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Live-Action Hakuōki Show Reveals Lead Actor, Staff, 10-Episode Run

posted on by Egan Loo
Touken Ranbu musicals' Tsubasa Sakiyama stars as Shinsengumi warrior Hijikata Toshizō

The "Dessert de Otomate" fan event debuted a 15-second early teaser trailer (restricted to Japan only) for the live-action series of Otomate's Hakuōki otome game franchise on Sunday. The teaser reveals the series' lead cast member and the main staff, as well as its 10-episode run on the premium WOWOW Prime television channel and the WOWOW on Demand streaming service in Japan. Tsubasa Sakiyama (Touken Ranbu musicals, Yu Yu Hakusho stage play) stars as Hijikata Toshizō, a real-life vice-commander of the Shinsengumi group.

Masanobu Rokusha and Yūki Nishikata are directing the series off scripts by Shinya Hokimoto. Kuniyuki Morohashi (Musasino!, Midnight Crazy Trail, Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher) is composing the music. Drama Design Corporation is producing the project in collaboration with Toei Studios Kyoto. The staff have not yet announced the premiere date, but the first episode will be free to watch on WOWOW.

The Kyoto Shimbun newspaper reported in March 2020 that two people were injured during an accidental fire that started on set at the filming of the live-action series.

The story of the game franchise and its various adaptations centers around the historical Shinsengumi samurai group in Kyoto during the 19th century. A girl named Chizuru Yukimura arrives in Kyoto from Edo to search for her missing father. She finds herself embroiled in the conflict between the frightening Rasetsu and the Shinsengumi (led by Hijikata and others), thanks to a fateful connection with her missing father.

Idea Factory released the first Hakuōki game in 2008. Hakuōki: Kyoto Winds (Hakuōki Shinkai: Kaze no Shō) debuted for the PlayStation Vita in Japan in September 2015. Idea Factory International released the game in North America and Europe in May 2017. The company later released the game for PC via Steam in August 2017.

The sequel game, Hakuōki: Edo Blossoms (Hakuōki Shinkai: Hana no Shō), launched in Japan on the PS Vita in June 2016. Idea Factory International released the game in March 2018 in North America and Europe for PS Vita and Steam. The game also launched for the PC via Steam in the same month.

Idea Factory released the two games together for the Nintendo Switch under the title Hakuōki Shinkai: Fūkaden in September 2018. Hakuōki Shinkai: Tsukikage no Shō and Hakuōki Shinkai: Ginsei no Shō are new games for the Switch in the franchise. The first game shipped in Japan on September 2019, and the second game shipped on July 30.

The franchise inspired the Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom television anime in 2010, followed by Hakuōki: Record of the Jade Blood in the same year, 2012's Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom - Dawn of the Shinsengumi, and 2016's Hakuōki: Otogisōshi. The franchise also spawned several films and original video anime releases.

The first Hakuōki stage musical debuted in 2012, and the latest musical, Musical "Hakuōki Shinkai" Sōma Kazue-hen, ran in Tokyo and Kyoto this month after a one-year delay due to the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The franchise's Hakuōki SSL ~sweet school life~ high school spinoff game has also inspired a live-action TV series, a musical, and a live-action film.

Sources: WOWOW's website, Mantan Web


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