The manga Under Ninja by Kengo Hanazawa, which depicts a new image of ninjas lurking in modern society and serialized in Kodansha's Young Magazine, will be adapted into a live-action film starring Kento Yamazaki and Minami Hamabe. The script and direction are handled by Yuichi Fukuda, known for hits like Gintama, From Today, It’s My Turn!! The Movie, and New Interpretation Records of the Three Kingdoms. The film is set to be released on January 24, 2025.

Kengo Hanazawa, the manga artist behind popular works such as I Am a Hero, has consistently received praise for his realistic depictions and immersive world-building in Under Ninja. Following its TV anime adaptation in 2023, the live-action film adaptation was announced in the April 1 issue of Young Magazine this year.

Storyline

After the end of World War II, the first order given by the GHQ (General Headquarters) upon occupying Japan was the dismantling of the ninja organizations. Though it seemed that all ninjas had vanished, they continued to operate in secret within various organizations worldwide, with an estimated 200,000 still active today.

Kuro Kumogakure, a low-ranking ninja (Genin) in the "NIN" ninja organization, has been idly passing time until one day he is assigned a crucial mission. He must investigate the activities of a certain organization that has remained underground for over 70 years – the "Under Ninja." Combining ninja techniques, strategy, and the latest technology, an unprecedented battle is about to begin.

Super Teaser Trailer & Teaser Visual Unveiled

Kento Yamazaki, known for starring in blockbuster films like the Kingdom series and Golden Kamuy, takes on the role of the protagonist, Kuro Kumogakure. This marks his third collaboration with director Fukuda, following The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. and Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku. As shown in the teaser visual, Yamazaki dons the trademark ninja hoodie and, despite his modern appearance, leaps high and wields a sword, promising to deliver an entirely new kind of "ninja action."

Minami Hamabe, who has appeared in popular works like Godzilla Minus One and What If Tokugawa Ieyasu Became Prime Minister?, plays Ayaka Noguchi, a high school girl who gets caught up in the ninja battles. This is her first collaboration with Yamazaki and her first significant participation in a Fukuda production. She also returns to a blonde role for the first time in nine years.

The super teaser trailer, which reveals the first footage of the main film, showcases ninjas operating in modern Japan. It features scenes of Yamazaki as Kuro fighting, Hamabe as Noguchi searching for something, and action sequences with swords and shurikens, all wrapped in the unique world of Yuichi Fukuda.

Comments from Kento Yamazaki

"I was already a fan of the original manga, so I'm thrilled to be playing Kuro and working with the beloved director Fukuda again. The set had a unique tension mixed with fun as the director gave us the freedom to create but also expected us to generate laughs ourselves.

When reading the original, I found Kuro to be quite enigmatic, so I focused a lot on his tone of voice and expressions. There are also many unique ninja actions, like leg techniques and superhuman movements, so please look forward to them.

It was my first time working with Ms. Hamabe, and I was impressed by her dedication to meeting the director's expectations! The filming was incredibly fun, and I'm eager to see the finished product on the big screen!"

Comments from Minami Hamabe

"It was my first time fully participating in a Fukuda production, and I was truly put to the test. I wasn’t sure whether I was gaining something or losing something (laughs), but I gave it my all to avoid anything half-hearted!

Director Fukuda provided ideas that I couldn’t have come up with on my own, which was a real learning experience and a lot of fun. It was also my first time working with Mr. Yamazaki, who was very kind and accepting of whatever I did, always responding with a smile.

I think it has become a ninja action comedy movie packed with wonderful characters. Noguchi's character is slightly different from the original, but I played her with the hope that everyone would love her, so I hope you enjoy it."

Comments from Director Yuichi Fukuda

"I'm really happy to be working with Kento again on a movie! I've always wanted to do an action hero film with him since our previous films were non-action. The shoot with Kento was as fun as ever, and his portrayal of Kuro Kumogakure is just insanely cool! It's been a while since I worked with Ms. Hamabe since Super Salaryman Saenai-shi. Back then, she was still in her teens and very fresh, but now she’s grown into a bright and dignified actress. I asked her to do some pretty crazy performances, and she joked that she wouldn’t be able to get married after this (laughs).

I thought the original manga's setting was intriguing! I’ve always loved Mr. Hanazawa's works like I Am a Hero and Boys on the Run, so I was thrilled when I was approached for this project! Mr. Hanazawa even visited the set three times and checked out the actors' visuals. He seemed very excited, which made me happy too (laughs).

Anyway, the movie has turned out fantastic, with both actors shining brightly. I hope many people will come to the theaters to see it!"

Comments from Original Author Kengo Hanazawa

"My name is Kengo Hanazawa, ranking around 2700th in surname popularity. The announcement is finally out! I’m relieved. I never imagined that someone as busy as Mr. Yamazaki, whose surname ranks around 650th, would take on the role, but when I visited the set, there he was as Kuro Kumogakure. I was overwhelmed with emotion. Ms. Hamabe, who ranks around 2650th, gave me a gift that I wanted to keep as a family treasure, but it looked so delicious that I ate it! Director Fukuda, who ranks around 40th, has a heart and shoulders as broad as you'd expect, and I’m sure this will be an epic film. There are still more amazing cast members yet to be announced, and I’m deeply honored that so many talented people have come together for Under Ninja. I hope that the sequel will include a fight under the Ferris wheel, so please come to the theaters!"

Comments from Producer Hiroki Wakamatsu (Fuji Television)

"I encountered Mr. Hanazawa's original work a long time ago and was captivated by it from the setup stage. The modern ninja setting, with its unique realism that makes you think ninjas could actually exist, and the offbeat character designs really drew me in.

As a producer, the greatest joy was being able to collaborate with Director Fukuda and Mr. Yamazaki, with whom I’ve worked on previous projects, and the serendipity of having the national actress Ms. Hamabe join the Fukuda team. The result is a wonderful film.

The film is packed with the unprecedented charm of Mr. Yamazaki and Ms. Hamabe, and Director Fukuda has skillfully combined the grand scale of the original work with a pleasant sense of ease, creating an entertainment piece that can be enjoyed worldwide. I hope you will enjoy it on the big screen."

Source : ORICON NEWS