Actor Jun Kaname appeared at the completion announcement event for the film "Agito - Supernatural Warfare -" (directed by Ryuta Tasaki, opening April 29) held in Tokyo on April Getsuku. Kaname, who is appearing in a Kamen Rider production for the first time in about 25 years, greeted the audience with "I'm back!" and was greeted with loud applause and shouts of "Welcome back!" from the fans gathered at the venue.
The film is a commemorative work for the 55th anniversary of Kamen Rider's birth and is the latest theatrical film adaptation of "Kamen Rider Agito" (2001-2002), the second series in the Heisei Kamen Rider series. Kaname, who played Kamen Rider G3/Makoto Hikawa in "Agito," takes on the lead role, and the original cast, including Toshiki Kashu, who played Kamen Rider Agito/Shoichi Tsugami, reunites. As with the TV series, director Tasaki is at the helm, and Toshiki Inoue is in charge of the screenplay. In a world where people are beginning to awaken to "superpowers" one after another, the film depicts the rampage of those with power and the resolve of those without power.
Kaname commented, "After 25 years, I have been able to make a comeback as Makoto Hikawa. For me, this film is a little different from a normal movie, as it is filled with 25 years of preparation for the role. The character of Makoto Hikawa has never disappeared from my mind for even a single day during these 25 years. I conveyed that feeling to the production team, and that's how this film came to be."
"However, I do have some anxieties. I wonder how everyone will react to me becoming Kamen Rider again after 25 years. So many people have been paying attention to me, and finally, today I can show it to you all. I believe you all love 'Kamen Rider Agito' just as much as I do," he said, addressing the fans.
Kashu also expressed his gratitude to the fans, saying, "I've said this many times before, but this work was only possible because of all of you who loved and supported 'Agito'," and appealed to them, "If you continue to love it like this, we'll still have the desire to do it even decades from now! So please continue to love it (laughs)."
In response to Kashu's comments, Kaname declared emphatically, "Kashu and I have been doing a lot of interviews since this morning. The movie started at what felt like a miraculous timing, and I said, 'This must be the end. Surely we should end Kamen Rider Agito now,' but he said, 'No, we can still do it,' so I will also do my best as Agito until I'm 100 years old! Kamen Rider is immortal!" This was met with even louder applause from the audience.
Yuchami, Hitomi Fujita, Jun Yamazaki, Akira Shibata, Becky, and director Tasaki also attended the stage greeting.
