The official website for the upcoming live-action film adaptation of Yuto Yotsuba (story) and Ryo Ogawa’s (art) comedy manga Ya Boy Kongming! (known as Paripi Koumei in Japan) announced that voice actor Mamoru Miyano (Light Yagami in Death Note, Setsuna F. Seiei in MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 00) will appear in the film. Miyano will play MC MAMO, a host of the music festival “Music Battle Awards 2025,” the main setting of the film’s story.In the festival, Takanori Iwata (EXILE / Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS from EXILE TRIBE), enka singer Kaori Mizumori and hip-hop unit KOMOREBI appear as themselves. Additionally, dance group Avantgardey teams up with RYO (played by Win Morisaki in the film) and perform under the unit name “Avantgardey feat. RYO from JET JACKET.” Three-member dance unit Power Puff Boys, who have worked on choreography for artists such as WEST. and SEKAI NO OWARI, also joins the festival to perform.The site is now streaming a special performance clip narrated by Miyano, who introduces the artists participating in “Music Battle Awards 2025” including the previously announced Mia Iriomote (played by Koharu Sugawara) and Keiji Maezono (by Mandy Sekiguchi).
“I said ‘MC MAMO’ on my own and they took the idea [laughs], but I was very surprised because I never thought I would get an offer to appear in the film,” said Miyano. “To tell the truth, I myself, Miyano, was not involved in the anime series as a voice actor, so this is my first Ya Boy Kongming! (laughs), but I will be appearing in an important scene in this movie. The important scene is the centerpiece of the film, a large-scale music festival, where I play the role of the MC. The filming was done while the audience was actually in the venue for the live performance, so the sense of realism and enthusiasm was unparalleled. I also put a lot of energy into it. I ended up becoming a bit of a peculiar character [laughs], but I hope you enjoy it.”
Ya Boy Kongming! THE MOVIE 2nd Teaser Trailer
The manga was first serialized in Kodansha’s Comic Days website from December 2019 to November 2021, then transferring to Weekly Young Magazine with 19 tankobon volumes released in Japan to date. The story centers on Zhuge Kongming, the legendary Chinese strategist who is reincarnated in a young body in modern Shibuya. He brings ingenious innovation to the Japanese music scene to fulfill the dream of Eiko Tsukimi, a fledgling singer he met there.The manga’s live-action TV drama adaptation aired for 10 episodes on Fuji TV from September to November 2023. As a direct sequel to the TV drama, Ya Boy Kongming! THE MOVIE is set to release in Japan on April 25, 2025.The synopsis of Ya Boy Kongming! THE MOVIE is as follows:
Zhuge Kongming, the genius military strategist of the Three Kingdoms, is somehow reincarnated in present-day Shibuya. Stunned by the singing voice of amateur singer Eiko Tsukimi, Kongming aims for “Peace reigns in the land” with Eiko through the power of music. Meanwhile, the three major Japanese music labels, KEY TIME, SSS Music, and V-EX, compete for the top spot in the largest music battle festival in history. While various strong artists from each label gather, Kongming and Eiko also decide to participate.However, they are confronted by Jun Shiba, a descendant of Sima Yi, the greatest rival of Kongming during the Three Kingdoms period, and his sister shin. What will be the fate of Kongming and Eiko?
Source: “Ya Boy Kongming! THE MOVIE” official website / X (formerly Twitter)
