Aya Ogawa of the idol group Nogizaka46 appeared at the advance screening and special event for the Kadokawa Pictures 50th Anniversary Project "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time 4K Digital Restoration" held at Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) on April 22nd. At the event, it was announced that both "Sailor Suit and Machine Gun" and "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" will be made into stage plays in 2027, and that Ogawa will play the lead role of Kazuko Yoshiyama in the stage version of "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time." Ogawa expressed her joy, saying, "I'm so happy that it feels like a dream, and I'm also a little nervous, but I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of stage play it will be," and added enthusiastically, "I'm looking forward to being able to travel through time."
In connection with the film, when asked "If you could time travel?", Ogawa commented, "I'd like to time travel to the distant past and confirm the mysteries of history that are still unknown." When asked if she would announce the mysteries she confirmed, she said, "I'll think about that once I get there. If it's too serious, I can't take responsibility," which drew laughter from the audience.
Also appearing at the event was Satsuki Sugawara from Nogizaka46. It was also announced that Sugawara will be playing the lead role of Izumi Hoshi in the stage play "Sailor Suit and Machine Gun."
"The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" is based on a science fiction novel by Yasutaka Tsutsui. It depicts a poignant drama between a girl who unexpectedly gains the ability to travel through time and a boy who comes from the future. The first adaptation was the 1972 NHK television drama "Time Traveler," followed by the 1983 film adaptation of the same title, "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time," starring Tomoyo Harada and directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi. In 1985, the third adaptation was made into a television drama starring Yoko Minamino. In 1990, the fourth adaptation was released as a drama CD. In 1994, the fifth adaptation was made into a television drama starring Yuki Uchida. In 1997, the sixth adaptation was made into a film starring Nana Nakamoto and directed by Haruki Kadokawa. In 2002, the seventh adaptation was made into a television drama starring Natsumi Abe.
In 2006, the eighth installment, set approximately 20 years after the original story, was adapted into an animated film starring Riisa Naka and directed by Mamoru Hosoda. In 2010, the ninth installment was made into a live-action film, also starring Naka. In 2015, the tenth installment, set 32 years after the original story, was made into a stage play for the first time. In 2016, the eleventh installment was made into a television drama starring Yuina Kuroshima. In 2023, the twelfth installment was made into the first musical. Ogawa will be the 13th person to play the lead role of Kazuko Yoshiyama.
As the first part of the Kadokawa Pictures 50th Anniversary Project, the "Kadokawa Film Festival" will be held from May 1st at Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) and from July 4th at Osaka Cine Nouveau (Nishi-ku, Osaka) and other venues. 4K versions of "Sailor Suit and Machine Gun," "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time," "Lost Paradise," "W's Tragedy," "Proof of the Wild," and "Mahjong Vagabond" will be shown for the first time. As the second part, the "Kadokawa Film Music Festival" will be held on August Getsuku at Bunkamura Orchard Hall (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo).
