Kaito Sakurai Finds Fulfillment as Meguru Bachira in Blue Lock Live Action Film After Dream of Pro Soccer Career Falls Short

Actor Kaito Sakurai (JP: 櫻井海音) appeared at the production announcement event for the live action film Blue Lock, held in Tokyo on the 7th. Taking the stage, Sakurai spoke about his feelings toward portraying Meguru Bachira, sharing how the role resonates deeply with his own life experiences.

A Personal Journey From Soccer Dreams to Blue Lock

Sakurai revealed that he had pursued soccer seriously from a very young age.

“I played soccer with the goal of becoming a professional starting from when I was three years old,” he said. “That dream did not come true, but being able to play the character of Meguru Bachira now and take part in Blue Lock makes me feel as though my past life has been truly affirmed. It is not an exaggeration to say that I strongly feel I played soccer for the sake of this very project called Blue Lock.”

Striving for the Most Faithful Portrayal of Meguru Bachira

Sakurai also shared that he is a fan of the original manga and holds a special affection for the character he portrays.

“I really love the character of Bachira,” he said. “On set, I was constantly thinking about how to achieve the most faithful portrayal possible. I focused on recreating many of Bachira’s signature techniques, including his dribbling, passing, and other fine details, so I hope audiences will look forward to seeing them.”

Physical Transformation for the Role

In addition to technical preparation, Sakurai approached his role with strict physical discipline.

“Of course it depends on the character, but soccer muscles tend to be lean and streamlined,” he explained. “So by the time filming began, I had lost about five kilograms.”
His remarks underscored the level of dedication he brought to embodying Meguru Bachira in the live action adaptation.

A Major Production Backed by a Star Studded Team

The film is based on the hit soccer manga Blue Lock, serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine, which has surpassed 50 million copies in circulation. The story follows the Blue Lock Project, an extreme program launched by the Japan Football Union to develop a striker capable of leading Japan to World Cup victory. Three hundred high school forwards are gathered into a closed facility, where they fight to survive for a single remaining position.

The live action film is produced by CREDEUS, the studio behind the Kingdom series, the Golden Kamuy series, and National Treasure.

Cast and Major Announcements at the Event

Also appearing at the production announcement event were lead actor Fumiya Takahashi as Yoichi Isagi, Kaito Sakurai as Meguru Bachira, Kota Nomura as Rensuke Kunigami, Sho Nisigaki as Asahi Naruhaya, Yuki Tachibana as Gin Gagamaru, Raizo Ishikawa as Jingo Raichi, Jo Iwanaga as Okuhito Iemon, Yuki Sakurai as Yudai Imamura, Yuki Kura as Ryosuke Kira, and producer Shinzo Matsuhashi. Shunya Asano, who plays Wataru Kuon, was absent due to health reasons.

During the event, it was also announced that Masataka Kubota will portray Jinpachi Ego, the supreme authority behind the Blue Lock Project. In addition, the film’s theatrical release date was confirmed as August 7, and a new visual was unveiled.

Source : ORICON NEWS