Fall Anime "Tiger Mask W" Announces Additional Cast Members!　Ryoichi Tanaka, Chiemi Chiba, Takeshi Kusao

Additional cast members have been announced for the TV anime "Tiger Mask W," which will start in October.

Tiger Mask W" is one of Toei Animation's 60th anniversary productions, and is a new TV animation series based on the "Tiger Mask" manga (original story: Kajiwara Ikki/illustration: Tsuji Naoki) that supported the professional wrestling boom of the past. It depicts "New Tiger Mask" Naoto Higashi and "Tiger the Dark" Takuma Fujii fighting to defeat the revived "Tiger Ana". With the full cooperation of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, the highlight of the series is the appearance of real-life professional wrestlers.

The cast announced this time includes three important characters who support the main characters. Ryoichi Tanaka will play Kentaro Takaoka, a former "Tiger Ana" wrestler like Naoto Date, the first Tiger Mask; Chiemi Chiba will play Ruriko Yamashina, a nurse who takes a liking to Naoto; and Takeshi Kusao will play Daisuke Fujii, president of "Zipangu Pro Wrestling" to which Naoto and Takuma belonged. In particular, Ryoichi Tanaka will continue to play the role of Kentaro Takaoka from the first "Tiger Mask" TV anime, attracting the attention of fans from the past. Below are comments from the cast.

<Comments
Ryoichi Tanaka
KENTARO TAKAOKA, for the first time in about 50 years. I am honored to be revived as old as Harrison Ford. I can't help but be reminded of the old days. Takashi Toyama, who played Tiger Mask, is no longer with us. Mr. Hidekatsu Shibata as Mr. X was cool. Now, how will the new Tiger Mask turn out? I hope that I will be able to create a role that is appropriate for my age and tasteful. We are looking forward to it!

Chiemi Chiba
I am very happy to be able to participate in the wonderful production of "Tiger Mask W." What kind of battles will unfold in each episode? I am very excited to see what kind of fights will unfold in each episode as I try my hand at postrecording. I hope that both professional wrestling fans and beginners like me will enjoy the show together.

Takeshi Kusao
I was very much looking forward to hearing that the Showa era superstar "Tiger Mask" would be revived in the Heisei era, and now that I will be playing the role of "Daisuke Fujii," I feel very proud to be participating. I will do my best so that the passion of the men's souls for "pro wrestling" will be reflected on the screen. I hope you will support me. Thank you very much for your support.