NEWS

THE SEVEN, INC. (Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Katsuaki Setoguchi; hereafter “THE SEVEN"), TBS Television, Inc. (Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Masamine Ryuho; hereafter “TBS"), and U-NEXT Co., Ltd. (Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Tenshin Tsutsumi; hereafter “U-NEXT") present their joint “TBS × U-NEXT × THE SEVEN Global Project": Song of the Samurai (formerly titled “Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem”). The drama will air on TBS over two consecutive nights on Thursday, March 26, and Friday, March 27, and will be available for streaming exclusively on U-NEXT.

This project will be the first live-action adaptation based on the popular manga, “Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem" which features powerful artwork and overwhelming drawing skill by Eiji Hashimoto, and is based on a story by Shinya Umemura (also known for “Record of Ragnarok"). Set in Kyoto at the end of the Edo period (Bakumatsu), the story depicts the intense and passionate lives of the Shinsengumi, the strongest samurai group, through spectacular action and a bold interpretation based on historical facts.

Yuki Yamada will play the protagonist, Toshizo Hijikata, and the other members of the Shinsengumi will be played by a group of talented young actors, each combining strong individuality and skill: Nobuyuki Suzuki, Aoi Nakamura, Kanata Hosoda, Shuhei Uesugi, Kisetsu Fujiwara, Yosuke Sugino, Shuntaro Yanagi, Shuto Miyazaki, and Hihio Iwanaga. Additionally, it has been announced that Kento Nakajima will play Izo Okada, known as "Hitokiri Izo” (Izo the Manslayer) —both Hijikata's sworn enemy and ally; Jun Matsumoto will portray Katamori Matsudaira, the "Charisma of the Bakumatsu " who stayed true to his convictions until the end of the era; and Go Ayano will play Kamo Serizawa, the “strongest and most ruthless nemesis” who stands in the way of the protagonists.

It has been officially announced that through the partnership between Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and U-NEXT, this "Japanese sword-action entertainment" will stream in more than 100 countries and regions worldwide starting Saturday, May 9, via HBO Max, including North America, Latin America, Europe, and parts of Asia. The series will be released under the title Song of the Samurai on HBO Max, with subtitles and dubbed versions in local languages expected to be available in selected regions.

From its inception, this project was designed for the global market, leveraging THE SEVEN’s world-class production capabilities and VFX technology, alongside the combined talent of Japan’s premier cast and crew. Since the fall of 2025, HBO Max has been expanding its lineup of Japanese dramas, and this work is set to be a major highlight of that expansion, reaching audiences across the globe. The "Chiruran fever" is now poised to sweep not only Japan but the entire world.

To coincide with the global distribution announcement, two main visuals capturing the essence of the series have been unveiled.

Against a backdrop of the clear blue sky and the iconic "Asagi-iro" (light indigo)—the symbolic color of the Shinsengumi—this profound yet exhilarating design signals the opening of an epic saga. At the center stands Toshizo Hijikata, gazing forward with a sharp, determined look, surrounded by his loyal Shieikan comrades, including Isami Kondo. Behind them, the presence of Kamo Serizawa, Izo Okada, and Katamori Matsudaira—key figures who will dramatically alter the course of Hijikata’s destiny—completes the powerful lineup. Set amidst a flurry of falling cherry blossoms, the visual captures the fiery passion of young warriors charging toward an unseen future, illustrating the fleeting brilliance of youth in an ensemble drama that burns bright and fast.

In stark contrast to the “Chapter: Youthful Days in Edo”, this dynamic design is set in the turbulent streets of Kyoto, thick with the scent of blood and the smoke of war. It captures a literal "fatful showdown"—a head-on clash between Toshizo Hijikata, roaring with raw fighting spirit, and Kamo Serizawa, wearing a fearless, defiant smirk. This high-energy visual illustrates a world that is both gruesome and beautiful, where conflicting senses of justice and madness intersect, perfectly capturing the world of Chiruran.


With only a month to go until the premiere, the full scale of Song of the Samurai has finally been revealed. As anticipation continues to build among fans, we have a series of upcoming initiatives to let you dive even deeper into the world of the show. Stay tuned for more exciting updates and announcements.

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 by people across the world. I hope audiences can enjoy the sword-action adventure, while also feeling the emotion carried within each blade.

Song of the Samurai is the next series to launch on HBO Max through our partnership with U-NEXT, focused on spotlighting Japanese series and the creators behind them. 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.

We are delighted to bring this new series to fans around the world through our partnership with HBO Max. 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.

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.

