Yuno Sakura
[Actor]

Yuno Sakura was born in Nishinomiya, Hyogo. A member of the Toei Kyoto Studio Actors Department, she acts in TV drama series and films in and around Kyoto. She has appeared in multiple works of Junichi Yasuda, including Kenju to Medamayaki (2014) where she played the heroine, her first leading film Gohan (2017), and A Samurai in Time (2024) which is now in theaters. She is known for being the “assistant director” of Yasuda’s, both at work and in friendship.

Rantaro Mine
[Actor]

Rantaro Mine became an apprentice of the late Hashizo Okawa in 1964. At the same year, he made his debut as an actor at age 16. As an exclusively contracted actor of Toei Kyoto Studio, he became known as a kirareyaku actor who specializes in the roles of losers in swordfights. He has also served as board member and chair of Tsurugikai, a professional theatrical combat guild. He continues to teach the new generation of actors and swordfighters. He has appeared in a number of films Including A Samurai in Time (2024), Okiku and the World (2023), and Uzumasa Limelight (2014).

Masao Maruyama
[Animation Producer]

Masao Maruyama is an animation producer and former president of MADHOUSE Inc. He is now the board chairperson of MAPPA and Studio M2. After completing his university education, he worked in Mushi Production and later went on to establish his own anime production company MADHOUSE Inc. MAPPA and Studio M2 are also production companies launched by Maruyama. Leading the Japanese anime industry from its early days, he has produced a number of series and films including DEATHNOTE, Hajime no Ippo Rising, and Chihayafuru. His movie credits include The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006), Summer Wars (2009), Paprika (2006), and In This Corner of the World (2016). In 2023, he produced PLUTO, released on Netflix.

Akitaro Daichi
[Animation Director]

Akitaro Daichi was born in 1956 in Gunma Prefecture. He was deeply influenced by Fujio Akatsuka’s “Osomatsu-kun,” which inspired him to pursue humor. After graduating from Tokyo Polytechnic University’s Faculty of Arts, he entered the animation industry. Over his career, Daichi has directed numerous notable anime series including Nurse Angel Ririka SOS, Kodomo no Omocha, Sexy Commando Gaiden: Sugoi yo!! Masaru-san, Ojarumaru, Jubei-chan, and Fruits Basket. His recent works include Gag Manga Biyori, Kamisama Kiss, and Boku to Roboco.

Takeshi Fukunaga
[Film Director]

Takeshi Fukunaga’s debut feature film Out of My Hand (2015) premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won the Best Film Award at the Los Angeles Film Festival. It was also nominated for the John Cassavetes Award at the Independent Spirit Awards. His second feature film, Ainu Mosir (2020), received the Special Jury Mention at the Tribeca Film Festival and Best Film Award at Guanajuato International Film Festival. His latest documentary Ainu Puri (2024) was officially selected at Tokyo, Karlovy Vary, and Busan International Film Festivals. In addition to his feature work, Fukunaga directed episodes of the series Tokyo Vice Season 2 and Shōgun, which won 18 awards including Outstanding Directing at the Emmy Awards.

Eriko Miyagawa
[Producer]

Eriko Miyagawa was born in Yokohama. After graduating from Yokohama Kyoritsu Gakuen High School, she attended Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, focusing on East Asian international relations. Her graduation thesis explored Japan-Korea relations through Shunji Iwai’s film Love Letter. She worked as an interpreter on the set of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill (2003) before pursuing a career in film production. Miyagawa has collaborated with renowned filmmakers including Martin Scorsese on Silence (2016), Sofia Coppola, and Zhang Yimou. Her most recent project is the FX drama series Shōgun.