On 27/8, the film crew released the first trailer with snippets depicting the main characters against a backdrop of majestic natural scenery. Yuji Oda, a top Japanese actor, plays the lead role of Song Jiang. Takashi Sorimachi plays Chao Gai, while Kamenashi Kazuya plays Lin Chong. The film is slated for release in 2026.
On the Wowow channel, Yuji Oda stated that filming began in December 2024 and lasted 8 months. In his nearly 40-year career, he has never seen a film as large-scale as Water Margin.
The crew filmed in harsh, freezing weather, often in difficult terrain. Oda recalled, "There were times when I didn't know how to portray the character's emotions, then suddenly, inspiration struck, as if from the heavens, deep inside a cave where day and night were indistinguishable. It was an unforgettable experience."
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A scene from the Japanese "Water Margin". Photo: Wowow |
The film crew also filmed on snow-capped mountains, in pristine forests and lakes across several prefectures in Japan. Each time they arrived at a new filming location, the crew had to set up a new camp for living quarters, necessitating a large staff. Even the tasks of transportation, makeup, and costume preparation were time-consuming. Yuji Oda praised the director's "unwavering artistic pursuit" in making the film.
Yuji Oda, 58, is known for works such as Tokyo Love Story, Bayside Shakedown, and Bayside Shakedown 2. In a 2004 NHK survey, he was ranked the second most popular Japanese actor.
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Yuji Oda as Song Jiang. Photo: Wowow |
The film, directed by Setsuro Wakamatsu, is based on the popular novel Water Margin by Kenzo Kitakata. According to The Paper, the novel is based on the classic Chinese novel of the same name by Shi Nai'an (1296-1372), who lived during the Yuan and Ming dynasties, but the content differs as Kenzo Kitakata reconstructed the main storyline. Many Chinese readers consider Kenzo Kitakata's Water Margin to be uniquely creative, with fresh content entirely different from Shi Nai'an's version.
The Chinese Water Margin was introduced to Japan around 1600. In 1973, Nippon TV first adapted the story into a television series. The work has also been developed into video games and manga.
In addition to Water Margin, Luo Guanzhong's novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms has also been adapted into games, anime, and films in Japan. In 2020, The Untold Tale of the Three Kingdoms, directed by Yuichi Fukuda, grossed over 4 billion yen (nearly 31 million USD).
Nhu Anh (via Sina)
