Shota Matsuda to star in "Ikigami" movie

[Tokyograph News]

Motoro Mase's manga series "Ikigami" is being adapted as a live-action movie, starring popular young actor Shota Matsuda. The comic is serialized in Weekly Young Sunday, and the four released tankoubon have so far sold more than 1 million copies.

In the manga, the Japanese government establishes a new measure meant to encourage citizens to lead productive lives. People are randomly selected for death, and are issued "ikigami" (death notices) informing them that they have only 24 hours left to live. The story examines not only the lives of the chosen victims, but also that of a young man (Matsuda) whose job is to deliver the ikigami.

Of the 53 companies that reportedly bid for the rights to adapt the manga, TBS' movie division came out as the winner. Tomoyuki Takimoto has signed on as director.

Filming will last about two months, starting on March 4, and theatrical release has been scheduled for the end of September.

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