The highly anticipated anime film The Last Blossom (known as Housenka in Japan) has recently unveiled a comprehensive list of its cast, staff, and its opening theme song through a new main trailer video. The film is set to premiere in Japan on October 10, 2025, following an earlier estimated Fall 2025 release. This latest reveal at Anime Expo 2025 on July 5, 2025, builds on previous announcements, further detailing the creative team and voice talent bringing this original story to life.
Key Creative Team and Animation Studio
The film is a collaborative effort from the creators behind the acclaimed ODDTAXI series. Baku Kinoshita serves as both the director and character designer, while Kazuya Konomoto is credited with the original concept and screenplay. Animation production is handled by Studio CLAP, known for its work on films such as Pompo: The Cinéphile and The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes. Michinoku-Toge is responsible for the concept art, and Yuji Hosogoe is the animation director.
Unveiling the Voice Cast
The core voice cast for The Last Blossom was previously announced, with multiple actors portraying the main characters at different points in their lives, reflecting the film’s narrative that spans past and present. Kaoru Kobayashi voices Akutsu in his present-day elderly form, while Junki Tozuka takes on the role of Akutsu in his younger years. Similarly, Hikari Mitsushima lends her voice to the younger Nana Nagata, Akutsu’s partner, and Yoshiko Miyazaki voices the older Nana. Pierre Taki provides the voice for the unique character of the talking Housenka flower.
The latest trailer specifically confirmed additional cast members, including Hideaki Murata, Hiroki Yasumoto, Sōma Saitō, and Kōta Nakayama, further enriching the ensemble.
Thematic Music and Opening Song
The music for The Last Blossom is composed by the Japanese pop-rock band cero. The recently released main trailer video also provided a preview and officially revealed the film’s opening theme song, titled “Moving Still Life,” also performed by cero.
Narrative Overview
The Last Blossom tells a poignant story centering on Akutsu, an elderly inmate serving a life sentence, who is on the verge of a lonely death in his solitary cell in Autumn 2023. His life takes an unexpected turn when a talking Housenka flower, which blooms in his prison, addresses him with the words, “What a rotten life you had.” This encounter prompts Akutsu to reflect on his past, specifically recalling the summer of 1986, when he lived with Nana and her son Kensuke in a humble apartment adorned with Housenka flowers. The film is described as the tale of a dying yakuza’s unexpected comeback and his family’s story, as recounted by the remarkable talking flower.
The film had its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2025 as part of its Feature Film Competition lineup, following a “Work in Progress” showcase at the 2024 festival. International distribution rights have been acquired by Anime Limited and Plaion Pictures for several European territories, promising a theatrical release followed by home video distribution in those regions.
