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Ookiku Furikabutte/Big Windup Sequel Stage Play's Ad Streamed

The official website for the sequel stage play adaptation of Asa Higuchi's Ookiku Furikabutte (Big Windup!) manga began streaming a commercial for the play on Thursday.

The sequel play, titled Ookiku Furikabutte: Natsu no Taikai-hen (Summer Tournament Arc), will have performances at the Sunshine Theater in Tokyo from September 6 to 17, as well as the Umeda Arts Theater in Osaka from September 28 to 30. Yutaka Narui is once again directing and scripting the play, and Shun Nishime will reprise his role as Ren Mihashi. The full cast includes 25 cast members.

The previous stage play adaptation ran from February 2-12 at the Sunshine Theater in Tokyo.

The manga has been running in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon magazine since September 2003, and the 29th volume shipped on March 23. The manga returned from an 11-month hiatus last July.

The series centers on Ren Mihashi, a losing pitcher who quit his middle-school baseball team after his teammates harassed him — they think he only became a pitcher because his grandfather ran the school. In high school, Ren is forced to become a pitcher again, but he and his new team eventually recapture the spirit of the game.

The story inspired two television anime seasons. Funimation released the first season of the anime in North America in 2009 and Nozomi Entertainment released the Big Windup! Season 2 anime in 2016. Crunchyroll began streaming the second season last November.

Source: Ookiku Furikabutte stage play's official website