Chihayafuru -Meguri-: More Names Join the New Live-Action Sequel

The Return of Karuta to the Screen: The Live-Action Sequel of Chihayafuru is Approaching

The anticipation for Chihayafuru -Meguri- is palpable. The new live-action series, a sequel to the successful movies and original manga, has revealed more details about its cast and production in recent days. The drama, which will continue the story ten years after the events of Chihayafuru: Musubi, promises a return to the exciting world of competitive karuta, while maintaining the essence and spirit of the original material. The active participation of manga creator Yuki Suetsugu in writing the script ensures that fans will feel represented and connected to the narrative, while the direction of the renowned Norihiro Koizumi guarantees a high-quality production.

An Expanding Cast

In addition to Ami Tōma as Meguru Aizawa and Mone Kamishiraishi reprising her role as Kanade Ōe, new key cast members have been announced to portray the adult characters. Yasuko Tomita will play Izumi Nakanishi, a classical researcher and passionate competitive karuta player. Tsutomu Takahashi will bring Masato Shirano to life, the father of Fūki Shirano, a member of Umezono High School’s karuta club. Kazuki Namioka will embody Tsutomu Shima, a teacher at the same school, and Masahiro Takashima will portray the director of Umezono High School.

Key Details about Production: A Dedicated Creative Team

Norihiro Koizumi, director of the original movies, once again assumes the role of showrunner, ensuring aesthetic and narrative continuity. The direction of the drama will be handled by Naoya Fujita, Daisuke Honda, Chiaki Matsumoto, and Kazuhiro Yoshida, a team with extensive experience in producing Japanese dramas. Scriptwriting is handled by Monogatari Lab and Suzuyuki Kaneko, known for their ability to create complex plots and memorable characters. Additionally, Masaru Yokoyama, known for his work on Her Blue Sky, returns to compose the music, promising a soundtrack that captures both the excitement of karuta and the emotional complexities of the characters.

Perfume’s Musical Return: "Megu Loop"

The pop musical group Perfume will return to collaborate with the Chihayafuru franchise, performing the series' theme song, titled “Megu Loop.” Previously, Perfume had created a theme for the original movies in 2016, and their return indicates a commitment from the creative team to maintain the musical essence that characterized the franchise.

Premiere and Legacy:

The live action is scheduled to premiere in Japan on July 9, 2025, at 10:00 p.m. JST (9:00 a.m. EDT) on NTV and affiliated channels. The series arrives after the overwhelming success of the original manga, which surpassed 29 million copies sold and culminated in its volume number 50 in December 2022, followed by a spin-off. In addition, the franchise features three animated seasons available on Crunchyroll, Sentai Filmworks (with English dubbing), and HIDIVE (with subtitles and dubbing).