It has been revealed that the popular manga "Chirururan Shinsengumi ," which depicts the lives of Hijikata Toshizo and Shinsengumi soldiers, will be adapted into a TV drama starring actor Yuki Yamada. This large-scale project is being carried out by TBS, U-NEXT, and THE SEVEN, which also produced "Alice in Borderland," and will be broadcast as a special drama on Hijikata Toshizo television in the spring of 2026 on TBS, with the drama series being exclusively streamed on U-NEXT. Yamada, who plays the main character Hijikata Toshizo, commented, "Thanks to my wonderful colleagues, I believe we were able to create the 'Reiwa Shinsengumi' that only we could have. I hope everyone will watch it."
"Chirururan Shinsengumi" (Zenon Comics) is a popular manga written by Umemura Shinya and illustrated by Hashimoto Eiji, with a total circulation of over 3 million copies. The story follows Hijikata Toshizo, a brawler and quick-tempered brat who only seeks to be the strongest, who meets a talented Kondo Isami and, together with his strong-willed comrades, Okita Soji and Saito Hajime, they build the Shinsengumi... The series is directed by Watanabe Kazutaka, known for the "Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe" series, and written by Sakai Masaaki, known for "Keiko: Clear Your Eyes."
With Kensuke Sonomura of the "Baby Valkyrie" series as the action director, the film is billed as "Japanese sword action entertainment" and incorporates high-speed sword fighting scenes. Filming began in April of this year and took place across the country, including Kyoto, Shiga, Shizuoka, and Chiba. The combination of advanced VFX technology has resulted in a stunning visual experience.
◇Starring: Yuki Yamada
The original work really portrays Hijikata Toshizo's passion and the bonds he has with his friends, and how they motivate others, so I really wanted to cherish that and I felt strongly that "if I'm going to do it, I want to see it through to the end." However, recently, as I continued to run, I felt a sense of loneliness, as if I no longer knew where my flame was. But even so, I just believed that "if you keep doing incredible things, one day something incredible will happen."
I thought that the Shinsengumi were probably the same. When they thought that their comrades and themselves might die, they wanted to change the times, the world, and that was all they had. They thought that because they were alive, they could do something, they were alive, so they had to do something.
When I told Producer Morii about these feelings, he said, "Let out your frustrations here." From then on, like Toshizo, I became like, "There's no other way than to burn it, to let it boil."
Thanks to our wonderful colleagues, we were able to create a "Reiwa Shinsengumi" that only we could have created. I would love for everyone to see it.
◇Producer: Teru Morii
What will you do when the world becomes hopeless? What do you want to do and what do you want to become?
"Chirurann Shinsengumi Requiem" is a story of people who, while inevitably swallowed up by the onslaught of change in the times, could not simply accept it. It is a story of people who, even as they lost their lives, continued to shout out their belief in who they were.
For those of us living in a world where we cannot see what the future holds and continue to lament the bleak future, please take a look at these young people who show us the strength to live life to the fullest!
◇Director: Kazutaka Watanabe
It is said that one of the attractions of the Shinsengumi is their "aesthetics of destruction." This is exactly what "Chirururan" is about.
However, I think the greatest appeal of the original work, " Shinsengumi Requiem," is that all the characters keep moving forward not to "wither" but to "bloom." It's a story about men who lived every moment to the fullest, burning with life in search of their own "place to bloom." During the six months of filming, I was constantly confronted with the young patriots, including Yuki Yamada, burning with life as they bloomed.
I took in all of that without missing a thing. The filming location was also a tense, serious place where there was no time to blink.
◇Scriptwriter: Masaaki Sakai
The Shinsengumi have been depicted in various genres up until now... but " Shinsengumi Requiem" is different from any of them. If we can fully portray the charm of the original, which is completely outrageous, it will become a historical drama that no one has ever seen before. That was the thought that guided me as I wrote the script. I hope you will see for yourself whether I was able to achieve this.
◇ "Chirururan Shinsengumi" (Zenon Comics) Manga by Eiji Hashimoto
"I wonder if it will be okay..." That was my honest first reaction when I heard about the live-action adaptation. However, after visiting the set and seeing the passion of the director, staff, and actors for the "Chirururan" film production, I was convinced that my fears were unfounded.
And today, as I write this, just this morning, the person in charge showed me the unfinished PV, and it was so good that I was moved to tears on the spot. I was overwhelmed with emotion. There I was, in that very real "Chirururan."
There's nothing more to say. Everyone should definitely watch the drama version of "Chirururan Shinsengumi," which the original author is very happy with!!!
◇ "Chirururan Shinsengumi Shinsengumi" (Zenon Comics) original author: Umemura Shinya
"Chirururan Shinsengumi Requiem" is a manga that has been depicting the "death fate" of passionate men who lived during the end of the Edo period for 13 years. I never expected that after its completion it would be brought back to life as a live-action production by a fantastic production team and some of the hottest actors of today...it is an honor. As a viewer, I am truly looking forward to this live-action version of "Chirururan," which will include developments that are original to the drama!!
