Super teaser visual unveiled for movie "Ojou to Ban-ken-kun" starring Riko Fukumoto and Jesse (SixTONES)

■Release date set for March 14, 2025 (White Day)

A super teaser visual has been released for the movie “Ojou to Ban-ken-kun” starring Riko Fukumoto and Jesse (SixTONES). In addition, the release date has been decided as March 14, 2025 (White Day).

The series began serialization in Kodansha’s Bessatsu Friend in December 2018. A TV anime adaptation will begin airing in September 2023, and the original comic has sold over 3.25 million copies (as of September 3, 2024). This romantic comedy about a high school heroine who hides the fact that she is the granddaughter of a yakuza and is determined to live a “normal youth and love life,” and her caretaker, a young boss who is so overprotective that he even lies about his age and gets into high school through the back door, is being made into a live-action movie.

The protagonist, Senagaki Issaki, a high school girl and granddaughter of the Senagaki family, is played by Riko Fukumoto, a young and talented actress who has been making remarkable achievements in recent years. And the young boss of the Senagaki family, Uto Hiroya, is played by Jesse, a member of the hugely popular male idol group SixTONES, who continues to make great strides in a wide range of genres from variety shows to acting. The thrilling high school life and the sad love hidden in the heroine’s heart… This popular duo will weave a bittersweet and comical tale of an outrageous youth that is impossible for ordinary people. And the director who will be directing this unusual youth of the two with laughter will be highly acclaimed director Keiichi Kobayashi, whose works have been highly praised, including “Momoiro Sora o” (2012), which won the Best Picture Award in the Japanese Film Un Certain Regard category at the 24th Tokyo International Film Festival, and “Love is Light” (2022), which won both the Best Picture and Best Director awards at the 44th Yokohama Film Festival.

When the live-action film adaptation was announced, it became a hot topic with many people posting comments on social media, such as “I can’t wait for it to be released…!” and “They’re both perfect for their roles!”, expressing excitement for the film’s release.

■New super teaser visual and release date unveiled
Filming for this film just wrapped up in early August. This time, the super teaser visual, which features the new costumes from the film, was unveiled for the first time. The newly released visual is a homage to the cover of the third volume of the original comic, paying homage to the original comic’s design. Fukumoto’s Ichisaki leans on the overprotective Keiya in her school uniform, looking confused at the latter’s expression, while Jesse’s Keiya, who exudes a dangerous air, holds a sword and protects Ichisaki in his arms like a watchdog. The visual fully displays the “cuteness” of the brave and adorable Ichisaki and the “watchdog” nature of the overprotective Keiya, and the original author Hatsuharu-sensei has given his stamp of approval to the perfection of the newly released visual. The highly accurate visuals are raising expectations for the film.

It has now been announced that the film will be released on March 14, 2025, which is White Day.

Look forward to the doting romantic comedy “The Young Lady and the Watchdog.”

Movie Information

“The Young Lady and the Watchdog”
Release date: Friday, March 14, 2025
Original work: Hatsuharu “The Young Lady and the Watchdog” (Kodansha “Bessatsu Friend” KC)
Director: Keiichi Kobayashi (The Man Who Doesn’t Kill and the Woman Who Doesn’t Die, Love is Light)
Screenplay: Yosuke Masaike (Haken Anime!)
Cast: Riko Fukumoto, Jesse (SixTONES)
Production: TOHO Studio
Distributor: Toho
(C) 2025 “Ojou to Ban-ken-kun” Production Committee

■ Story
Senagaki Issaki lost his parents at a young age and was raised by his grandfather, the boss of the Senagaki gang. He was isolated from his parents as the grandson of a gangster family and had no friends, so he decided to hide the fact that he was the grandson of a gangster family and make a normal friend and fall in love when he entered high school. However, Uto Keiya, the young boss of Senagaki and Issaki’s caretaker, lied about his age and entered the same high school through the back door. Keiya is overprotective and declares that he will be Issaki’s bodyguard as her “watchdog.” Issaki is flustered by Keiya’s behavior, but he works hard to protect the high school life he dreams of, hiding his and Keiya’s true identities. Will Issaki be able to live a normal love life and youth?

“The Young Lady and the Watchdog” Official Website
https://ojou-movie.toho.co.jp

SixTONES OFFICIAL SITE
https://www.sixtones.jp/