RYUJI is a new adaptation of the 1983 yakuza film, directed by Nobuo Mizuta and starring Yuya Yagira, that opened in Japan on October 30. A manga adaptation by Kosuke Tokimune began serialization on September 27, and theatrical bonuses tied to the opening ran through November 5.
The throughline across the coverage is a remake built around a single lead and a young ensemble. RYURI Ryuji stars Yuya Yagira as the yakuza lead, with Rina Kawaei as his wife Mariko, and director Nobuo Mizuta behind the camera. The supporting cast fills out over the summer: Riku Hagiwara as Nao, JUNON of BE:FIRST as the underling Hiroshi, Ken Miyake as Ryuji's sworn brother Kazu, RYUKI of MAZZEL as the grudging Miyanchi, and Hideaki Ito. The story is set in Shinjuku's Kabukicho between 1984 and 1990, and the film follows Ryuji's attempt to leave the underworld for his wife and newborn son.
Promotion ran on several tracks before the October 30 opening. Character PVs arrived in three installments of two, starting with Ryuji and Mariko on August 25 and continuing through the underlings and the opposing pair. A Japan premiere was held at TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku on October 7 with cast and director stage greetings, and an opening-day stage greeting followed in Tokyo on the 30th. BE:FIRST supplies the theme song "It's not a bad life," which JUNON wrote lyrics for after asking Mizuta what words he wanted, and the group also handles the insert song. A deluxe pamphlet bundles a bonus CD of in-film music and JUNON's full cover of "Melody" at 3,000 yen, against 990 yen for the standard edition.
The remake also exists as a manga. Kosuke Tokimune's adaptation began serialization September 27 on Manga BANG Comics, a month before the film opened. The 1983 original is invoked throughout the coverage: its lead actor and screenwriter Masatsugu Kaneko died eight days after its release.
Written with AI from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced. See our editorial policy. Every fact links the story it came from.
Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/ryuji.
CC BY 4.0.
JUNON of BE:FIRST spoke at the opening-day stage greeting in Tokyo on the 30th for RYUJI, the new adaptation of the 1983 film starring Yuya Yagira. He described a nervous shoot, from his first read-through onward, and said he wrote lyrics for BE:FIRST's theme song "It's not a bad life" after asking director Nobuo Mizuta what words he wanted.
The film RYUJI Ryuji, starring Yuya Yagira and opening October 30, will hand out an admission bonus from opening day. The bonus is a photo strip card titled SCENES FROM RYUJI, made from scene photos of the main feature. It carries eight scene photos on one double-sided card, four to a side, including unreleased cuts, with cast members Yuya Yagira, Rina Kawaei, Riku Hagiwara, JUNON of BE:FIRST, Ken Miyake, RYUKI of MAZZEL, and Hideaki Ito appearing in the images. The card is one item per viewing, limited in quantity, and ends when supplies run out. It is distributed at theaters nationwide from October 30 through November 5. Distribution methods and notes may differ by theater, according to the announcement. The film is a new adaptation of Ryuji, set in Shinjuku's Kabukicho between 1984 and 1990, and follows Yagira's yakuza character as he tries to leave the underworld for his wife Mariko, played by Kawaei, and their newborn son.
The deluxe pamphlet for RYUJI, opening October 30 and starring Yuya Yagira, comes with a bonus CD of in-film music and the full version of "Melody" covered by JUNON of BE:FIRST. Six types of official goods go on sale from October 30 at screening theaters, excluding some venues. The pamphlet standard edition is 990 yen; the deluxe edition is 3,000 yen.
JUNON of BE:FIRST plays Hiroshi, an underling of Yuya Yagira's yakuza lead, in the film RYUJI Ryuji, opening October 30. He says the role let him grow as an actor and a person, and that he studied Yagira's behavior on set to build Hiroshi's habit of mirroring his boss. The film is a remake of a 1983 release and is directed by Nobuo Mizuta.
A collaboration video for RYUJI, opening October 30, features the theme song "It's not a bad life" written by BE:FIRST. JUNON, who plays Ryuji's underling Hiroshi in the film, also wrote and composed part of the track. The film is a new adaptation of the 1983 yakuza film Ryuji, with Yuya Yagira as Ryuji and Rina Kawaei as his wife Mariko. The video combines film footage and making-of material.
BE:FIRST member JUNON appeared at the Japan premiere of the film "RYUJI Ryuji" in Tokyo on the 7th, alongside lead actor Yuya Yagira. JUNON, who plays Hiroshi, said he chased Yagira's back as an actor and absorbed many things. He also noted BE:FIRST handled the theme song and insert song. The film opens October 30.
Cinema Today reports an interview video with lead actor Yuya Yagira and making-of footage for 'RYUJI Ryuji,' the remake of the 1983 yakuza film 'Ryuji' that opens October 30. Yagira discusses building the role with director Nobuo Mizuta and acting alongside Riku Hagiwara and BE:FIRST's JUNON. An official manga adaptation by Kosuke Tokimune begins serialization September 27 on 'Manga BANG Comics.'
The Japan premiere of the film RYUJI Ryuji, starring Yuuya Yagura, will be held on October 7 at TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku. Scheduled to appear are Yagura, Rina Kawaei, Rihito Hagiwara, JUNON (BE:FIRST), Ken Miyake, Hideaki Ito, RYUKI (MAZZEL), and director Nobuo Mizuta. Eight scene stills were also released.
The film RYUJI Ryuji, starring Yuya Yagira and releasing October 30, dropped its third installment of character PVs on August 29. Ken Miyake plays Kazu, Ryuji's sworn brother, and RYUKI of MAZZEL plays Miyanchi, a man holding a grudge against Ryuji. The PVs show Kazu crying out for help and Miyanchi confronting Ryuji in a coffee shop, his split mouth bleeding. The film is a remake of the 1983 Ryuji, whose lead actor and screenwriter Masatsugu Kaneko died eight days after its release.
The film RYUJI Ryuji, starring Yukiya Yagira, released character PVs for Nao and Hiroshi, played by Riku Hagiwara and JUNON of BE:FIRST. The PVs show the characters' devotion to Ryuji, with Hagiwara and JUNON providing narration. The film opens October 30.
The film 'RYUJI Ryuji,' starring Yuya Yagira and opening October 30, will release character PVs for all six main characters in three installments of two each. The first installment, out August 25, covers Ryuji and Mariko, with Yagira and Riona Kawae providing narration. The film is a new adaptation of the 1980s legend 'Ryuji.'
RYUKI, a member of the 8-member dance and vocal group MAZZEL, will make his acting debut in the film 'RYUJI', starring Yagira Yuya. The film is a new adaptation of the 1983 film 'Ryuji', which became a legend in Japanese film history after its screenwriter and lead actor Kaneko Masatsugu died eight days after the original release. RYUKI plays Miyauchi, a member of a rival yakuza organization who bears a deep grudge after being wounded by Ryuji in the past. The additional cast also includes Miyake Ken, Ito Hideaki, Chihara Junior, and Tanaka Misato. The film is directed by Nobuo Mizuta and releases on October 30. The theme song is 'It's not a bad life' by BE:FIRST, with JUNON of BE:FIRST also appearing in the cast as Hiroshi. Advance movie tickets go on sale July 31 with a set of six original postcards as a bonus.