Live-action Patlabor, feature-length theatrical version "Capital Decisive Battle" is now in theaters!　Report on the opening day greetings with a total of 12 people on stage.

THE NEXT GENERATION PATLABOR" is a live-action version of the classic anime "Mobile Police Patlabor," and the first day of the feature-length theatrical version was held on May 1.

→Live-action version of PATLABOR, 7 chapters have been event screened since April 2014! Completely original new "THE NEXT GENERATION PATLABOR".

Starting with the first chapter (episodes 0 to 1) on April 5, 2014, the seventh and final chapter (episode 12 "The Great Legacy") will be screened on January 10, 2015. The Great Legacy") was screened. Then, on May 1, 2015, the feature-length theatrical version "THE NEXT GENERATION PATLABOR: Capital Decisive Battle" will be released.

The culmination of the live-action project, the feature-length theatrical version of "THE NEXT GENERATION PATLABOR: Capital Decisive Battle," will be released on May 1. The Shinjuku Piccadilly theater will be filled with members of the Special Vehicle Section 2, including Toshio Kakei, who plays the lead role, Erina Mano, Seiji Fukushi, Rina Ota, Shigekazu Tajiri, Honori Hori, Kohei Shiotsuka, Yoshikatsu Fujiki, and Shigeru Chiba. In addition, Kanna Mori, who played the role of Zero Haibara, the operator of the armed helicopter "Gray Ghost," and Reiko Takashima, who plays a key role in the story, as well as the director Mamoru Oshii, made a total of 12 people take the stage, and while being watched by Ingram, who was waiting in front of the theater, expressed their joy at the safe opening of the film. Incidentally, the number of 12 speakers was the largest in Shinjuku Piccadilly's history.

Here are their comments.

Q. First of all, please give us a few words.
Mr. Kakei: Now that everyone has seen the film, I have no excuse! What do you think? (Applause!) We have been working hard since May of the year before last for today's event. The staff has been working on this project since May of the year before last, and even longer before that! But Patlabor is not my work alone. It has grown and matured together with all of you. I would like to dedicate this work to all of you today!
Mr. Mano: On the first day of the opening of the film, I have given a stage greeting at every screening of the series. I hope that many people will see the film, and I hope that everyone will give me strength to make the film even bigger.
Mr. Fukushi: I am happy to be able to stand on the stage with everyone for the opening day greetings. I cut my hair for this film! I think now you understand my passion for this film!
Mr. Ota: By the way, Yuma's (=Mr. Fukushi's character's name) hair is a lie. (laughs) It was a long series, and I was remembering the stage greeting during the shooting. I thought we had a long way to go, but it all happened so fast. I am really happy to be here with the entire cast.
Mr. Horimoto: I greeted today with a sense of sadness and excitement. I feel honored.
Mr. Tajiri: I know it's only for a short time, but please give me your best wishes.
Ms. Shiotsuka: I feel happy to be able to participate in a work blessed with a wonderful staff and cast. I hope that this work will grow to be loved for many years to come.
Mr. Fujiki: I am standing here today on behalf of the maintenance team members. In the "Battle of the Capital," the maintenance team supported the 2nd Platoon, and we had a lot of fun.
Chiba: I forgot to put on my maintenance uniform today, so I'm a bit distracted. I'll do my best in the Second Special Vehicle Section and the maintenance team, so please keep up the good work!
Mr. Mori: After watching the movie, I was standing here thinking that I would probably get eggs thrown at me. Mr. Mori: I'm standing here thinking that after watching the movie, I might get eggs thrown at me. (laugh).
Mr. Takashima: I am truly a big fan of Director Oshii's works. I was happy, but at the same time anxious. I usually see a preview of the film before the stage greeting, but I haven't seen it this time, so I think I will see it two or three times at the theater. If you see Takashima, please say hello! (laugh)
Director Oshii: I was the general director of the series. I thought I did an unusually large service this time, but how was it? (Applause!) It was the first time for me to pack so much into a Japanese film, but I think it turned out to be surprisingly my own work. Before I knew it, today had arrived, and it had been three fast years. I hope there will be many more developments in the future.

