Actor Hiiragihei Uesugi will appear in the Netflix series "Yu Yu Hakusho," which will be distributed from December 2023. The legendary hit manga "YuYu Hakusho," which was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump (published by Shueisha) for four years starting in 1990, began with the shocking death of the main character in the first episode. It is a fantasy adventure in which unique and fascinating characters face difficulties one after another in a grand worldview that spans the human, demon, and spirit worlds. The characters continue to grow as the story progresses, and the powerful battle scenes have captured the hearts of readers, making this work explosively popular among both men and women alike. Even a quarter of a century after its serialization ended, this well-known masterpiece is being adapted into a drama series on Netflix on an unprecedented scale. The announcement of the main cast continues with Takumi Kitamura as Yusuke Urameshi, Jun Shizon as Kurama, and Kanata Hongo as Tobikage, and now Uesugi has been cast as Kazuma Kuwabara. Kuwabara is a quarrelsome and good-natured man who calls himself Yusuke's rival. However, he also has a kind-hearted and gentle side. In the character art released today, Kuwabara's trademark blue school run outfit and spirited regent hair have been upgraded to a stylish modern version, creating a striking image. In playing Kuwabara, Uesugi spoke enthusiastically, "I was very happy to be able to play the coolest character I have ever felt as an adult, Kazuma Kuwabara, who is honest, rugged, full of love, and goes straight for what he believes in. I felt that it was a very extravagant site, but I spent every day thinking that I was a part of it, and I was excited to be a part of it! I was so excited to be a part of it and spent every day! Full comment from Hiiragi Uesugi, who plays Kazuma Kuwabara --How did you feel when you were chosen to appear in this film? I never thought that I would be able to play a role in a work that I read in elementary school, and I am very happy to be able to play the role of Kazuma Kuwabara, the coolest character that I have ever felt as an adult, who is honest, rugged, full of love, and straight ahead in what he believes in. At the same time, I felt a lot of pressure and worry about how I would face the live-action adaptation of this work, which has many fans around the world, and what role I would play in making it a work that would be loved by everyone. I was also very excited to be working on a film for Netflix, a format with a worldwide market. --What is the appeal of "YuYu Hakusho," which has been loved for more than 30 years? Each character has a distinct personality, and I feel that the characters are unforgettable once you see them. It was more than 20 years ago that I picked up this work at a friend's house and read it, but even as a child I felt the indescribable fear and eeriness of Toguro's brother and the overwhelming sense of strength and charisma of Toguro's brother. Even now, as an adult, I remember those days with an indescribable sense of wonder. Besides the fascinating enemies, all the allies and characters have their own unforgettable scenes and stories that stick in my mind, and I believe these elements are one of the reasons why this work is so popular among many people. --About the role of Kuwabara I faced the role of Kuwabara while valuing his kind and straightforward feelings of wanting to become strong in order to protect someone important to him. At the same time, I realized that trying to do so is a very difficult, lonely and lonely thing to do. Kuwabara is not the type of person who is good at hiding his emotions, so I played the character while discussing with the director and cast members how Kazuma Kuwabara would feel and act in each scene and each cut. --About the filming location The scale and schedule of the filming was unprecedentedly grand, so I was elated every day as I headed to the set. I had never seen a set of this scale before, I had never experienced the scale of CG filming, and I had never experienced the scale of the filming methods used for CG before. It was the best shooting site where not only the cast but also the whole team communicated with each other, and everyone involved was seriously committed to creating a great work of art. --Message to fans around the world I am so happy to think that the live-action film adaptation of "YuYu Hakusho," loved by people all over the world, will be available on Netflix for people all over the world to watch. I can confidently tell you that this is a work that can be enjoyed regardless of national borders. We are confident that the film will be enjoyed regardless of national borders. We hope you will enjoy it as much as we do. Netflix series "YuYu Hakusho Original story: "YuYu Hakusho" by Yoshihiro Togashi (JUMP COMICS) Director: Sho Tsukikawa Cast: Shoumi Kitamura, Jun Shizon, Kanata Hongo, Hiiragi Uesugi Screenplay: Ryuro Mishima VFX Supervisor: Ryo Sakaguchi (Scanline VFX) Executive Producer: Kazutaka Sakamoto (Vice President of Content, Netflix) Producer : Teru Morii Production Production: ROBOT Planning/Production: Netflix Distribution: Scheduled for worldwide distribution on Netflix in December 2023
【Background】
・Graduated from Kyoto University with a major in Japanese Culture Studies, Faculty of Letters
・After graduation, worked 4 years as editor and proofreader for a print magazine specializing in traditional performing arts and culture
・Became a freelance journalist in 2021 and launched japanculturean.com in 2022
【Expertise】
・Pop-Culture Fusion Analysis
Analytical commentary on how modern pop-culture media (anime, film, fashion) incorporates and reinterprets traditional Japanese motifs.
