HBO Max today has acquired Song of the Samurai, a Japanese action drama based on the popular manga series Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem. It is set to premiere internationally on May 9. Created by Shinya Umemura (Record of Ragnarok manga series), Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem includes 36 volumes, with more than three million copies in circulation.
The latest Japanese title to launch exclusively on HBO Max through Warner Bros. Discovery's partnership with U-Next, the series is the first major collaboration between Japan's commercial broadcaster Tokyo Broadcasting System, the local video streaming platform U-Next, and studio house THE SEVEN (Alice in Borderland, Yu Yu Hakusho).
The series features an ensemble cast that includes Yuki Yamada, Ayano Go, and Kento Nakajima. It is written by Masaaki Sakai, directed by Kazutaka Watanabe, and produced by Akira Morii, Mamoru Inoue, and Kazuya Shimomura.
"In mid-19th century Japan, the Shinsengumi were among the so-called last samurai warriors who upheld the way of the sword during a time of profound change," Yuki Yamada said. "To me, the samurai spirit is the wish to protect someone; a universal feeling that is shared across borders. I hope audiences can enjoy the action, while also feeling the emotion carried within each blade."