo and Takumi Saito. The first official trailer arrived about a month ago so I’m way late on this, but better late than never if only to spy an admiring eye […]

THE LEGEND & BUTTERFLY: Keishi Ohtomo’s Latest Sengoku War Drama Gets An Epic Teaser

Lee B. Golden III

Director Keishi Ohtomo of Rurouni Kenshin franchise fame is back with The Legend & Butterfly, starring Takuya Kimura (Blade Of The Immortal) and Haruka Ayase (Caution, Hazardous Wife: The Movie). Written by Ryota Ozawa (The Confidence Man: JP trilogy, Parasyte Part 1 & 2), the 16th century period epic tells of nefarious warlord Nobunaga Oda, his dissenting relationship with wife Nohime following their arranged marriage, and the synergy that ensued as war strategists in the face of a pending attack by Nobunaga’s rival, Imagawa Yoshimoto. The official teaser is now online following press events in the past week with teaser poster reveals as of last month, and with post-production currently underway just as Ohtomo readies to serve as competition juror this October for the 16th Tanabe Benkei Film Festival. The Legend & Butterfly opens in Japan on January 27, 2023 from Toei Company.