Popular manga "Salaryman Kintaro" to be adapted into a live-action film in two parts, starring Suzuki Nobuyuki

It has been revealed that Hiroshi Motomiya's popular manga "Salaryman Kintaro", which has a total of 30 million copies in circulation, will be made into a movie 30 years after its serialization began, and will be released in theaters in a two-part series. Former "Gekidan EXILE" actor Suzuki Nobuyuki will play the main character Yajima Kintaro. Katsunori Takahashi and Dai Nagai have played Kintaro in TV dramas and movies so far, and Suzuki, who plays the "third generation" Kintaro, commented, "It was very refreshing to play the Reiwa version of Kintaro who pushes forward in an unconventional way." A teaser visual was also released. The first part, "Salaryman Kintaro [Akatsuki]", will be released nationwide from January 10, 2025, and the second part, "Salaryman Kintaro [Kaisei]", will be released nationwide from February 7, 2025. The first part depicts Kintaro's "birth", and the second part depicts Kintaro's attack on the huge vested interests that control Japan. Both the first and second parts will be directed by Shimoyama Ten. "Salaryman Kintaro" began serialization in the 30th issue of "Weekly Young Jump" (Shueisha) in 1994. Kintaro, a former member of a motorcycle gang, becomes the "lifesaver" of the chairman of the construction company "Yamato Construction", and is granted special employment and moves to Tokyo. The story follows Kintaro, a former member of a motorcycle gang, who goes on a rampage with the aim of becoming the best salaryman in Japan. After a period of hiatus, the series was serialized for 22 years until 2016. Times have changed since the original manga and past film adaptations, values have been renewed, and compliance has become stricter in today's world. Will Kintaro, a former leader of a motorcycle gang and tuna fisherman who has jumped into the world of salarymen, be able to stick to his beliefs using his old-fashioned drive and strength as weapons? His bravery in never giving up on what he cannot compromise remains unchanged, but Suzuki will play a character that has been updated over time to give it a fresh feel. ◇Comment from Suzuki Nobuyuki I am Suzuki Nobuyuki, who will be playing the role of Yajima Kintaro. I am very grateful for the opportunity. While cherishing the character's core strength that oozes from the script, I felt a great sense of exhilaration playing the Reiwa version of Kintaro, who pushes forward unconventionally in this age where even speaking a single word feels difficult. I hope you will watch how Kintaro, who goes against the times, confronts society. I miss the days when I would go home every day with a dry throat and exhausted. I took on this challenge with all my might. I hope that everyone will love this work. ◇Comment from Director Shimoyama Ten In this day and age, when we are bound by compliance that eliminates anything dangerous, can there be an unconventional salaryman who is willing to break the rules for the sake of a greater good? No, no, it is precisely because we are in this modern age, bound by various constraints, that we are waiting for the appearance of Yajima Kintaro. I am convinced that his ``righteousness'' and ``strength'' will be a clue to updating to a new Japan. ◇Comment from Producer Maeda Toshihiro Japan today is filled with distrust in politics, widening social inequality, and anxiety about the future. We live in a world where people can't even say what they want to say, so we need Yajima Kintaro, a reckless man who ignores compliance. Kintaro's straightforward and passionate thoughts move people's hearts, and watching him rise up the ranks at the company will give you a refreshing feeling and a little push in the right direction. The setting and story are new and adapted to the current era. I thought that Suzuki Nobuyuki was perfect for the role of this new Kintaro in the Reiwa era. His physique, presence, and powerful gaze all make him a Kintaro unlike any we've seen before. Please look forward to the Reiwa era version of "Salaryman Kintaro."