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Emi Takei to Star in Live-Action Kyō, Koi o Hajimemasu

17-year-old actress Emi Takei (live-action Rurouni Kenshin's Kaoru) will have her first lead role in a film when she stars in next year's live-action film adaptation of Kanan Minami's Kyō, Koi o Hajimemasu shōjo romance manga. Her co-star will be Tori Matsuzaka from We Can't Change the World. But, We Wanna Build a School in Cambodia, Samurai Sentai Shinkenger, and next January's .hack//The Movie.

The manga follows Tsubaki Hibino, a girl who is indifferent to both romance and fashion, even though she loves giving other people adorable hairstyles. On the first day of high school, she happened to sit next to Kyōta, a mean-spirited boy who teases her. In retaliation, she spontaneously pulls out scissors and cuts off his long tresses of hair. Thus begins the long love-hate relationship between Tsubaki and Kyōta.

To take on the role of the old-fashioned "Showa-era girl" Tsubaki, Takei will at first assume Tsubaki's trademark lack of style, such as her unfashionably braided hair, below-the-knee skirts, and white children's socks.

In addition to playing Kaoru in next year's live-action film adaptation of the Rurouni Kenshin manga, Takei starred in the live-action television adaptation of Kaori Akiyama's Asukō March! -Kenritsu Asuka Kōgyō Kōkō Kōshinkyoku- manga for women this past spring. Next year, she will also star alongside Makoto Taiga in the fourth live-action film adaptation of Ai to Makoto (Ai and Makoto), a romance manga by influential 1970s creator Ikki Kajiwara (Ashita no Joe, Kyojin no Hoshi, Tiger Mask). In a survey conducted by goo on who should play Evangelion's Rei in live-action, she placed 10th.

Kyō, Koi o Hajimemasu began serializing in Sho-Comi in January 2008, and its penultimate 13th compiled book will ship in Japan on November 25. The first 12 volume have sold 7 million copies. The manga already inspired two anime DVDs.

Source: Cinema Today

Update: Takeshi Furusawa (Otoshimono, Another) is directing the film.