On January 6, the cast and crew of the highly anticipated film, Anderninja, gathered for its completion press conference at The Prince Park Tower Tokyo. Leading the event was actor Kento Yamazaki, alongside his co-stars Minami Hamabe, Shoutarou Mamiya, Mai Shiraishi, Chihiro Yamamoto, Rumi Miyase, Ryoutaro Sakaguchi, Shinobu Hasegawa, Haruka Kiminami, Yoshiyoshi Arakawa, Ameno Okayama, Kazuaki Hirata, and director Yuichi Fukuda.
The film, set to hit theaters on January 24, is based on the manga of the same name by Kengo Hanazawa, known for I Am A Hero. Anderninja reimagines the classic depiction of ninjas to fit contemporary society, combining thrilling action sequences with humor and relatable storytelling. Yamazaki portrays Kuro Gakure, a ninja of the organization “NIN,” tasked with important missions, alongside Hamabe as Ayaka Noguchi, who gets caught up in the conflict between ninjas.
"I’m excited to see this unique ninja film come to life!" exclaimed the cast, sharing their enthusiasm. Yamazaki, who has long admired the original series, expressed his thrill and satisfaction with the adaptation, stating, "I was so happy when I got the role. Given the series is still running, I was eager to see what kind of action would be depicted, and I was very curious about how they would adapt it for the film!" His enthusiasm was met with nods from the cast.
Director Fukuda, who also handled the screenplay, noted the fun nature of the production, reflecting, "When I heard Kento wanted to do Anderninja, I knew we had to make it happen! I read the manga and found it fascinating; its settings and words sparked my interest. Nevertheless, I had to be careful with some edgy lines intended for Kento, and I believe we managed to create something special."
During the event, conversations about the action scenes turned lively. Mamiya remarked on the level of effort put forth by co-star Okayama, who, he said, practiced greatly for his role: "He practiced so much he ended up injuring his back before the shoot!" Despite the playful banter, the camaraderie within the cast was palpable.
Yamazaki, reiteratively noting the unique action elements of the film, added, "We have been able to create something never seen before--a modern ninja movie! This truly is something spectacular, and I can’t wait for everyone to experience it," indicating his optimism about its reception.
Reflecting on their experiences, Hamabe shared her surprise at participating, saying she enjoyed watching her co-stars bring their scenes to life. Yet, she admitted feeling nervous during her own performances, stating, "Being part of Fukuda’s group, I felt the excitement of improving upon the scripts already written. It was so much fun on set, but each scene left me feeling quite anxious!"
What made the event even more special was the announcement of the film's world premiere to be held at Hollywood, Los Angeles. Yamazaki, representing the team, expressed his eagerness to showcase Anderninja and promote Japanese culture, stating, "I’m thrilled to take Anderninja to LA! Knowing we’re taking our ninja heritage to the world makes me incredibly proud!" His excitement was contagious, with Hamabe replying, "I’ll be quietly helping behind the scenes!" creating smiles among attendees.
With plans for 4DX screenings confirmed, the film promises to deliver heart-pounding action paired with immersive viewing experiences. The engaging dialogue and fun interactions between the cast suggested strong chemistry, undoubtedly adding to the film’s positive atmosphere.
Concluding the event, the cast members enthusiastically set personal goals, with Yamazaki humorously mentioning his aspiration to embody ninja-like wisdom, whereas Hamabe pledged to improve her physical fitness, hinting at appearing more physically demanding roles.
Overall, Anderninja is poised to wow audiences with its fresh take on the ninja genre, ensuring excitement leading up to its premiere.