The upcoming original anime film, The Last Blossom (known as Housenka in Japan), has unveiled additional cast members, key staff, and its opening theme song in a new trailer video. The film, directed by Baku Kinoshita and written by Kazuya Konomoto, is set to premiere in Japan on October 10, 2025.
Expanding the Ensemble: New Voice Cast Members
The recently released main trailer introduced several new additions to the voice cast, providing a deeper look into the characters that will populate Akutsu’s world. Hideaki Murata joins as Hayashida, Akutsu’s henchman, while Hiroki Yasumoto takes on the role of Tsutsumi, Akutsu’s “big brother” within the yakuza group. Sōma Saitō is cast as Wakamatsu, Akutsu’s junior, and Kōta Nakayama voices Konishi, another of Akutsu’s henchmen.
These new cast members complement the previously announced main voice cast, which includes Kaoru Kobayashi as Akutsu in the present and Junki Tozuka as Akutsu in his past. Hikari Mitsushima and Yoshiko Miyazaki portray Nana Nagata at different stages of her life, while Pierre Taki voices the pivotal Housenka flower.
Behind the Scenes: Additional Staff Revealed
Beyond the vocal talent, the latest trailer also shed light on further members of the production team. Baku Kinoshita and Nana Harada are credited for Production. The animation team sees Eiji Tera as the Layout Animation Director, with Yuji Hosogoe, Kazuya Miyoshi, and Shuichi Shimamura serving as Animation Directors.
The visual aesthetic of the film is further shaped by Haruko Nobori handling Color Design and Honoka Satō as the Art Director. Kou Hoshina and Takahiro Hondai are the Compositing Directors of Photography, ensuring the film’s visual coherence. Editing is handled by Yoshiki Ushiroda, while Kōji Kasamatsu is the Sound Director and Yōji Shimizu is the Recording Director. Kinue Itou and Ryoichiro Matsuo are credited as Production Producers, with Miracle Voice managing publicity and Pony Canyon handling distribution in Japan.
These individuals join the previously announced core staff, including Baku Kinoshita as Director and Character Designer, Kazuya Konomoto as the Writer and Original Story creator, and the band cero, along with Shohei Takagi, Yu Arauchi, and Tsubasa Hashimoto, responsible for the film’s music. CLAP Animation Studio is in charge of the animation production.
The Melodies of Memory: Opening Song Unveiled
Adding to the film’s atmospheric depth, the trailer also provided a preview of the opening theme song. Titled “Moving Still Life,” the track is performed by the band cero. This song is anticipated to set the tone for the poignant narrative of Akutsu’s reflections on his past.
The Last Blossom delves into the story of an elderly inmate, Akutsu, serving a life sentence, who begins to reflect on his past life through conversations with a talking Housenka flower. The film, which had a work-in-progress screening at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, promises a deeply introspective journey.
