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2nd Live-Action Chihayafuru Film's Ads Highlight Queen Match, Love Triangle

TOHO began streaming two commercials for Chihayafuru: Shimo no Ku, the second live-action film of Yuki Suetsugu's Chihayafuru manga, on Wednesday. The first video focuses on Chihaya's match with Shinobu, while the second video focuses on the love triangle between Chihaya, Taichi, and Arata. Both videos preview the film's theme song "FLASH" by Perfume.

Narrator and Text: The two-part series comes to a close!
Text: With friends...
Shinobu: I'll make you say to everyone that the team matches were a just a game.
Text: She challenges the strongest Queen.
Chihaya: As long as I have my friends, I won't lose, even to the Queen!
Narrator and Text: They fight to express their feelings.
Narrator: Chihayafuru: Shimo no Ku

Taichi: Right now, the only thing I can see is Chihaya.
Text: Taichi: He watches over her, always close
Taichi: I like Chihaya.
Text: Arata: He thinks of her from afar.
Arata: I really value Chihaya.
Chihaya: I missed you so much.
Text: The feelings of the three childhood friends will cross.
Narrator: Now, their feelings will begin to move.
Narrator: Chihayafuru: Shimo no Ku

The film stars (from left to right in below photo):

• Yūki Morinaga (Kanojo wa Uso o Ai Shisugiteru) as Tsutomu Komano, a member of the Mizusawa High School Competitive Karuta Club
• Yūma Yamato (Silver Spoon, Crows Explode) as Yūsei Nishida, a member of the Mizusawa High School Competitive Karuta Club
• Shūhei Nomura (Taifū no Noruda, live-action Daily Lives of High School Boys, Hibi Rock: Puke Afro and the Pop Star) as Chihaya's childhood friend Taichi Mashima
• Suzu Hirose (Crows Explode, Umimachi Diary, Mamoru Hosoda's The Boy and The Beast) as Chihaya Ayase
• Mackenyu (Kamen Rider Drive: Surprise Future) as Arata Wataya, the childhood friend who leads Chihaya and Taichi into the world of karuta
• Mone Kamishiraishi as Kanade Ōe, a member of the Mizusawa High School Competitive Karuta Club

Norihiro Koizumi (Midnight Sun, Kanojo wa Uso o Ai Shisugiteru, pictured far right) is directing the films.

The rest of the cast includes:

• Jun Kunimura (Black Rain, Kill Bill, live-action Attack on Titan's Kubal, The Wind Rises' Hattori) as Chiba's teacher and mentor Harada
• Mayu Matsuoka as the "karuta queen" Shinobu Wakamiya
• Miyuki Matsuda (Hot Road, ZOO) as the teacher Taeko Miyauchi at Chihaya's Mizusawa High School
• Hiroya Shimizu (Slayer's Chronicle) as Akihito Sudō, a member of the Hokuo Academy Competitive Karuta Club
• Ryōtarō Sakaguchi as Hiro Kinashi, a member of the Hokuo Academy Competitive Karuta Club

The film will open on April 29. The first film, Chihayafuru: Kami no Ku (Chihayafuru: Upper Phrase), opened March 19.