Q. The members of Special Vehicle Section 2 have been playing the same character for a long period of time since the series premiered last April. Were there any episodes during the filming that you had to pay attention to, or any difficulties that you had to overcome in playing your roles?
Mr. Kakei: What I took care of before the first day of the film's release was to be careful not to appear in the weekly magazines! I paid attention to traffic safety and tried not to misbehave!
Mr. Mano: Patlabor has no history, so I thought it must have been fate or fate that I was offered the role of Akira in the live-action film at this time in its history. I was full of anxiety during the filming, but since Mr. Oshii chose me, I decided to play Ming in my own way. I think that everyone here is always a comrade-in-arms. I have a lot of emotions...I cried during the first chapter. (laugh) I'm not crying today! (laugh) I won't cry today!
Mr. Fukushi: When I met Mr. Oshii and was told about Patlabor, I said "This robot is useless. I was impressed that he looked me in the eye and said, "This robot is useless. When I think back on it now, it's like a miracle that we have come this far in three years.
Mr. Ota: It was both long and short...I guess I am getting older by those three years. I don't feel like I've reached the end of my career today, so I don't really feel it when I take the stage. I'm filled with gratitude to everyone who has followed me and to the audience who has come to see the feature-length version.
Mr. Horimoto: I guess I was careful not to mix public and private matters when drinking alcohol because Ohtawara is an alcoholic. (laugh).
Mr. Tajiri: (Since the character is a chicken lover) I tried to like chickens, so I bought a jersey with a chicken on it and tried not to eat fried chicken. (Laughs)
Mr. Shiotsuka: I suddenly realized that I don't have a ring on my left hand right now, but since Goshuya (Shiotsuka's character's name) is a character whose life is in shambles, I thought it would be nice to get close to him, and I had a great time playing him.
Mr. Fujiki: When I went to cover the 2nd Platoon with Mr. Yamazaki (Tajiri's character's name), it was so cold during the shooting that my legs were covered with frost, but I was very happy when I saw the finished film because it turned out great.
Chiba: I guess Fuchiyama (Fujiki's character's name) will be the leader of the team after I quit as leader of the team, but I am worried (laughs). I have been playing Shiba-Shigeo (Chiba's character's name) since the anime, so I feel like I am getting old as well and am now on a long vacation. I'm sure I'll get another news soon. I am on standby at home.
Q. Mr. Mori, your character from the feature film version is a mysterious character.
Mori: I would like to say that I actually went into the ocean for the final swimming scene, but it was in a swimming pool. (laugh) I swam in a deep pool like scuba diving, but actually I couldn't swim, and Mr. Oshii asked me recklessly to match the timing of floating to the ball. (laugh).
Q. Next, Mr. Takashima. How did you feel about working with Mr. Kakei and appearing in a film directed by Oshii?
Mr. Takashima: I should have been in the audience today. Since the role was originally not in the Patlabor series, I didn't want to appear strange to people who liked Patlabor until now, so I was nervous about how hard I could do my best. I think I also gave the most NG out of all of them. I was conflicted about whether I should blend into this film as quickly as possible, but it is a public safety role. But I enjoyed doing it because Mr. Kakei-san was like this and took it in stride. (laughs)
Q. Finally, Director Oshii. You said that you depicted women's battle. Who was the director's favorite among the five women who appeared in the film?
Director Oshii: Takashima-san. (Immediate answer)
Ms. Takashima: I am very happy! I am very emotional!
Mr. Ota: We were talking about how wonderful Ms. Takashima is during the scene.
Q. Please give us a final greeting from Mr. Kakei.
Mr. Kakei: I am so happy that we have reached the first day today! Please give your impressions of today on SNS! I will search one after another and see all of them!

All seven chapters of "THE NEXT GENERATION PATLABOR" series
Screening starts on April 5 at Shinjuku Piccadilly and other theaters! (Episode 0: about 15 minutes, Episodes 1-12: about 48 minutes each)
Release date: [Chapter 1] April 5, [Chapter 2] May 31, [Chapter 3] July 12, [Chapter 4] August 30, [Chapter 5] October 18, [Chapter 6] November 29, [Chapter 7] January 10, 2015
Cast: Erina Mano, Toshio Kakei, Seiji Fukushi, Rina Ota, Shigeru Chiba, etc.
General Director: Mamoru Oshii / Music: Kenji Kawai / Original Idea: Head Gear
Production: Tohoku Shinsha, Omnibus Japan / Distributor: Shochiku Media Division

THE NEXT GENERATION PATLABOR: Capital Crisis Feature Film
Opening Friday, May 1, 2015 at Shinjuku Piccadilly and other theaters nationwide (approx. 100 min.)
Cast: Toshio Kakei, Erina Mano, Seiji Fukushi, Rina Ota, Shigeru Chiba, Kanna Mori, Kotaro Yoshida, Reiko Takashima
Director/Screenplay: Mamoru Oshii / Music: Kenji Kawai / Original Idea: Head Gear
Production: Tohokushinsha / VFX Production: Omnibus Japan / Distributor: Shochiku

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