THE GREAT YOKAI WAR -GUARDIANS- Press Notes, Trailer and Photo Gallery From Kadokawa

Source: Kadokawa Pictures
Official Site: movies.kadokawa.co.jp/yokai (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Spoiler Warning: This article contains plots details for an upcoming movie.

Do you have true courage?

Kadokawa Pictures has provided SciFi Japan with press notes, a trailer, poster art and a large photo gallery from their upcoming film, THE GREAT YOKAI WAR -GUARDIANS- (妖怪大戦争ガーディアンズ, Yōkai Daisensō Gādianzu). Director Takashi Miike returns for the sequel to his 2005 hit THE GREAT YOKAI WAR, which was itself an update of the yokai movie trilogy produced by the Daiei Motion Picture Company in the late 1960s.

Takashi Miike has brought back many of the classic Yokai seen in the first THE GREAT YOKAI WAR. The movie will also feature Bushin, a new interpretation of of the ancient god Daimajin from Daiei's 1966 movie trilogy. Miike was once attached to direct a Daimajin remake , but the film was canceled by Kadokawa due to the poor box office for another of their monster movies, GAMERA THE BRAVE ((小さき勇者たち〜ガメラ〜, Chiisaki Yūsha-tachi Gamera, 2006).

THE GREAT YOKAI WAR -GUARDIANS- will be distributed to Japanese theaters by Toho and Kadokawa on August 13, 2021. Kadokawa is now offering the film for international distribution.

STORY

In the year 20xx, cities located along the Fossa Magna, a fault runs from north to south across the Japan island, are destroyed by what it appears to be a storm or an earthquake. The route of the destruction points towards Tokyo.

Meanwhile, in Beijing, Yokai from around the world come together for an international conference known at the "Yummit". They discover that Yokai monsters formed from ancient underwater fossils have combined into one giant Yokai and are moving toward the Pacific Ocean... an act that could lead to mass destruction. Human beings cannot see them and are therefore unaware of the threat, but the underworld, which cohabits with the human world, is also in danger of being destroyed. The Japanese Yokai are asked to handle the situation and two leaders of that group, Nurarihyon (Nao Omori) and Inugami Gyobui (Takao Osawa), step up to take matters into their own hands.

The Yokai decide to revive the legendary God of War Bushin to confront the Yokai monsters. However, to bring Bushin back, they will need help from a descendent of the ancient Yokai hunter, Tsuna Watanabe. They find a schoolboy named Kei (Kokoro Terada) and his younger brother Dai (Rei Inomata). The two youngsters have often played at tests of courage, but now destiny has chosen them for a great adventure.

Kei gets separated from Dai and tries to find his younger brother. He must face his fears as he meets many Yokai during his journey – Kitsunemen no Onna (Hana Sugisaki) a woman with a fox mask who is strict but always protects him; Amanojaku (Eiji Akaso), a demon who says one thing and does another; and a mysterious water dragon. Suddenly, their path is blocked by Inugami Gyobu and two demons; Shuntendoji and Ibarakidoji (Sumire). They don't want to cohabit with humans and have decided to let the Yokai monsters do as they want.

In the midst of the Yokai monster invasion and a global crisis, the Yokai are split into two opposing sides – the ones who want peace and the ones who want change. The Great Yokai War has begun. What will be the final fate that awaits Kei, Dai, and all of mankind...!?

CREDITS

Japanese Theatrical Release: August 13, 2021
Runtime: 117 Minutes

Cast
Kei Watanabe: Kokoro Terada
Kitsunemen no Onna (Fox Masked Woman): Hana Sugisaki
Dai Watanabe: Rei Inomata
Inugami Gyobui: Takao Osawa
Nurarihyon: Nao Omori
Ubume: Sakura Ando
Shojo: Koji Ookura
Tengu: Takahiro Miura
Yuki Onna: Yuko Oshima
Amanojaku: Eiji Akaso
Ibarakidoji: Sumire
Azukiarai: Takashi Okamura
Yadokai: Kenichi Endo
Okubi: Renji Ishibashi
Amefurikozo (Rain Kid): Hiroshi Aramata
Yokai Hikakin: Hikakin
Old Man: Akira Emoto
Tsuna Watanabe: Kazuki Kitamura
Reika Watanabe: Nanako Matsushima

Staff
Director: Takashi Miike
Screenplay: Yusuke Watanabe
Executive Producers: Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, Hiroshi Aramata
Producers: Norikazu Tsubaki, Misako Saka
Cinematographer: Hideo Yamamoto
Music: Koji Endo
Theme song: "Yes, isn't it?" by Ikimonogakari (Sony Music)

Production: "The Great Yokai Wars" Film Partners
Production Company: OLM
Distributor (Japan): Toho, Kadokawa Pictures
World Sales: Kadokawa Corporation

About Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.

Kadokawa Pictures is part of Kadokawa Shoten, which forms the axis of the expansive KADOKAWA CORPORATION. Kadokawa Shoten has maintained the company’s traditions since its founding, while continuously seeking to innovate at the same time. With their core operations based in publishing and film, represented by the Kadokawa Paperback, Kadokawa Pictures, and Kadokawa Anime labels, they continually release a wide range of content targeted to all age groups.

For more information on THE GREAT YOKAI WAR -GUARDIANS-, please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan:

• New Promotional Art For Takashi Miike`s THE GREAT YOKAI WAR: GUARDIANS