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1st Live-Action Tomodachi Game Film Opens June 3 in Japan

This year's May issue of Kodansha's Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine announced on Saturday that the first live-action film adaptation of Yuki Sato's Tomodachi Game (Friends Games) manga will premiere on June 3 in Japan.

The manga is inspiring a live-action drama series and two live-action films this year. The series premiered on Chiba TV on April 3 at 10:30 p.m., and it is also airing on Teletama, Hokkaido TV, tvk, KBC Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting, Sun TV, KBS Kyoto, and Mētele. It will also stream on GYAO! beginning on April 12.

The story, based on Mikoto Yamaguchi's original concept, centers on Yūichi Katagiri, a young man with a perfect student life who has four friends with difficult lives. His peaceful daily life comes to an end when 2 million yen (about US$20,000) in school trip fees goes missing. Riddles unfold as Yūichi gets caught up in a mysterious game for money and must decide whether friendship or money matters more.

The cast includes:

Ryō Yoshizawa (live-action Ao Haru Ride, Gintama) as Yūichi Katagiri, the protagonist

Rio Uchida (Kamen Rider Drive) as Shiho Sawaragi, the film's heroine

Yūki Yamada (live-action Wolf Girl & Black Prince) as Tenji Mikasa, a top student with outstanding communication skills

Shimon Okura (live-action Itazura na Kiss) as Makoto Shibe, the class president whose father is a city councilor

Nagi Nemoto as Yutori Kokorogi, a quiet and gentle anime fan

Yūki Kubota (live-action Shinjuku Swan) as Ren Tōjō, an original character for the film who manages the Tomodachi Game

Amatsu as the voice of Manabu-kun, a mysterious puppet who serves as the Tomodachi Game's guide

Yūki Ueno (live-action Shiratori Reiko de Gozaimasu!) as Maria Mizuse, an observer in the Tomodachi Game

Sato (Sherlock Bones, Yokai Doctor) launched the Tomodachi Game manga in Kodansha's Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine in December 2013. The eighth compiled volume shipped in December.