Fear" or "Salvation" awaits - "The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGeGe" movie PV release! Additional voice actors including Toshihiko Seki and Hidenobu Kiuchi were announced!

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Shigeru Mizuki's birth, the trailer and final poster for the animated film "Kitaro: The Birth of Gegege's Mystery," scheduled for release on November 17, 2023 (Friday), have been released, and cast information has also been announced.

The movie "The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGeGe" will be produced to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Shigeru Mizuki's birth, and will tell for the first time the story of "the birth of Kitaro" and his former father, Oyaji.
Directed by Go Koga, who also directed "Gegege no Kitaro the Movie: Japan Explodes! The script is written by Hiroyuki Yoshino, known for his work on the TV animation "Macross F," and the character design is by Toruko Yatabe, a young up-and-coming director who worked as an assistant director on the "Shin Evangelion Theater Version.
⇒ " The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of Gegege" Kitaro's father & Mizuki's full-length movie footage is shown for the first time! The former eyeball father revealed for the first time!

⇒Click here for the screening schedule of the animation movie.

The trailer and the poster of the final version of the film have been released, along with cast information and comments.

The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGeGe" Movie Trailer

The trailer begins with a warning from Kitaro, who is sitting down and staring at us, foreshadowing the beginning of a disturbing story.
The film begins with a warning from Kitaro, who sits down and stares at us, foreshadowing the beginning of a disturbing story.
What is the terrible truth hidden in this village where both humans and specters are hiding "something"? Expectations are high for the release of the film version.

Final Poster

The final version of the poster, which was also released, shows Kitaro standing in front of a dilapidated house, looking at us, and the modern-day "Mega-Oyaji," who appears on the poster for the first time in this film.
In addition, the glass window in the background shows the reflection of the former Kodama Oyaji and Mizuki. What awaits them at the end of this encounter: fear or salvation?

Cast Information & Comments

In addition to the already announced Miyuki Sawashiro, Masako Nozawa, and Toshio Furukawa, a total of 14 voice actors have been added to the cast, including Toshihiko Seki as the former "Me-tama Oyaji," Hidenobu Kiuchi as Mizuki, Tetsu Shiratori as Tokisada Ryuga, Nobuo Asada as Tokima, the oldest son, and Kazuya Nakai as Kozo, the second son. The additional cast members include Tetsu Shiratori as Tokisada, Nobuo Tobita as Tokima, and Kazuya Nakai as Kozo, the second son.

Cast comments

Toshihiko Seki as Kitaro's father (the former "Me-tama Oyaji")
Gegege no Kitaro" is one of the most unforgettable animated cartoons that I saw as a child, starting with "Gegege, Gegege no Gege" and "Karankoron Karankarankoron".
I watched the first series, which was a black-and-white animation, and the second series, which came in color. The voices of the charming actors, Masako Nozawa, Isamu Tanonaka, and Shuo Otsuka, left a deep impression on my ears and eyes.
Time passed and it was the 6th series. I never thought that I would be able to participate as Kitaro's father with such a splendid cast members as Miyuki Sawashiro, Masako Nozawa, and Toshio Furukawa! It was a moment that made me truly happy to be doing this job.

■Hidenobu Kiuchi as Mizuki
Gegege no Kitaro" has been familiar to me since I was a child. I am very honored to be able to participate in this work that has transcended time and continues to be loved by a wide range of generations.
I am also very proud to learn that the film is being produced to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Shigeru Mizuki's birth, and I feel my back arched to play the role of "Mizuki" in a film that marks such a major milestone.

Tetsu Shiratori as Tokisada, head of the Tatsuga family
I was surprised when I saw the character illustration when I was offered the role. What an old man! At the same time, I was struck by Tokisada's melancholy, or rather, his concern for the times.
What would Tokisada think of Japan today?
I am very honored to be involved in such an important and significant work that will reveal the mystery of Kitaro's birth. I am looking forward to it.

Nobuo Tobita as Tokima, the eldest son of the Tatsuga family
Kitaro" is one of my favorite movies and I am very interested in it.
This time it is a theater version and the story is related to the birth of Kitaro.
I wondered what kind of yokai I would be playing, but it turns out that I would be playing a human...wait, wait, wait...there are many stories about "people" in Mr. Mizuki's works that are more sinister than yokai...so I read the script and...well...it turns out that I was right. I read the script, and.......it was right on the money.
The images alone are scary enough. What will happen when dialogue, music, and sound effects are added?
My expectations for this film are high. As a fan of the film, I can't wait to see it in theaters.

Kazuya Nakai as Kozo, the second son of the Ryuga family
In my youth, there were many movies based on horrifying incidents that took place in villages deep in the mountains.
The shadow of war lingered strongly. Conventions that have been hidden from view. I remember that the mood that emerged from the screen was frightening.
What a luxury to be able to enjoy it as a Gegege story in the age of 2025.
Kozo is a character with a strangeness and sadness that is indispensable to such films.
I enjoyed it as if I were a movie star of the Showa era.

■Yoko SAWAMI as Otome, the eldest daughter of the Ryuga family
When I was first asked to work on the TV animation "Gegege no Kitaro," I was still a newcomer. This time it was a theater version. I was both happy and surprised to receive the offer out of the blue without any warning. I was even more gut-punched when I read the script.
It was my favorite view of the world, wasn't it? This work is like the "Gegege no Kitaro" episode 0 of the 6th season, and even those who have never seen Kitaro before can enjoy this mature work. You must watch "The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of Gegege," which cannot be told in a pretty way.

