News
Kanjani 8's Maruyama Stars in Boys on the Run Show
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
KANJANI 8 idol group member Ryūhei Maruyama will star in the live-action television adaptation of Kengo Hanazawa's comedy manga Boys on the Run. Maruyama will play Toshiyuki Tanishi, a hapless 27-year-old salaryman who has never had a girlfriend.
Tanishi is stuck in a company that sells vending machine trinkets, but he vows to change his life around when he romantically pursues a co-worker named Chiharu Uemura. However, a suave executive named Takahiro Aoyama steals Chiharu's heart, and Tanishi finds himself literally fighting for Chiharu's affections with his fists.
Airi Tara (20th Century Boys' Kanna Endo) will play Hana Ōiwa, the female trainer Tanishi meets at the gym. The film also stars Akina Minami (Colorful) as Chiharu, and Takumi Saitō as Aoyama. Also appearing in the film are KAT-TUN's Tatsuya Ueda, Takanori Jinnai, Eriko Satoh, and Miyoko Asada.
The manga first ran in Shogakukan's Big Comic Spirits magazine from 2005 to 2008. It was previously adapted into a film in 2009 by Daisuke Miura with Ginnan Boyz singer Kazunobu Mineta playing the lead. The film went on to screen at Austin's Fantastic Fest in September last year, and Asian Crush released it on North American DVD in February.
Maruyama previously starred in the live-action adaptation of Wild 7 manga and the sentai homage act and film KANJANI Sentai 8 Ranger with other members of his idol group.
The live-action series will premiere this July and air every Friday at 11:15 p.m.
Source: Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web
