The Apothecary Diaries is heading to Prime Video as a live-action drama — and it is arriving with major production firepower behind it. Amazon MGM Studios and TOHO announced the series today, confirming a 2028 worldwide streaming debut and the casting of actress Mana Ashida as the sharp-tongued apothecary Maomao.
Image courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios / TOHO
Mana Ashida Steps Into Maomao’s Shoes
Ashida, known internationally for Pacific Rim and her voice roles in Mamoru Hosoda films, plays Maomao — the ever-curious, poison-obsessed young woman trafficked into the imperial court who turns her deep medical knowledge into a talent for solving palace mysteries. It is a demanding role, and the original author is already on board.
“When Ms. Ashida was chosen to play Maomao, I thought, ‘Ah, I can safely leave this in her hands,'” original author Natsu Hyuga said, as relayed in the Anime Corner announcement coverage. “When I actually met her, I thought, ‘That’s Maomao!'”
Ashida acknowledged the weight of stepping into such a beloved character: “I was originally a huge fan of the novels, so there were many moments when I felt nervous,” she said at the announcement. Filming ran across six months on large-scale sets built to recreate the imperial harem in full. Hyuga visited the production multiple times and came away confident in what she saw. The cast for male lead Jinshi has not yet been announced.
Image courtesy of TOHO Animation
The Creative Team Behind the Adaptation
Director Yuki Saito is helming the series, with screenplay by Erika Yoshida — the writer behind the acclaimed BOCCHI THE ROCK! anime adaptation. The pairing of an experienced live-action director with a screenwriter who deeply understands anime source material suggests an adaptation built to satisfy the fanbase first.
This is a co-production between Amazon MGM Studios and TOHO, with TOHO Studios handling physical production in Japan. Buddy Marini, Amazon’s head of local originals, described the ambition plainly: “This story transcends genres and captivates worldwide audiences — the live-action adaptation will deliver a fresh visual experience for both devoted fans and newcomers,” he said at the announcement. The series launches on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories — Singapore included, from day one.
A Franchise in Full Swing Heading Into 2028
The timing of this live-action announcement is no accident. The Apothecary Diaries is at a creative peak right now. Season 3 of the anime premieres on 2 October 2026 with Yorushika performing the new opening theme — as we covered when the season details dropped. An original anime film, The Apothecary Diaries: The Deceased Empress’ Treasure, follows in Japanese cinemas on 11 December 2026. And for Singapore fans, The Apothecary Diaries Exhibition opens here on 30 September at Fever Exhibition Hall and runs through 1 November 2026.
A franchise with simultaneous anime seasons, theatrical films, a Singapore exhibition, and now a Prime Video live-action adaptation co-produced by TOHO and Amazon MGM Studios is operating at a scale very few anime properties ever reach. With Jinshi casting still to come and a 2028 premiere ahead, there is plenty more to look forward to — follow our anime and manga coverage for updates as they land.
UPDATE — 25 August 2026: Singapore finally has a date. Blue Lock opens in Singapore cinemas on Thursday, 24 September 2026, confirmed as part of a 30-plus country international rollout revealed through Japanese media on 17–18 August. Jump to Singapore release date confirmed and the full global rollout for the new details. Everything above those sections is as originally published on 11 August 2026.
The Blue Lock live-action film has had one of the strongest anime adaptation openings of the year — and as the box office celebrates, the production has finally revealed who will be playing the franchise’s most electric rivals.
Image courtesy of 映画『ブルーロック』チャンネル
Rin Itoshi Has a Face: Yusei Yagi Cast as Blue Lock’s Rival Number One
Announced on 10 August, three new cast members join the film to bring the second-selection rivals to life. Yusei Yagi, best known as a member of FANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBE, takes the coveted role of Rin Itoshi — Isagi’s cold, supremely talented mirror image and the character many fans consider the franchise’s true engine. Keisuke Watanabe steps in as the flamboyant striker Jyubei Aryu, while Taiko Natsuo plays the gentle giant Aoshi Tokimitsu. All three figures appear on screen in Team V’s signature black kit — which, if the behind-the-scenes stills are any guide, looks genuinely menacing in live-action.
