Additional cast members have been announced for the TV anime "Okinawa: The Girl I Fell in Love With Speaks Too Much Dialect (Okitsura)," based on the manga by Sora Egumi currently being serialized on Shinchosha's manga site "Kurage Bunch." It has been revealed that Kinjo Yamato will play Higa Tetsu, Shimabukuro Miyuri will play Higa Suzu, Tsumugi Risa will play Higa Naoya, and Gibu Yuko will play Kiyan Sachiko. The anime is set in Okinawa, and will feature Kinjo, Shimabukuro, Tsumugi, and Gibu, all of whom are natives of Okinawa. The second promotional video featuring Higa Tetsu and others has also been released on YouTube. Kinjo commented, "It's short for Okitsura. Has there ever been a work that depicts so many Okinawan things and the reality of everyday life? You'll definitely fall in love with Okinawa and want to go there. It's called Okitsura, but at its core it's Oki Suki. Hello! Good morning, everyone. This was Kinjo Yamato." Shimabukuro said, "It's heartwarming to see Teru (Nakamura Teruaki) being tossed around by Okinawa's dialect and culture, and Hina's (Kyan Tohka) every move, and I feel soothed every time we record. When Suzu (Higa Suzu) talks, she often uses phrases that are typical of Okinawan children, which are incredibly cute. I hope you enjoy that too!"
Tomoki commented, "It was an incredibly happy recording to be able to act in the local dialect that I love so much! Every time I speak, I feel like going back to Okinawa! It feels that way (laughs). The work is full of Okinawa's charm, so please everyone! I hope you will enjoy "Okitsura" and my child "Higa Naoya" in a rich and relaxing way."
Gibu said, "I've been a fan of this series since before it was decided to make it into an anime, so I'm ecstatic to be involved in it! The charm of "Okitsura" is undoubtedly Hina's cuteness and love for Okinawa. I'm playing the role of a charming grandmother, which is the origin of that! I'm so honored! It was fun to do the voice recording with my co-stars and staff in the studio. I also unleashed the grandmother's special move, the "Tortoise Turtle Attack."
An 11-week giveaway campaign has started on the series' official Twitter account, where fans can receive hand-drawn illustrations by the original author Sora Egumi and autographed colored paper by each cast member.
The series is a romantic comedy manga set in Okinawa, and began serialization in Kurage Bunch in 2020. The comedy revolves around the protagonist, Nakamura Teruaki, who transfers to Okinawa, Kiyan Hina, who speaks Okinawa's dialect Uchinaaguchi, and Higa Kana, who helps Teruaki by translating Uchinaaguchi. It will be broadcast on TOKYO MX, BS11, Okinawa Television, Ryukyu Broadcasting, Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting, and others from January 2025. It will be the first time that a TV anime will be broadcast on the three Okinawa Prefecture commercial broadcasting stations, Okinawa Television, Ryukyu Broadcasting, and Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting.
◇Cast (titles omitted)
Nakamura Teruaki: Otsuka Takeo▽Kyan Toka: Kito Akari▽Higa Natsuna: Fairouz Ai▽Agena Yae: Shimoji Murasakino▽Uema Tensuke: Nakamura Sougo▽Shimoji Isao: Kumagai Kentaro▽Higa Tetsu: Kinjo Yamato▽Higa Suzu: Shimabukuro Miyuri▽Higa Naoya: Tsumugi Risa▽Kyan Sachiko: Gibu Yuko▽Oki Memo Shisa: Kozakura Etsuko▽Narration: Araki Tarusuke
