HBO Max Sets ‘Song of the Samurai’ Premiere Date for New Japanese Live-Action Series

HBO Max has picked up Song of the Samurai, a new Japanese live-action samurai drama adapted from the manga “Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem.”

HBO Max will premiere the series internationally on May 9, as the latest Japanese title released through Warner Bros. Discovery’s partnership with U-NEXT.

What ‘Song of the Samurai’ is based on

The series adapts “Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem,” created by Shinya Umemura, who also created “Record of Ragnarok.”

The manga has run for 13 years, spans 36 volumes, and has more than three million copies in circulation. The story has also expanded into anime and stage productions, which helped build a wide fan base.

The story: Shinsengumi, loyalty, and survival in late Edo Japan

Song of the Samurai takes place in Kyoto near the end of the Edo period and follows the Shinsengumi, the famous samurai force tied to the final years of Japan’s shogunate.

The story centers on street brawler Toshizo Hijikata, played by Yuki Yamada, who finds a new kind of family with Isami Kondo and Soji Okita.

Hijikata and his allies form the Shinsengumi, and that bond gets tested by betrayal, illness, and war as they clash over what they believe in and what they’re willing to sacrifice.

Who’s behind the series

The project is a large-scale collaboration between Tokyo Broadcasting System, U-NEXT, and studio THE SEVEN, which has produced live-action titles including Alice in Borderland and Yu Yu Hakusho.

The series is written by Masaaki Sakai, directed by Kazutaka Watanabe, and produced by Akira Morii, Mamoru Inoue, and Kazuya Shimomura.

The series features an ensemble that includes Yuki Yamada, Ayano Go, and Kento Nakajima.

What HBO Max and partners are saying

Warner Bros. Discovery’s James Gibbons said the HBO Max and U-NEXT partnership focuses on spotlighting Japanese content, and he pointed to a growing appetite for the samurai and period drama genre.

“SONG OF THE SAMURAI is the next series to launch on HBO Max through our partnership with U-NEXT, focused on spotlighting Japanese content,” said Gibbons. “With a growing appetite for this genre, we hope fans enjoy this captivating new samurai story – rooted deep in Japanese culture, with passionate action and a charismatic ensemble cast.”

U-NEXT’s Tenshin Tsutsumi said the project was developed with global distribution and broadcast integration in mind.

“We are delighted to bring this new series to fans around the world through our partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery. This project was developed with global distribution and broadcast integration in mind, aiming to expand the reach of Japanese content,” said Tsutsumi. “With THE SEVEN’s production quality, TBS’s creative strength, and a world-renowned manga at its core, we are confident the series will captivate international viewers.”

TBS’s Masamine Ryuho said the company remains committed to delivering Japanese stories to audiences everywhere, and described the series as a large-scale drama set against the upheaval of the Bakumatsu era.

“As the TBS Group, we remain committed to delivering world-class stories from Japan to audiences everywhere. Our commitment to content creation, THE SEVEN’s globally driven vision, and the powerful platforms of U-NEXT and HBO Max help us to achieve this,” said Ryuho. “Set against the upheaval of the Bakumatsu era, this large-scale drama captures the spirit of young men living through one of Japan’s most transformative periods.”

THE SEVEN’s Akira Morii said the aim was to reimagine Japanese period drama in a way that connects with younger audiences.

“Our goal was to reimagine Japanese period drama as entertainment that could engage younger audiences. Built on an exceptional manga original, SONG OF THE SAMURAI is brought to life through the committed performances and action of Yuki Yamada and an outstanding cast, with a contemporary vision of the samurai spirit. As a producer, it is deeply rewarding to see this production launch on a premier platform like HBO Max,” said Morii.

Yuki Yamada added that the Shinsengumi were among the last samurai warriors to uphold the way of the sword during a time of profound change, and said the samurai spirit comes down to the desire to protect someone.

“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,” said Shinsengumi. “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.”