Live-Action “SAKAMOTO DAYS” Casts Kenjiro Tsuda as Asakura, Shin’s Foster Parent! New Cast for Popular Characters Revealed

Live-Action “SAKAMOTO DAYS” Film Drops New Cast Details!

The live-action film adaptation of the hit manga SAKAMOTO DAYS is locked in for release on April 29, 2026. In exciting news, the cast for some of the series’ most essential and popular characters has been revealed, with Kote Shinya, Sakurai Hinako, Anzai Shintarou, Katou Kouji, and Tsuda Kenjirou joining the lineup.

SAKAMOTO DAYS is a battle action manga by Suzuki Yuuto that kicked off in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump back in November 2020. It’s a massive hit, with global circulation (including digital) soaring past 15 million copies. The story follows Taro Sakamoto, a legendary hitman feared by every villain in the underworld, who throws it all away after falling head over heels for a convenience store clerk named Aoi. After retiring, getting married, and becoming a dad, a now-plus-sized Sakamoto runs a peaceful neighborhood store. But his quiet life doesn’t last long as old enemies and new threats start showing up at his doorstep. It’s a hilarious and hard-hitting blend of everyday life and over-the-top action.

The anime adaptation, which launched in January 2025, became a global sensation almost overnight. On Netflix, it racked up a staggering 8.6 million views in its first week worldwide, with over 10.6 million views in Japan alone. It dominated charts, hitting #2 globally, topping the list in five countries, and landing in the top 10 across 67 countries. The hype is very, very real.

Star-Studded Live-Action Lineup

Heading the live-action cast is Meguro Ren as the unbeatable hitman-turned-shopkeeper, Taro Sakamoto. His partner-in-crime (fighting), Shin Asakura, is played by Takahashi Fumiya, while Ueto Aya takes on the role of Sakamoto’s beloved wife, Aoi Sakamoto. They’re backed by a strong supporting cast including Yokota Mayu, Tozuka Junki, Shiono Akihisa, Watanabe Keisuke, Kitamura Takumi, Yagi Yusei, and Ikumi Auru.

Holding the director’s megaphone is comedy maestro Fukuda Yuichi, the genius behind the Gintama live-action films and Today’s Kirai!! The Movie. With production handled by CREDEUS (known for the Kingdom series and Golden Kamuy), this is shaping up to be a top-tier action blockbuster.

Meet the New Faces Joining the Fight

Let’s break down the new cast members and the iconic roles they’ll be bringing to life:

Kote Shinya steps into the shoes of Boyle, a hardboiled hitman from Sakamoto’s past at the Japanese assassin training facility. He’s got a history with Sakamoto and lives by the motto, “I don’t take lives other than the target.” Interestingly, Meguro Ren himself picked the Sakamoto vs. Boyle showdown as his favorite battle scene from the manga. Kote is the one who’ll be trading blows with Meguro in what’s sure to be an epic fight.

Playing Boyle’s karate master partner, Obikuro, is Sakurai Hinako. This marks a big shift for Sakurai, who’s often played more delicate roles. She underwent intense physical training for the part and promises a genuinely skilled performance. The chemistry between Boyle and Obikuro is going to be a key highlight.

The silver-haired assassin Tatsu, who uses custom-made poisons as his weapon, will be portrayed by Anzai Shintarou. This is Anzai’s first major film role, and he’s ready to showcase the expressive power he’s honed on stage. While targeting Sakamoto, Tatsu ends up facing off against Shin (Takahashi Fumiya), setting the stage for another must-see battle.

Katou Kouji embodies the ruthless boss of the assassin organization Shin once belonged to. He’s the one who sends Shin after Sakamoto, branding him a traitor for retiring. Katou brings a commanding presence that might even surpass the character’s menace in the manga.

Finally, Tsuda Kenjirou takes on the role of Asakura, the director of the “Asakura Research Institute” that took in the esper Shin during his childhood. While Tsuda is a legendary voice actor, he’s also a seasoned live-action performer. The heartwarming dynamic between Shin and his foster father, Asakura, is something fans won’t want to miss.

Cast Comments: Excitement from the Set

Kote Shinya

“Right after filming Shin Kaishaku Bakumatsuden, Director Fukuda contacted me directly asking, ‘Kote-san, are you good with action?’ When I heard it was for SAKAMOTO DAYS, I was stunned for a second! I timidly checked if I was playing Sakamoto, and he gently shot me down with, ‘Sakamoto gets skinny when he fights,’ which was hilarious.

I was confident I could capture Boyle’s hardboiled vibe from the manga, but with no boxing experience and a body type that’s… let’s say unique, I trained hard for three months. Though midway, the director gave me a complex request: ‘Don’t lose weight in your face, it’ll get less funny.’ So I ended up balancing training with a bit of unhealthy living!

My action scene with Meguro-kun was actually the very first shot of the entire film. I was honestly shocked—starting the movie again with me, just like last time! But the director was pumped, saying ‘it gave us momentum,’ so I’m confident this will be a film I can proudly recommend. Please look forward to it!”

Sakurai Hinako

“Until now, I’ve often had the chance to play delicate girls from shoujo manga adaptations. So, getting to participate in a super-popular shonen manga adaptation, and being entrusted with the role of a strong assassin, fills me with gratitude.

Playing a combatant, a woman who fights coolly, is a role I’ve wanted to challenge myself with for a long time. The bold costume and building up my abs for the role were both firsts for me.

On set, it was memorable how happily Director Fukuda spoke about Meguro-san’s intense passion for creating the work. I think I wasn’t the only actor inspired by the desire to see Director Fukuda’s happy face and who gave it their all. Please wait excitedly for the release!”

Anzai Shintarou (First time working with Director Fukuda Yuichi)

“I played the role of Tatsu in the movie SAKAMOTO DAYS. When I got the offer, I was so surprised my heart and eyes almost popped out—it was dangerous!

But at the same time, I felt incredibly happy and fortunate. SAKAMOTO DAYS × Director Fukuda Yuichi. It’s guaranteed to be entertaining. It’s an action comedy that embodies the original while making it even more three-dimensional. Please, please look forward to it!!”

Katou Kouji (First time working with Director Fukuda Yuichi)

“If I think back, my first meeting with Fukuda-san was over 30 years ago. It’s been long. Really long… the time it took for Fukuda-san to become a director and use me in his work…

So, I wanted to approach this role with utter seriousness, and with that in mind, I grew my hair out to match the manga original. And what do you know? The public started hurling insults and slander about my hairstyle. Because of my personality, I couldn’t just cut it, and so here we are. What are you going to do about it?

Even for me, this has become a memorable work. I wonder when I’ll be able to cut my hair.”

Tsuda Kenjirou

“It’s an honor to participate in SAKAMOTO DAYS. It was a very enjoyable set, working with Director Fukuda Yuichi, Meguro Ren-san, Takahashi Fumiya-san, and all the other wonderful cast and staff.

I’m also truly grateful that I could play Director Asakura with visuals meticulously crafted to be faithful to the original. Thanks to that, I was able to seamlessly enter the world of SAKAMOTO DAYS. I’m really looking forward to seeing the finished film. Please watch it in theaters. Stay tuned!”

Film Details at a Glance

Writer: Nakase Koutarou

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