March comes in like a lion Manga Inspires 2 Films Starring Ryunosuke Kamiki

Live-action Rurouni Kenshin's Keishi Ōtomo directs 2017 films
The official website for the live-action film adaptation of Chika Umino's March comes in like a lion(Sangatsu no Lion) manga revealed on Wednesday that Ryunosuke Kamiki (Howl's Moving Castle,Summer Wars, The Secret World of Arrietty, Bakuman.) is playing the role of protagonist Rei Kiriyama. The project consists of two films which will open in 2017. Keishi Ōtomo is directing the films.



The actor and director previously worked together on the live-action Rurouni Kenshin films. Ōtomo directed the films, and Kiriyama played Sōjirō Seta.

The story of the March comes in like a lion manga follows a solitary shōgi player named Rei and his relationships with a neighboring family. He becomes acquainted with Akari, and two young girls, Hinata and Momo, who also have have a large number of cats.

Umino started the series in Young Animal in 2007, andHakusensha released the 11th compiled volume last September. The series has won several awards including the Manga Taisho award and Kodansha Manga award in 2011. The manga also won the 18th Tezuka Osamu Prizes' Top Award in March 2014.

Umino also drew the Honey and Clover manga that inspired two television anime series and a live-action film. She later drafted the original character designs for the Eden of the Eastanime.

A television anime adaptation of the manga has also been green-lit, with Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Bakemonogataridirector Akiyuki Simbo directing the anime at SHAFT. It will premiere in NHK.