TBS Television, Inc. has teamed up for the first time with U-NEXT, Inc. and THE SEVEN, Inc., a creative studio under the TBS umbrella that plans and produces entertainment content, primarily dramas and movies, with an eye toward TBS's overseas strategy, to launch a large-scale project called the "TBS x U-NEXT x THE SEVEN Global Project." The project's outline and lead cast have now been announced.
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▶ With a total circulation of over 3 million copies! This is the first live-action adaptation of the popular comic "Chirururan: Shinsengumi Requiem," which depicts the Shinsengumi, the strongest samurai of the late Edo period. Yamada Yuki plays the protagonist, Hijikata Toshizo, who grows from a rural brat to a demonic vice-commander!
The manga for this film is drawn by Eiji Hashimoto, known for his powerful touch and overwhelming artistic ability, and the original story is by Shinya Umemura, who is also known for "Record of Ragnarok." Set in Kyoto at the end of the Edo period, the film is based on a popular comic that depicts the rough yet passionate way of life of the Shinsengumi, the strongest samurai group, with flashy action and a bold interpretation based on historical facts.
How did Hijikata Toshizo, a brawler and quick-tempered brat who only sought to be the strongest, meet Kondo Isami and, together with other strong-willed comrades like Okita Souji and Saito Hajime, create the Shinsengumi, a group that will go down in history? This film depicts the lives of these men, who questioned the meaning of their lives during a time of great change and lived short but vivid lives with a burning passion so strong that they risked their lives. This story, a mix of friendship, betrayal, and conviction, is brought to life with modern, captivating characters and some of the fastest sword fights in history. A new Shinsengumi legend like no other has been created.
The protagonist of this story will be played by Yamada Yuki, a talented actor who has appeared in a string of popular works in recent years and is currently leading the Japanese film and drama industry. Yamada shows a completely different side to each work, captivating audiences with his performances, from terrifyingly intense acting that seems to possess the character to natural, humane acting. He is highly trusted by the staff and co-stars alike. The madness and passion that lies deep within his sharp gaze perfectly synchronizes with the wild yet pure soul of the main character, Hijikata Toshizo, and he will play the Reiwa era Hijikata Toshizo in a way that only he can. We hope you will get a sense of this new image of Hijikata from the character visuals and character movies that have also been released.
Character Movie:https://youtu.be/ntrSiqqRFnM
▶This "Japanese sword action entertainment" will be presented on an unprecedented scale in the history of drama, with a special drama broadcast on terrestrial television on TBS in spring 2026 and the drama series being exclusively streamed on U-NEXT!
Billed as "Japanese sword action entertainment" on a scale never before seen in TV drama history, filming began in April this year and took place in locations across the country, including Kyoto, Shiga, Shizuoka, and Chiba. The spectacular locations, rich visual expression, and advanced VFX technology combine to create a stunning visual experience.
The production team includes producer Teru Morii of THE SEVEN, who led the Netflix series "Alice in Borderland" and "Yu Yu Hakusho" to global success and whose film "The Fool's Identity" won the "Best Actor Award" at the Busan International Film Festival, as well as producers Mamoru Inoue and Kazuya Shimomura (THE SEVEN). The project also features director Kazutaka Watanabe, known for his attention to detail and pursuit of realism and tension, and his immense trust from his cast members. The team also includes screenwriter Masaaki Sakai, known for his work on CX's "Absolute Zero: Special Crimes Undercover Investigation" series and the film "Keiko: Clear Your Eyes," and other production staff active at the forefront of Japan's film industry.
Additionally, it has been decided that this work will be broadcast and streamed on channels that were only possible because of this project. It will be broadcast on terrestrial television as a special drama on TBS in spring 2026, and the drama series will be streamed exclusively on U-NEXT. The all-star cast to be announced in the future will color this "Japanese sword action entertainment" on an unprecedented scale, and will include leading actors as well as many up-and-coming actors, from young actors to renowned supporting actors. Please look forward to further news about the cast of the "Reborn Shinsengumi of the Reiwa Era," and see which actors will play the Shinsengumi members who have been played by so many famous actors in the past.
■Comments
The original work really portrays Hijikata Toshizo's passion, the bonds he has with his comrades, and how that motivates 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."
