Netflix Releases Chihayafuru Live-Action Sequel in English on July 17
Discover 'Chihayafuru: Full Circle,' now streaming on Netflix! Dive into the captivating world of competitive karuta and unforgettable friendships.
Netflix Announces Live-Action Series 'Chihayafuru: Full Circle'
Netflix is set to stream a new live-action adaptation of the beloved manga Chihayafuru by Yuki Suetsugu, titled Chihayafuru: Full Circle. The series is scheduled to premiere in Japan on July 9th at 10:00 p.m. JST (9:00 a.m. EDT) on NTV and its affiliated channels, with a global release on Netflix.
A New Chapter for Fans
Chihayafuru: Full Circle is inspired by the original manga, which launched in 2007 and has since become a cultural phenomenon. The story takes place a decade after the events of the previous live-action films, exploring the lives of familiar characters and new faces.
Cast and Characters
- Ami Tōma stars as Meguru Aizawa, a high school second-year who joins a struggling karuta club.
- Mone Kamishiraishi returns as Kanade Ōe, now a part-time teacher and club adviser.
- Suzu Hirose reprises her role as Chihaya, the karuta queen on leave.
- Shūhei Nomura is back as Taichi, now working as a resident doctor.
- Yūma Yamoto plays Nishida, who now owns an okonomiyaki shop.
- Yūki Morinaga returns as Komano, now a pharmacist.
- Other familiar faces include Hayato Sano as Tsukuba and Mio Yūki as Sumire.
Behind the Scenes
The series involves the original manga creator Suetsugu, with Norihiro Koizumi returning as showrunner. The series is directed by Naoya Fujita, Daisuke Honda, Chiaki Matsumoto, and Kazuhiro Yoshida. The screenplay is credited to Monogatari Lab and Suzuyuki Kaneko, with music composed by Masaru Yokoyama.
Music and Theme Song
Pop group Perfume will perform the theme song titled "Megu (from the series title's 'Meguri') Loop," returning after their contribution to the 2016 live-action films.
Previous Adaptations
The Chihayafuru manga has inspired three anime seasons, available on Crunchyroll and licensed by Sentai Filmworks for home video. The story has also been adapted into four live-action films and a Hulu series.
Manga Overview
- Launched in Kodansha's Be Love magazine in December 2007.
- Follows Chihaya, a girl captivated by the traditional karuta card game, and her friends Arata and Taichi.
- The manga concluded with its 50th volume in December 2022, with a sequel manga titled Chihayafuru plus Kimi ga Tame starting in December 2023.
Cultural Impact
Chihayafuru has become a significant part of Japanese pop culture, inspiring multiple adaptations and a dedicated fanbase worldwide.