Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno stars turn out in Manila

Fans in Manila hailed the Japanese star Takeru Satoh, in the city for the Asian premiere of Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno.

Japanese film director Keishi Otomo along with the cast of the movie Rurouni Kenshin (Kyoto Inferno) Emi Takei, Takeru Satoh, and Munetaka Aoki. Francis R. Malasig / EPA

Japanese lead actor Takeru Satoh of the hit action movie Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno, and other cast members graced the film's Asian premiere in Manila, where the first Rurouni Kenshin shown last year reportedly broke the record for a Japanese movie in the Philippines.

Filipino fans loudly cheered Satoh, who plays a legendary assassin-turned conflicted hero Kenshin Himura during Japan’s Meiji era, actress Emi Takei, actor Munetaka Aoki and director Keishi Otomo, at their red carpet arrivals before the screening at SM Megamall Wednesday night.

They chanted “Takeru, Takeru” and “Sano, Sano.” Sano is Munetaka’s character Sanosuke, Kenshin’s street fighter friend. The audience wildly applauded when the actors greeted them in Tagalog.

The fast-action film by Warner Bros Japan starts its regular cinema run in the Philippines on August 20. It is the first of a two-part finale of the franchise based on the hit Japanese comic, or manga, also called Rurouni Kenshin.

“We all put our lives on the line here, our spirit is in this movie, so we really hope that you can support us, support the movie,” Satoh, in an all-black suit, said to shrieks from the fans.

He said he practiced for three months prior to shooting his intense sword-fighting scenes.

Takei said it was the first time she had attended a premiere of one of her movies outside Japan and thanked the fans for their warm welcome.

The action and drama film about the once-feared swordsman during the turbulent fall of Japan’s Shogunate in the 19th century who adopted a peaceful life after the arrival of Japan’s “new age” has captivated fans in the Philippines and other parts of Asia.

*Associated Press