“Itazura na Kiss” Movie Adaptation Greenlit! Release Slated for Fall 2016

LIVE ACTION
Aug. 26, 2015 07:00 PDT

The first movie adaptation has been confirmed for Kaoru Tada’s popular original manga, Itazura na Kiss. The title of the movie is Itazura na Kiss the Movie: High School Arc, and it’s slated for release in fall 2016.

The original manga became a hugely popular work that was serialized in Shueisha’s Bessatsu Margaret from 1990–99. The series has even been published overseas, and though it’s a huge hit with over 30 million copies in print, the series remains incomplete due to Tada’s untimely passing during its serialization. However, to date there have been frequent drama adaptations in the series including one in Japan in 1996, Taiwan in 2005, South Korea in 2010, and another in Japan in 2013, so it lives on as a long-loved series.

Playing Naoki Irie, the object of adoration of female students, is Kanta Sato of the Exile Theatrical Company who will have his first main role in a movie, and playing Kotoko Aihara, a slightly clumsy yet cheerful girl, is Reina Bisa who too gets her first main role in a movie. It’s a fresh combination indeed.

Other confirmed members of the wonderful cast include Takanori Jinnai as Shigeo Aihara, Kotoko’s father, Hidehiko Ishizuka as Shigeki Irie, Naoki’s father, and Hikari Ishida as Noriko Irie, Naoki’s mother! Though their roles have yet to be revealed, young actor Shimon Okura and E-Girls member Nonoka Yamaguchi will also be in the movie.

Director Minoru Mizoguchi had the following message for fans: “We will deliver a hot love story between Kotoko and Naoki in a way unique to movies that has a different flavor than the drama.” Both main actors also gave enthusiastic comments, with Kanta saying, “With this being my first role in a movie, there’s pressure due to playing a main role for the first time, but I will put everything I have into playing Naoki Irie!” and Reina saying, “I was surprised at being decided for this role. I’ve grown out my bangs so that my hairstyle is closer to Kotoko’s. I even wore outfits every day that look like ones Kotoko would wear! I want to firmly understand Kotoko in the original work and try my hardest to play her faithfully!”

Source: Otakuma Keizai Shimbun