Following Ryohei Suzuki as the protagonist Ryo Saeba, 26-year-old actress Misato Morita is cast as his partner Kaori Makimura in Netflix’s forthcoming live-action film adaptation of Tsukasa Hojo’s City Hunter action comedy manga series. Netflix Japan’s official Twitter account has posted a photo to introduce her first short hair look as Kaori in front of the message board. In this first live-action adaptation in Japan, the message board at the east exit of Shinjuku Station has been revived in respect of the original story.

Kaori is the younger sister of Ryo’s former partner Hideyuki Makimura, who becomes Ryo’s new partner. Morita cut off her trademark long hair for the film and went short in order to prepare for the role.

Message from Misato Morita:

From the Showa era to the Reiwa era in the present day, the love of immeasurable numbers of people has been deeply embedded in City Hunter. I feel both nervousness and joy every day to be able to stand as Kaori Makimura in such a legendary world overflowing with love. Kaori-san is hardworking, powerful, loving, and charming. The more I look into her heart, the more I find myself captivated by her charm. I will do my best to push forward with love so that I can touch even a small fragment of her in your memories.

The new City Hunter live-action film is set in modern-day Shinjuku and has been filmed in the actual Shinjuku and Kabukicho areas with the full cooperation of Shinjuku City, the Shinjuku City Tourism Association, and the Kabukicho shopping district. It will be streamed worldwide on Netflix in 2024.

Source: Netflix Japan official Twitter

Anime image: (C)Tsukasa Hojo/NSP, “2019 City Hunter The Movie” Production Committee