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Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning Film Adds 3 Cast Members

The official website for the two 'final chapter' films in the live-action film series based on Nobuhiro Watsuki's Rurouni Kenshin manga revealed three new cast members for the film on Tuesday. The three characters will all appear in Rurouni Kenshin Saishūshō The Beginning, the second film in the series, when Kenshin relates a story about his past.

Issei Takahashi as Katsura Kogorō, an Isshin Shishi rebel from the Chōshū domai, whose story is tied with the emergence of Battosai

Nijirō Murakami as Okita Sōji, the young but brilliant swordsman and captain of the first unit of the Shinsengumi paramilitary police

Masanobu Andou as Takasugi Shinsaku, Katsura's comrade and fellow Shishi

Rurouni Kenshin Saishūshō The Final, the first of the two films, will open in Japan on April 23, while Rurouni Kenshin Saishūshō The Beginning, the second film, will open on June 4.

The films were originally slated to open on July 3 and August 7 last year, but were delayed to this year due the ongoing new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Riku Ōnishi is the only new cast member among the five main cast members, replacing Kaito Ōyagi as Yahiko Myojin. The returning cast includes Takeru Satoh as Kenshin Himura, Emi Takei as Kaoru Kamiya, Munetaka Aoki as Sanosuke Sagara, and Yū Aoi as Megumi Takani. Yōsuke Eguchi will also return as Hajime Saitō. Yusuke Iseya and Tao Tsuchiya will reprise their roles from the previous film as Aoshi Shinomori and Misao Makimachi, respectively.

Mackenyu will play antagonist Enishi Yukishiro in the films. Enishi operates a black market arms company on the Chinese mainland, and manipulated Shishio through the sale of weapons and a warship to him.

Rurouni Kenshin Saishūshō The Final will have an original story that will differ from the story in the manga. The film will center on the story from the manga's "Jinchū" arc, which features Kenshin's conflict with the mysterious weapons dealer Enishi. Rurouni Kenshin Saishūshō The Beginning will tell the story of how Kenshin got his cross-shaped scar. Kasumi Arimura will play the character Tomoe Yukishiro in the films. Tomoe was Kenshin's wife during his days as the assassin Battōsai, and her story ties into Kenshin's iconic X-shaped scar. Kenshin and Tomoe's relationship was previously portrayed in the Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal original video anime (OVA) project.

Keishi Ōtomo is returning to direct the films. The rock band ONE OK ROCK will return as the theme song artists.

Sources: Rurouni Kenshin live-action films' website, Comic Natalie