Since our founding, THE SEVEN has pursued a clear mission: to bring stories from Japan to the global market at a world-class level. This production embodies that strategy and stands as a work that truly tests our capabilities.
Our collaboration with U-NEXT and HBO Max has strengthened our conviction that our creative and VFX capabilities merit global recognition. From the outset, this project was designed not as an export, but as a global production built to compete at the highest level. We strongly believe this model will help define a new path of success for Japan’s creative industry.

From the very beginning of this project, our goal has been to transform Japanese period drama (Jidaigeki) into an entertainment experience that captivates young audiences worldwide. With an incredible original 'MANGA' from Japan, soul-stirring performances and action led by Yuki Yamada and our talented cast, and a modern visual portrayal of the 'SAMURAI' spirit, I am immensely proud to present Chiruran to the world. As a creator, I feel a profound joy in knowing that on the magnificent stage of HBO Max, global audiences will witness the lives of these young men—those who struggled desperately and burned out brilliantly during the transformative Bakumatsu era."

HBO Max is the global streaming service from Warner Bros. Discovery, a leading media conglomerate with a vast worldwide subscriber base, available in more than 100 countries and territories. In Japan, HBO Max became available within U-NEXT on September 19, 2024. The platform offers an exceptional lineup of world-class IP, exclusively streaming everything from timeless classics such as Game of Thrones and Sex and the City to acclaimed recent titles including The Last of Us, IT: Welcome to Derry, and The Pitt, as well as globally renowned franchises such as DC and Harry Potter.

Title
Song of the Samurai
(formerly announced as Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem)

-Broadcast
TBS Television Special Drama “Chapter: Youthful Days in Edo” (2 episodes)
8:58-10:57 pm March 26 (Thu), 2026
8:57-10:54 pm March 27 (Fri), 2026
Two consecutive nights <JST>

-Domestic(Japan) Streaming
U-NEXT
Special Drama “Chapter: Youthful Days in Edo” (2 episodes)- Streaming after each broadcast on March 26 & 27, 2026
Drama Series “Chapter: Fateful Showdown in Kyoto” (6 episodes) - Exclusive on U-NEXT from March 27, 2026 / New episodes every Friday

-Global Streaming
HBO Max
Starting Saturday, May 9 (8 episodes)
Available in over 100 countries and regions worldwide, including North America, Latin America, Europe, and parts of Asia.

Produce   THE SEVEN


< Key Staff >
Producers
Akira Morii (THE SEVEN) / Netflix series Alice in Borderland, Yu Yu Hakusho
Mamoru Inoue  / TBS×WOWOW series Double Face, MOZU
Kazuya Shimomura (THE SEVEN) / Netflix series Yu Yu Hakusho, film The Fable: The Killer Who Doesn't Kill

Director Kazutaka Watanabe / NHK taiga drama Naotora: The Lady Warlord, morning drama Mare, Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan series

Screenwriter Masaaki Sakai / WOWOW series Cold Case 2 & 3, film Small, Slow but Steady

Action Director Kensuke Sonomura / film Baby Assassins, Onmyoji 0

VFX Producer Tomofumi Akahane (THE SEVEN) / Netflix series Alice in Borderland Season 3, Yu Yu Hakusho

Character Designer Yuya Maeda / film THE LEGEND & BUTTERFLY

Music Yoshiaki Dewa / Netflix series Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, animation Hell's Paradise

Post-Production Supervisor Norimasa Ishida (THE SEVEN) / Netflix series Alice in Borderland, Yu Yu Hakusho

Toshizo Hijikata - Yuki Yamada

Isami Kondo - Nobuyuki Suzuki
Keisuke Yamanami - Aoi Nakamura
Soji Okita - Kanata Hosoda
Shinpachi Nagakura - Shuhei Uesugi
Hajime Saito - Kisetsu Fujiwara
Eisaburo Abiru - Yosuke Sugino
Sanosuke Harada - Yanagi Shuntaro
Heisuke Todo - Shuto Miyazaki
Genzaburo Inoue - Hihio Iwanaga

Makoto Ichikawa - Meru Nukumi
Oume - Yuki Sakurai

Nishiki Niimi - Eita Okuno
Goro Hirayama - Mitsuomi Takahashi

Tadasaburo Sasaki - Nobuaki Kaneko

Izo Okada - Kento Nakajima

Shinbei Tanaka - Masanobu Ando

Katamori Matsudaira - Jun Matsumoto (Cameo)

Shinpachi Nagakura (Meiji Era) - Akira Emoto

Kamo Serizawa - Go Ayano

Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem
Authors Manga by Eiji Hashimoto / Original Story by Shinya Umemura
Publisher Coamix — Mangano (Zenon Comics), Volumes 1~36 available now.
Copyright ©橋本エイジ・梅村真也／コアミックス
Read the first chapter (Japanese)

< Official Website>
https://chiruran-the7.jp/

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