Hayate Ichinose to Star in Ao no Hana Utsuwa no Mori Live-Action Series
According to Anime News Network, Hayate Ichinose, known for his role as Koh in Kishiryū Sentai Ryusoulger, will appear on screen as Tatsuki Manabe in the live-action adaptation of Ao no Hana Utsuwa no Mori. The series is planned to air in autumn 2026.
Ao no Hana Utsuwa no Mori, adapted from Yuki Obata's manga of the same name, is a josei series published in Shueisha's Cocohana magazine since 2014. Obata previously gained a large fan base with Bokura ga Ita (We Were There); that series was adapted into an anime in 2006 and a live-action film in 2012. With her new story, Obata explores themes of pottery and rural life, and this work will now face audiences for the first time in a live-action series format.
Hayate Ichinose was part of the main cast as Red Ryusoulger/Koh in the 2019 series Kishiryū Sentai Ryusoulger, and subsequently appeared in various dramas and films. The young actor's portrayal of Tatsuki Manabe, one of the story's key characters, stands out as an important part of the series' highly anticipated cast. No detailed announcement has been made yet about the other cast members and the broadcast channel.
Although live-action adaptations are productions that manga fans approach with caution, adapting a character-driven and quietly narrated story like Ao no Hana Utsuwa no Mori to the series format could bring the story's atmosphere to a wider audience. Expected to air in autumn, the series will be a production to watch closely for both Obata's existing fans and Japanese drama viewers.