Yuko Minaguchi as Heie, the second daughter of the Tatsuga family
I am very happy to be able to participate in this production commemorating the 100th anniversary of Mr. Mizuki's birth.
I was excited to read the script without knowing the cast, and was thrilled to answer questions during the recording.
This movie has the feel of a Showa-era Japanese mystery that drew me in even though I was scared when I was a child.
Like all Kitaro fans, I can't wait for its release. I hope you will enjoy it.

Rie Kugimiya as Koko Nagata, the third daughter of the Tatsuga family
My name is Rie Kugimiya, and I play the role of Koko Nagata.
I was so absorbed in reading the script that I couldn't help but read it in one sitting, carefully describing the dense world.
I am happy to be able to participate! Please look forward to its theatrical release. Thank you very much for your cooperation!

Kazuhiro Yamaji as Otome's husband/Katsunori, president of Ryuga Pharmaceuticals
About 30 years ago, I saw for the first time the objects of specters on the streets of Sakaiminato for the first time. I was thrilled.
I had always loved Mr. Mizuki's works and was told by those around me that I was a maniac, but this "Gegege no Kitaro" was the only one everyone knew about.
Back then, I never thought I would be involved with Kitaro. And this is the episode 0 of the 6th season! I was so happy, I'm ashamed to admit. And I am also ashamed to say that I would be happy if I could be a part of the next Kitaro episode.

Atsumi Tanezaki as Sayo, daughter of Otome and Katsunori
When I was a child, I used to watch the "Gegege no Kitaro" cartoon as if it were a normal thing for me and the children around me.
Everyone could sing that song as a matter of course.
Now that this child has grown up and become a voice actor, and the title of the movie in which I will appear is "The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGeGe"... I couldn't help but be excited! It's spooky.
I hope you will enjoy GeGeGeGe's Mystery at the theater. Thank you very much for your kind attention!

Akira Ishida as Genji Nagata, husband of Kinko and village chief of Wailukuura Village
This story is a prequel to the birth of Kitaro and gives us a glimpse of the character of Kitaro's parent, Oyaji Meidama.
I was surprised because I did not expect the story to be structured in this way, but I was convinced that it is a story for people who grew up watching Kitaro's activities as a child, who are now in their parents' generation and have a broader perspective to be interested in the same parental figure of Oyaji Medama.
For such adults, the man I play, Nagata, is a man of few words, but I think they can also read his unspoken thoughts from the screen.
For those who know the war experiences of the original author, Shigeru Mizuki, from his writings and dramas, they may be able to overlap with the characters and appreciate them more.

Yumiko Kobayashi as Tokiya, son of Ginko and Genji
My name is Yumiko Kobayashi, and I will be playing the role of Tokiya.
When I was a child, I was very interested in yokai (monsters and ghosts), and the "Gegege no Kitaro" anime and comic books were my bible.
I am very happy to be able to participate in this "Gegege no Kitaro: Episode 0 of the 6th season," which commemorates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Shigeru Mizuki, the creator of Kitaro, and also tells the story of how Kitaro's father became a "Me-tama Oyaji," so to speak!
Please come to the theater to see this sad but heart-wrenching, horrifying and moving story set in the Showa 30s!

Umeika Shoji as Cat Girl
If I am making comments like this, it means that... yes, I did manage to appear in a movie! I'm Neko Musume, who managed to make it to the movie (lol).
Now...it's finally time.
Our 6th term team has taken over Kitaro and spun a story. I am sure it will reach you all. Please look forward to it.

Masaya Matsukaze as Yamada, a reporter for a weekly magazine
I am very honored to play the role of Yamada, who is known as a supporting character in Mizuki's works.
I read the "Graveyard Kitaro" manga when I was in elementary school, and the birth scene of Kitaro is still a petit traumatic part of my life.
I never thought that I would be able to see the story of Kitaro's birth in the 6th season at the theater, so I feel like I am destined to do so and I am looking forward to it.

I am looking forward to seeing it.

＜Story
Kitaro and Oyaji Medama set foot in the abandoned former village of Wailukuura.
Oyaji and Kitaro are recalling the events that took place in this village 70 years ago.
About his encounter with that man and the fate they both faced...
1956 - the village of Weeping Cura was ruled by the Tatsuga family, who controlled the political and business worlds in Japan behind the scenes.
Mizuki, who works for a blood bank, takes on ambition and a secret mission to mourn the death of the head of the family, Tokisada, while Kitaro's father enters the village to look for his wife.
In the Tatsuga clan, an ugly battle had begun over Tokisada's successor.
Then, a member of the clan is brutally murdered at the village shrine.
It was the real beginning of a terrible chain of bizarre events.
Kitaro's fathers' encounter, their fate, and what they saw in the midst of overwhelming despair...

<Cast
Miyuki Sawashiro
Umeika Shoji
Masaya Matsukaze
Masako Nozawa
Toshihiko Seki
Hidenobu Kiuchi
Atsumi Tanezaki
Yumiko Kobayashi
Tetsu Shiratori
Nobuo Tobita
Kazuya Nakai
Yoko SAWAMI
Kazuhiro Yamaji
Yuko Minaguchi
Rie Kugimiya
Akira Ishida
Toshio Furukawa

＜Staff
Original Story : Shigeru Mizuki
Director : Go Koga
Screenplay : Hiroyuki Yoshino
Character design：Toruko Yatabe
Art Director：Mai Ichioka
Color Designer: Sayoko Yokoyama
Director of Photography: Tomoyuki Ishiyama
Production Designer: Kou Sawamori, Keifumi Horikoshi
Production: Toei Animation
Distributor: Toei

(C) "Kitaro Gegege no Mystery" Film Partners