Suzu Hirose and other cast members from previous series to appear in "Chihayafuru -Meguri-"

It has been revealed that the cast of Mizusawa High School's competitive karuta club from the "Chihayafuru" film series, including actress Suzu Hirose, will appear in the new drama "Chihayafuru -Meguri-" (Nippon TV, Wednesdays at 10pm). A group shot of the karuta club alumni, recreated from a photo taken at Omi Shrine, the sacred ground of karuta, has also been released.

Hirose said, "I never thought I'd be playing Chihaya again 10 years later (laughs)," and commented, "I was more than happy to meet the friends I spent my youth with, and we alumni were way more excited than the current cast." She looked back and said, "The emotion of being able to return to that space in an instant was a time filled with a sense of happiness that I can't put into words."

"Chihayafuru" is a manga by Yuki Suetsugu 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.

In the trilogy of films released in 2016 ("Kami no Ku" and "Shimo no Ku") and 2018 ("Musubi"), Hirose plays the main character Ayase Chihaya, while Nomura Shuhei plays Taichi. Other members of the Mizusawa High School Karuta Club Mone Kamishiraishi Mone as Oe Kanade, Yamoto Yuma as Nishida Yusei, Morinaga Yuki as Komano Tsutomu, Sano Hayato as Hayato Sano and Yuki Mio as Hanano Sumire.

The drama is an original story set 10 years after the trilogy of films. The competitive karuta club at Umezono High School, where the club is set, has few members and is on the verge of being disbanded. The protagonist, Ami Touma, meets Kanade Oe (Kamishiraishi), a part-time classical Japanese teacher who has become the club's new advisor, and her fate begins to change dramatically. Hara Nanoka plays Tsukiura Nagi, a member of the Mizusawa High School Competitive Nanoka Hara, which Chihaya and Kanade built and which has since become a powerhouse.

◇Comment from Suzu Hirose

I certainly didn't think I'd be playing Chihaya again 10 years later (laughs). I was most happy to be able to see the friends I spent my youth with, and we alumni were far more excited than the current cast.

The emotion of being able to return to that space in an instant was a moment filled with a sense of happiness that cannot be expressed in words. As Chihayafuru connects with the new generation, I feel the passage of time, and at the same time, everyone, including Touma-san, who was working hard on the set and competing with each other, was so dazzling. It made my heart ache. As a viewer, I am looking forward to the new Chihayafuru.

＜Chihaya Ayase＞

A graduate of Mizusawa High School's competitive karuta club. The current Karuta Queen. She is the advisor for the Mizusawa High School competitive karuta club, but is currently away from Mizusawa for certain reasons.

◇Comment from Shuhei Nomura

I am really happy that "Chihayafuru" has returned in such a new form after 10 years. I am also looking forward to seeing a new "Chihayafuru". I am truly happy to be able to participate in the new "Chihayafuru" production.

＜Taichi Mashima＞

A graduate of Mizusawa High School's competitive karuta club, she is busy working as a medical intern.

◇Comment from Yuma Yamoto

I can't believe it, a sequel! When I played Nikuman-kun, I was already a working adult, so being able to relive my youth as an adult is the greatest reward for an actor, and a treasure in my life. The time I spent with the Mizusawa Karuta Club is a treasure that will never fade.

Meeting the new cast members, seeing how everyone is genuinely enjoying Chihayafuru and getting along so well, I felt a surge of emotion, perhaps due to my age. I honestly hope that "Chihayafuru -Meguri-" will become a work that is loved by many people.

<Yusei Nishida>

A graduate of the Mizusawa High School Competitive Karuta Club, he is the chairman of the karuta club he founded, the Fuchu Yugiri-kai, and the manager of the okonomiyaki restaurant Nishida.

◇Comment from Yuki Morinaga

It's no exaggeration to say that it's still like my calling card, so I was happy to be able to be involved in this role. When I got to the set, I felt my love for the original work and theatrical releases, and my own aging... (laughs) It was a very happy and embarrassing experience.

Both Komano and I are in the position of watching this time. We would be grateful if everyone who watches would be kind enough to watch over Umezono High School, Mizusawa, and Kitao to see how they live their karuta lives and youth. Thank you.

＜Tsutomu Komano＞

A graduate of Mizusawa High School's competitive karuta club. He became a pharmacist and took over his family's pharmacy.

◇Comment from Hayato Sano

I'm Hayato Sano, who played the role of Tsukuba. It was decided that Chihayafuru would be made into a drama again, and I joined from "Chihayafuru - Musubi-". I still remember that when the drama wrapped up, everyone in the Mizusawa Karuta Club asked the producer, Kitajima-san, to create a place where we could all gather like this again. Our wish came true as an alumni, and I really felt the passage of time. I was so happy to be able to gather together again this time.

I also met the new cast members briefly and compared them to how we were back then, and they were really solid. I think this youthful energy will spread to the viewers and become a work that will liven up the next generation. I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished product.

<Tsukuba Akihiro>

A graduate of the Mizusawa High School Competitive Karuta Club. Two years younger than Kanade and Chihaya.

◇Comment from Mio Yuki

Ever since I heard that "Chihayafuru" was being made into a TV drama, I was looking forward to seeing who would be appearing. It feels like a dream that I will be able to play Hanano Sumire again! Meeting everyone I love in my favorite work brought back memories of that time, and I was teary-eyed many times on set. lol

And while talking with the current high school student cast members, I felt that she was a real Chihaya. I'm looking forward to seeing the cast, who have a strong love for Chihayafuru, create a wonderful production!

＜Hanano Sumire＞

A graduate of Mizusawa High School's competitive karuta club. Two years younger than Kanade and Chihaya. She looks after the Mizusawa karuta club while Chihaya is away.

◇Comment from producer Mayuko Sakakibara

Everyone who played the Mizusawa Karuta Club members in the "Chihayafuru" movie series will also be appearing in "Chihayafuru -Meguri-"! As a fan of the "Chihayafuru" movies, it felt like a dream to see everyone reprising the roles of Chihaya, Taichi, Nikuman-kun, Tsukue-kun, Tsukuba, and Sumire after so much time had passed since then.

Just like their characters, the cast members who played the current students were also very warmly watched over, and seeing them talk about how it was for us made me feel the theme of this drama, "the cycle of youth."

Through filming, I was reminded of the love the cast has for the work "Chihayafuru." As the producers of "Meguri," we feel a strong sense of responsibility to create a film that lives up to that love.

I'm sure that both "Chihayafuru" fans and those watching for the first time will enjoy this production. Please look forward to it!!!

◇Comment from Naoaki Kitajima, producer of the film "Chihayafuru"

Everyone from Mizusawa High School who appeared in the movie came back to "Chihayafuru"! Seeing Kamishiraishi-san, Hirose-san and the others having fun together for the first time in a while, I realized that "youth" is something that can be revived no matter how many years pass or how old you are. It was also impressive to see the cast of "Meguri" looking at them with envy.

I felt like I went back 10 years. The times have truly changed! It's "youth"! Even if you haven't seen the movie "Chihayafuru", I think you'll enjoy it as a collaboration between gorgeous actors!