Image courtesy of 映画『ブルーロック』チャンネル
Opening Weekend: ¥277 Million and Counting
The film — as we covered when the release date was confirmed — opened in Japan on 7 August 2026 across approximately 350 screens, directed by Yusuke Taki and distributed by Toho. It wasted no time making an impression: the opening three days (7–9 August) brought in 188,212 admissions and ¥277,648,800 (roughly $1.7 million USD) at the box office. By the following Monday, the official website had already announced an appreciation stage-greeting event on 17 August, signalling that the production considers the debut a genuine hit.
The film stars Fumiya Takahashi as Yoichi Isagi and Japan Academy Film Prize winner Masataka Kubota as the eccentric architect of the Blue Lock programme, Jinpachi Ego. The theme song, “Monstro” by Ado, is available to stream from 7 August.
Official Trailer — via 映画ブルーロックチャンネル on YouTube
Enhanced Screenings and What Comes Next in Japan
From 21 August, the film expands to MX4D, 4DX, and Dolby Cinema formats. A special cheer screening — where audiences are encouraged to shout, cheer, and wave glow sticks — ran on 14 August at five theatres. These extras are Japan-only at this stage, but they signal a franchise confident enough in its fanbase to invest in the theatrical experience well past opening day.
Image courtesy of 映画『ブルーロック』チャンネル
Update: Singapore Release Date Confirmed — 24 September 2026
This section replaces the original “When Will Singapore Fans Get to Watch?”, which said no local date had been announced. It has been announced. The live-action Blue Lock film opens in Singapore on Thursday, 24 September 2026 — a standard Thursday opening day here — with Malaysia getting it the same day. The date came out of the film’s international rollout announcement, reported by Cinema Today on 17 August and Oricon on 18 August (both Japanese).
That puts Singapore roughly seven weeks behind the Japanese opening on 7 August — a shorter wait than the anime films managed, and ahead of Hong Kong and Macau, which get it on 1 October.
What is not confirmed yet: which chains are taking it, when tickets go on sale, and whether the Japan-only extras travel. As of writing there are no Golden Village, Shaw, Cathay or The Projector listings up, and the official Japanese site still carries only the domestic schedule. The MX4D, 4DX and Dolby Cinema expansion and the cheer screenings described below remain Japan-only for now — no local equivalent has been announced. There is also no streaming date for Singapore; this is a theatrical release, and nothing has been said about a platform debut here.
Practical read for local fans: pencil in the weekend of 25–27 September, and watch the local chains’ social feeds in the week or two before — anime titles here often go on sale only about a week ahead. We will update this post again when SG ticketing opens.
Image courtesy of 映画『ブルーロック』チャンネル
Update: The Full 30-Country Rollout, and Where Singapore Sits in It
Singapore’s date is one line in a much bigger release plan. Distribution outside Japan is being handled with French sales agent Goodfellas / Round12, and the film is confirmed for more than 30 countries and territories — with more expected to be added.
The overseas run started on 12 August in Taiwan (across 69-plus screens) and the Philippines, followed by Serbia and Montenegro on 13 August, Sweden on 14 August and the Czech Republic on 20 August. September brings Thailand, Brazil and the UAE on 10 September, Bulgaria on 11 September, then Singapore and Malaysia on 24 September. October covers Hungary, Romania, Hong Kong and Macau on 1 October, a Latin American block (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Bolivia and Peru) on 8 October, Ecuador on 22 October and Mexico on 29 October. South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and Mongolia are also on the list without dates yet, alongside the Nordics and several Middle Eastern markets.
Fumiya Takahashi and producer Shinzo Matsuhashi took the film to Taipei on 14 and 15 August for a press conference and five stage greetings — Matsuhashi told the crowd the project ran close to five years from concept to completed film, as reported by Oricon (Japanese). Several territories, including Taiwan, Thailand, Sweden, Brazil and the Czech Republic, have had their own posters made; whether Singapore gets localised artwork or the standard international key visual is still unknown.
