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") have announced a large-scale project: the “TBS × U-NEXT × THE SEVEN Global Project."

This project will be the first live-action adaptation of 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. It has been announced that Yuki Yamada will play the protagonist, Toshizo Hijikata, and the other members of the Shieikan 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.

This "Japanese sword-action entertainment" will portray how Toshizo Hijikata, upon encountering the greatness of Isami Kondo, went on to build the legendary Shinsengumi together with comrades of powerful individuality such as Soji Okita and Hajime Saito. The story depicts not only how they lived, but also how their life came to an end—where friendships, betrayals, and convictions intertwine— as these men questioned the meaning of their own existence during a period of historical change, living briefly but brilliantly, driven by fierce determination so intense they were willing to stake their very lives, will be depicted with modern, alluring, and attractive character designs, also featuring high-speed sword fighting (“tate”) that has been praised as the fastest in history.

It has been announced that Go Ayano will portray Kamo Serizawa, a member of the Mibu Roshigumi, the predecessor to the Shinsengumi and yet the greatest nemesis of Hijikata and his allies. Ayano brings to the role a unique combination of delicate nuance that captures the character’s subtle breaths and a commanding presence that instantly captivates audiences, adding both depth and momentum to the film. Most recently, Ayano was honored with the Best Actor Award for the film BAKA’s Identity, the first film produced and distributed by THE SEVEN, in the newly established competitive section at the 30th Busan International Film Festival. Recognized for his outstanding acting talent both domestically and internationally, Ayano will once again bring his singular presence to enrich this work.

From the moment he appeared on set dressed in a striking and vividly distinctive costume as Kamo Serizawa, his overwhelming charisma, allure, and presence brought an atmosphere that combined electrifying tension with enveloping warmth—leaving the cast and crew breathless. With his undeniable acting skill, he magnificently portrayed Kamo Serizawa as an undeniably formidable antagonist, yet someone overflowing with human charm, making it impossible to take one’s eyes off. Co-stars have continuously commented, “The influence we received from Ayano-san is immeasurably huge.", “The moment Ayano-san appeared as Kamo on set, everyone immediately shifted up a gear or two." Although a character that is highly popular in the original manga and have been historically portrayed by legendary actors in previous Shinsengumi adaptations, the Kamo portrayed by Ayano will mark a new unforgettable imprint on history.

The character visual of Kamo Serizawa, radiating both allure and madness, as well as a visual featuring the main characters, the members of Shieikan and Kamo, all gathered together have been released. This particular shot of the eleven individuals, overflowing with the energy each character holds, distinctly sets this work apart from previous Shinsengumi adaptations, capturing both the rawness and purity of the young men who lived through the turbulent years of the Bakumatsu period—truly expressing the “Shinsengumi of a new era.”

While paying respect to the original characters, this piece breathes new life into the characters by blending the original with distinctive interpretations unique to this work.

Furthermore, a character movie that vividly showcases Ayano’s role as Kamo Serizawa, has also been released on the official social media accounts and the TBS official YouTube channel, "YouTuboo." It will allow the viewers to fully appreciate his charisma.

At the helm of the production is Akira Morii of THE SEVEN as Chief Producer — whose credits include globally successful projects such as Netflix’s Alice in Borderland and the worldwide hit adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho; THE SEVEN’s film BAKA’s Identity also received acclaim at the Busan International Film Festival, taking home the Best Actor Award. Producers Mamoru Inoue and Kazuya Shimomura (THE SEVEN) also join the producing team.

Directing is Kazutaka Watanabe, known for his work on NHK’s taiga drama Onna Jōshu Naotora, the morning drama series Mare, and the Kishibe Rohan Does Not Move series; Watanabe is widely respected for his meticulous pursuit of realism and tension and enjoys great trust from performers. The writing team includes top industry talent such as Masaaki Sakai, whose credits include WOWOW’s Cold Case seasons 2 & 3 and the feature film Small, Slow but Steady. Together, these leading members of Japan’s film and television industry form a creative team of the highest caliber.

This unprecedentedly large-scale “Japanese sword-action entertainment" will continue to feature even more lead-class actors, with young actors and renowned character actors also to be announced. Try to guess which character will be played by whom—and stay tuned for further updates!

“Bloom to the fullest, and fall to the fullest”

Everyone fulfills their beliefs, everyone faces their own soul, and everyone lives through their role until the moment of death.

This is Chiruran.

I asked Ayano-san to become the wall that stands before the Shinsengumi members led by Yuki Yamada.

First, he expressed his joy at co-starring with Yamada-kun, and when he asked, “Are you sure I’m the right person?” his eyes were already shining brightly, showing he was clearly fascinated by the man named Serizawa Kamo.

Ayano-san's dedication to sword-fighting training and physical condition was astonishing, and we have probably achieved the most daring and fastest sword action in the history of Japanese period dramas.

I still remember how the cast members all murmured after the shoot, “Amazing... Go-san is amazing...”

He magnificently portrayed the magnitude, strength, and dangerous charisma of Serizawa Kamo.

I truly hope everyone is completely taken by this man!!

Broadcast / Streaming  TBS Television / U-NEXT — Spring 2026
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

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/

< Official Social Media >
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Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/chiruran_the7
TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@chiruran_the7