But recently, as I continued to run, I felt a sense of loneliness, like I didn't know where my fire was. But I still believed that "if I keep doing incredible things, one day something incredible will happen."
I thought that maybe the Shinsengumi were the same. When they thought their comrades and themselves might die, they were all-in to change the times, the world... They could do something because they were alive, they were alive, so they had to do something. When I spoke to Producer Morii about these feelings, he said, "Let out your frustrations here." From then on, like Toshizo, I felt like, "There's no other way but to burn, to let it all boil." I think that thanks to our wonderful comrades, we were able to create the "Reiwa Shinsengumi" that only we could have.
I would love for everyone to see it.
What will you do when the world becomes hopeless? What do you want to do and who do you want to become? "Chirurann: Shinsengumi Requiem" is a story of people who are inevitably swallowed up by the changes of the times that are sweeping over them, but who cannot simply nod quietly. It is a story of people who continue to shout out their own beliefs, even as they risk their lives. We modern people are placed in a world where the future is uncertain and we continue to lament the bleakness, so be sure to take a look at these young people who show us the strength to live life to the fullest!
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, "Chirurann: 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 their hearts, searching for their own "place to bloom." Over the six months of filming, I was constantly confronted by the young patriots, including Yamada Yuki, as they burned their lives to the brim and bloomed. I took in all of it without missing a beat. The filming location was also a place of intense, serious competition, with no time to blink.
<Scriptwriter・Masaaki Sakai>
The Shinsengumi have been depicted in various genres up until now, but "Chirururan: Shinsengumi Requiem" is different from any of them.
If I can fully portray the charm of the original, which is completely outrageous, it will be a historical drama that no one has ever seen before. That was my thought when I wrote the script. I hope you will see for yourself whether I was able to achieve that.
<"Chirururan Shinsengumi Requiem" (Zenon Comics) Manga by Eiji Hashimoto>
"I wonder if it'll 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 production of "Chirururan," I became 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 was a more realistic "Chirururan" than ever before. There is nothing more to say. The original author is very satisfied with the drama version of "Chirururan: Shinsengumi Requiem," so please be sure to watch it!!!
<"Chirururan Shinsengumi Requiem" (Zenon Comics) Original Story by 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 with 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!!
■Program Overview
[Title] "Chirururan Shinsengumi Requiem" (Reading: Chiruran Shinsengumi Requiem)
[Broadcast/Streaming] TBS Television/U-NEXT
[Works] THE SEVEN
[Broadcast date and time] Spring 2026
producer:
Teru Morii (THE SEVEN) Netflix "Alice in Borderland" series, "Yu Yu Hakusho", the movie "The Fool's Identity", and more
Mamoru Inoue TBS×WOWOW "Double Face", "MOZU" series, and more
Kazuya Shimomura (THE SEVEN) Netflix's "Yu Yu Hakusho," the movie "The Fable: The Killer Who Doesn't Kill," and more
director:
Kazutaka Watanabe, NHK historical drama "Onna Joushu Naotora" and serial TV novel "Mare"
"Rohan Kishibe Doesn't Move" series and others
Scriptwriter:
Masaaki Sakai WOWOW drama series "Cold Case 2 & 3" and the film "Keiko: Clear Your Eyes"
Action Director:
Kensuke Sonomura, the film "Baby Warukure," the film "Onmyoji 0," and others
VFX Producer:
Satoshi Akabane (THE SEVEN) Netflix "Alice in Borderland" Season 3, "Yu Yu Hakusho" and more
Character Design:
Yuya Maeda's film "Legend & Butterfly" and others
music:
Yoshiaki Dewa, Netflix's "Zon 100: 100 Things to Do Before You Become a Zombie," anime "Hell's Paradise," and more
Post-production Supervisor:
Ishida Noriko (THE SEVEN) Netflix "Alice in Borderland" series, "Yu Yu Hakusho" and more
[Performers]
Toshizo Hijikata and Yuki Yamada
■Original information

Title: "Chirururan Shinsengumi Requiem"
Author Manga: Eiji Hashimoto Original story: Shinya Umemura
Published by Coremix
Zenon Comics volumes 1 to 36 are on sale now
©Hashimoto Eiji, Umemura Shinya/Coremix
Read the first chapter:https://comic-zenon.com/episode/10834108156693612679
Official website
https://chiruran-the7.jp/
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