The read-through for Singapore: this is a genuine wide international release rather than a token one or two markets, and the Southeast Asia dates are clustered close together — Thailand on 10 September, Singapore and Malaysia on 24 September, with the Philippines already showing since 12 August. If you have friends in the region posting spoilers, the two-week gap is the one to watch out for.
Update log — 25 August 2026: added the confirmed Singapore release date (24 September 2026), the full international rollout schedule, and the Taipei promo-tour details. Originally published 11 August 2026.
For more anime and pop-culture news from Singapore and Japan, check out our Manga Anime coverage.
He swore he was done gambling. He lied. Seven years after the franchise was supposedly wrapped up with Kaiji: Final Game, Tatsuya Fujiwara is back as down-and-out everyman Kaiji Itō — and TOHO just confirmed it with the first official teaser for Kaiji: Life Revenge Game (映画『カイジ 人生リベンジゲーム』), the fourth live-action film in Nobuyuki Fukumoto’s series, hitting Japanese theatres on 29 January 2027.
Image courtesy of TOHO
Watch the Official Teaser — Kaiji vs. Teiai, Round Four
映画『カイジ 人生リベンジゲーム』超特報 — via 東宝MOVIEチャンネル on YouTube
The teaser, released on the official 東宝MOVIEチャンネル (TOHO Movie Channel) YouTube page, re-establishes the premise immediately: Kaiji, once again buried in debt and living a dissolute existence, is pulled back into the lethal game world of the Teiai Corporation. This time the threat comes from Kazuya Hyōdō, son of the original antagonist Kazutaka Hyōdō, who promises the biggest confrontation in franchise history. The trailer also shows a glimpse of the iconic steel beam crossing sequence — now rebuilt with modern CGI and VFX for 2027.
Full Cast and Crew for Kaiji: Life Revenge Game
Image courtesy of TOHO
Director Tōya Satō returns for his fourth outing with the franchise. The screenplay is by Masatoshi Yamaguchi with creative input from original manga creator Nobuyuki Fukumoto, and Yūgo Kanno is back composing the score. The confirmed cast:
Tatsuya Fujiwara as Kaiji Itō
Kazuya Kamenashi (known in Singapore from The Drops of God live-action series and the Kindaichi Case Files live-action films) as Kazuya Hyōdō
Mahiro Takasugi (I Want to Eat Your Pancreas, Tokyo Revengers live-action Part 2) as Keita Mashimo, a Teiai Corporation employee
Sara Minami (Kimi ni Todoke live-action) as Taeko Yūki, Keita’s girlfriend
Susumu Terajima as Kōzō Nonomura
Fukumoto himself co-signed the script, and as reported by Scrmbl, the creator acknowledged that even though the third film was billed as the finale, making a fourth was always the plan: “we already discussed the idea of doing another film once the third one came out.”
Thirty Years of Kaiji — and Why the Franchise Still Hits
Nobuyuki Fukumoto’s Kaiji manga first ran in Weekly Young Magazine in 1996, making this its 30th anniversary year. Long before Squid Game turned “desperate people in lethal games” into a global television genre, Kaiji was doing the same thing in ink — and doing it with a ruthless focus on debt, humiliation, and the self-destructive hope that one more bet can fix everything. Tatsuya Fujiwara, well known to Singapore audiences as Light Yagami in the Death Note live-action films (2006), brings exactly the right mix of pathetic and defiant to the role.
The third film, 2020’s Kaiji: Final Game, grossed approximately 2.06 billion yen at the Japanese box office — substantial enough that “final” was never really going to stick. With a new director-of-photography deal, new antagonist, and a production team that has refined its approach over four films, Life Revenge Game arrives with arguably its strongest toolkit yet.
When Can Singapore Fans Watch It?
No Singapore or Southeast Asia theatrical or streaming release dates have been confirmed at this stage. The Japan theatrical date is 29 January 2027. For updates on regional distribution, keep an eye on the official @kaiji_movie X account and check back here on GameTrader’s manga and anime coverage as the release approaches.
