Ami Touma：First lead role in a serial drama in “Chihayafuru”

It was announced on April 18 that actress Ami Touma will play her first lead role in a serial drama, "Chihayafuru -Meguri-," which will be broadcast on Nippon Television in July. It was also revealed that Mone Kamishiraishi, who appeared in the film series "-Kami no Ku-" and "-Shimo no Ku-" in 2016 and "-Musubi-" in 2018, will reprise her role as Oe Kanade.

"Chihayafuru" is a manga that was serialized in "BE・LOVE" (Kodansha) from 2007 to 2022. The story is about Ayase Chihaya, who awakens to the charm of competitive karuta through her encounter with transfer student Wataya Arata, and becomes passionate about karuta together with her childhood friend Mashima Taichi and the other unique members of the karuta club.

This drama is an original story that depicts the world 10 years after the movie trilogy. The setting is Umezono High School's competitive karuta club, which has few members and is on the verge of being disbanded. The protagonist, Meguru Aizawa, a ghost club member in her second year of high school, meets Kanade Oe, a part-time classical Japanese teacher and the new advisor for the competitive karuta club, and her fate begins to change dramatically.

◇Comment from Ami Touma

--How did you feel when you were chosen to appear?

I was happy and nervous to be able to participate. I wanted to respect the worldview of the "Chihayafuru" movie series that everyone created, and to connect it without destroying the image of Yuki Suetsugu's "Chihayafuru" and the "Chihayafuru" movie series that so many fans have.

--What are your thoughts on the movie series?

At first, I felt a sense of admiration. I was dazzled by the way they pursued the karuta without caring about anything. When I first came across the movie "Chihayafuru," it was just when the COVID-19 pandemic caused school and club activities to be suspended, so it was a work that gave me hope.

--Please give a message to those who are looking forward to the drama's broadcast.

I think there are a lot of fans of "Chihayafuru". I am one of the people who was impressed by this work. I hope I can convey the impression I had to those who watch it. I hope you will look forward to it.

◇Comment from Mone Kamishiraishi

--How did you feel when you were chosen to appear?

It's hard to describe in one word. I was happy to be able to play Kanade again, and I was really happy to jump into the world of "Chihayafuru" and be moved. The drama depicts the world 10 years after the movie, but it has actually been 10 years since the filming of the movie series. Was it a quick or long time? It gave me the opportunity to reflect on the "10 years". I think the word "emotional" is the best fit. I can't wait for it to air.

--Please give a message to those who are looking forward to the drama's broadcast.

Whether you're a fan of the original work, a fan of the movie, or someone who's encountering Chihayafuru for the first time, I'm sure you'll feel your heart melt and nourished all over your body. I think it's going to be a strong youth drama with a sense of speed and well-drawn conflicts. I'll do my best to make it satisfying for everyone, so I hope you'll enjoy it.

-After you were decided to appear, did you have a chance to meet Professor Suetsugu?

(During the poster shoot) It's been a long time since we last met. We shared the joy of being able to work together again. The story is set 10 years later, so Kanade has aged 10 years. The story will also depict Kanade's conflicts that were not depicted in the original work, her feelings for Chihaya-chan, and how she has spent the past 10 years. Suetsugu-sensei also said, "That makes me really happy." I'm sure that every character is as precious to the sensei as his own child, so I would like to love Kanade-chan to the end and share her worries and joys.

◇ Comment from Producer Mayuko Sakakibara

This time, Touma Ami will be playing the lead role in "Chihayafuru -Meguri-". As we film every day, I can really feel the quiet passion inside her. Unlike the main character Chihaya, Touma's character Meguri is far from being adolescent. She delicately and vividly portrays the changes she undergoes as she meets Kanade, karuta, and her friends. I'm really looking forward to being able to show everyone the sparkle of 18-year-old Touma Ami and her startlingly straightforward eyes as she lives her life as Meguri.

Now, Mone Kamishiraishi has returned to the world of Chihayafuru as Oe Kanade. Kanade is now a teacher at the age of 25. On the first day of filming, I was moved by seeing Kanade teaching a class. Every time I talk to Kamishiraishi, I feel her strong feelings for the series Chihayafuru. Suetsugu-sensei was also very happy that Kamishiraishi would be playing the grown-up Kanade, and he drew a special illustration for her. Time has passed since the serialization, and Kanade and Chihaya have grown up. As a producer of the drama "Chihayafuru -Meguri-" and a big fan of the manga "Chihayafuru", my heart was filled with emotion the moment I saw this illustration.

Together with Touma-san, Kamishiraishi-san, and the other wonderful cast members to be announced, we will create the best youth story. We hope you will look forward to it.

◇Comment from original author Yuki Suetsugu

As the sequel planning progressed and it was decided that Mone Mone Kamishiraishi would reprise the role of Kanade Oe, I was very impressed by her joy, saying, "I can't believe I get to play Kana-chan again." Just as 10 years have passed in the story, so has the time in real life, and I was really happy to see Kamishiraishi joyfully take on the role of Kanade Oe again after all that time.

I'm sure the characters in the manga are cheering on Oe Kanade as he once again struggles with club activities - with that thought in mind, I drew a new illustration. I also hope that everyone will enjoy this time together with new cast member Ami Touma in a free and relaxed manner.