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Live-Action Ranma 1/2's Theme Sung by Girl Group 9nine

9nine, the musical act composed of actress Umika Kawashima and four other girls, are contributing their new song "Chikutaku☆2NITE," for the theme song of the December live-action Ranma 1/2 television special. Yui Aragaki (pictured right with the members of 9nine) stars as Akane Tendō in this special based on Rumiko Takahashi's martial arts comedy manga.

This will be 9nine's first theme song for a live-action television project since its member lineup changed in September of last year. The group's name comes from the original 9-member lineup at its founding in 2005, but it now has five members: Umika Kawashima, Uki Satake, Hirona Murata, Kanae Yoshii, and Sayaka Nishiwaki. 9nine also peformed theme songs for the anime Star Driver.

The song "Chikutaku☆2NITE" is about teenaged girls all dressed up and heading out to a party. It will be available as a ringtone on December 7, followed by a single release on December 21. 9nine will then hold a concert on January 28 at the Shinagawa Stella Ball in Tokyo.

In the story of the special, Akane (Aragaki) is determined to protect the family's legacy, its dōjō. However, her father Soun (Katsuhisa Namase) suddenly and arbitrarily announced one day that "only men can be heirs." Unfortunately, this puts Ranma (Kenta Kaku, Natsuna in dual male/female roles) in a bind, since he turns female when splashed with cold water after falling into a cursed hot spring in China. To return himself to a "full man," Ranma searches for the "secret hot spring" and gets caught up in a battle with a mysterious enemy (Ryōsei Tayama). Now Akane holds the key to the story.

Source: Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web

Image © LesPros Entertainment, Co., Ltd.