Ren Meguro to star in live-action version of "SAKAMOTO DAYS" directed by Fukuda Yuichi

It has been revealed that Ren Meguro of the popular group "Snow Man" will play the lead character Taro Sakamoto in the live-action film adaptation of Yuto Suzuki's popular manga "SAKAMOTO DAYS," directed by Yuichi Fukuda. This is Meguro's first time working with Fukuda, and he not only plays the slim Sakamoto who has burned a ton of calories by putting in serious effort, but also the plump Sakamoto who is estimated to weigh 140kg after about four hours of special makeup.

"SAKAMOTO DAYS" is an action manga by Suzuki that has been serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" since November 2020. The story follows Sakamoto Taro, a former legendary assassin who retires and runs a shop, as he fights against approaching assassins with his friends to protect the peaceful daily life he lives with his beloved family. The comics have become a huge hit, with a total of over 15 million copies in circulation worldwide. The TV anime, which began airing in January 2025, recorded 8.6 million views in its first week on Netflix and over 10.6 million views in Japan. It has enjoyed explosive popularity around the world, ranking second globally, first in five countries, and in the top 10 in 67 countries.

Meguro, who received the offer while filming the Getsuku drama "The Beginning of the Sea" that aired last year, passionately expressed his feelings, saying, "I wanted to appear in "SAKAMOTO DAYS" this time for myself. It's a story full of comedy, action, and love, so I think the charm of the show is that it will make everyone laugh, feel refreshed, have a warm feeling, and generally be enjoyed from the bottom of their hearts! In particular, I'm taking on more action scenes than ever before, so I hope everyone will look forward to it!"

Director Fukuda said, "I suddenly got a LINE message from (producer) Matsuhashi (Shinzo) saying, ' Ren Meguro might do it! What do you think?' I screamed, 'Heyyyyy!!!' I was like, is something like that like a dream actually going to happen?! I never dreamed that Ren Meguro would join Fukuda's team!"

The film is scheduled to be released during Golden Week in 2026.

◇ Comment from Ren Meguro

I am truly honored to be playing the lead role in "SAKAMOTO DAYS," a manga and anime that is loved by many people.

I was approached about this production during the filming of a Getsuku drama last year. Up until now, I have mostly been cast in serious productions, and I have often taken on the challenge of acting for someone else, wanting to "communicate something" to the audience, but this time, I wanted to appear in "SAKAMOTO DAYS" for myself.

When I read the original novel a few years ago, I enjoyed it as a reader, thinking, "This is so interesting and cool. I wonder who would play the roles if it were made into a movie. I don't think a live-action version would be possible."

I never thought I would be offered a role in that film, so I was really surprised. The character I played this time, Sakamoto Taro, was once feared as a legendary assassin, but now he is a gentle father who puts his family first, and I think that contrast is his greatest charm and makes him a really cool character. It was my first time taking on such an action challenge, and I discovered a new side of myself and a new confidence that I believe may become a weapon in my arsenal in the future as I work on this project. It even made me want to become an action actor who can be beaten by anyone, haha.

When I first teamed up with Director Fukuda, I wasn't really sure if I could do comedy, but he repeatedly made suggestions that were carefully thought out for me, and I felt he was a warm-hearted person who cared about others.

Once filming began, I was surprised at how much the director trusted the staff and cast, and I was able to trust him right away. In order to bring out the best in the actors and staff, the director refused to give up even in difficult situations, apologizing and asking for help, and in the end, everyone was so moved by his dedication that they were in tears, saying, "It was good that we insisted on it." I was deeply impressed by his attitude.

I put my own feelings into my performance while cherishing the worldview and charm of the characters from the original work. I tried my best to reach the hearts of readers, fans, and those who will discover this story in the future! It's a story full of comedy, action, and love, so I think the charm of this story is that it will make you laugh, feel refreshed, have warm feelings, and generally be enjoyed from the bottom of your heart!

In particular, I'm taking on more action scenes than ever before, so I hope everyone is looking forward to it!

◇Comment from Yuichi Fukuda

I'm not used to watching TV series, but I happened to watch a drama called "The Beginning of the Sea" just because my friend Murase was the producer. That's when I saw Ren Meguro for the first time. I thought, "What is this actor? I want to watch him forever!"

The impact was so great that I honestly posted about it on X, and Meguro-kun's fans recommended many of his works to me. From that day on, I devoured Meguro-kun's works, and since I thought it would be rude to not say anything about what I thought of the recommendations, I just kept posting about my love for Ren Meguro Ren like an idiot. Lol.

At that time, casting for SAKAMOTO DAYS had just begun. The condition I asked Producer Matsuhashi for was, "An actor who can play both a skinny and a fat Sakamoto, and who will look absolutely amazing when he loses weight." Matsuhashi replied, "Do you think there is such a person?" to which I replied, "Yes. I have absolutely no idea either." Naturally, casting was difficult, and time just passed by.

Then one day, I suddenly got a LINE message from Matsuhashi saying, "Ren Meguro might do it! What do you think?" I screamed, "Whoa ...

Because when I was stupidly posting love posts, I never dreamed that Ren Meguro would join Fukuda's team! Yeah. It's a long comment, isn't it? I'm sorry. I got too excited.

By the way, there was an episode on the day we started filming that made me say, "I'd risk my life for Ren Meguro!" but I'll tell you about that some other time!

P.S. Editing is complete, and there's no CG or music, but it's such an amazing movie that I'm saying it could easily be released in theaters. Please wait until next year's Golden Week to see it!