©KH/K ©2025 F/K/T/S
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Date
01.08.2025 (Wed.)
Time
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location
TCL Chinese 6 Theatres, Auditorium 6
Address
Ovation Hollywood
6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028
Fee
Free
Ninjas have been sneaking around the world, and they are still active today. Under Ninja opens a curtain on “modern ninja entertainment” that no one has ever seen before!
Join JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles for a special world premiere screening of Under Ninja, the live action adaptation of the popular manga by Kengo Hanazawa. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with its two talented lead actors.
Under Ninja stars Kento Yamazaki, the first Japanese actor to win “The Best from the East Award” at the New York Asian Film Festival in 2024, in the role of the mysterious ninja “Kuro Kumogakure” who is entrusted with a very important “ninja task”. Yamazaki takes on the challenge of a completely new “ninja action” film of the likes that no one has ever seen before!
Ayaka Noguchi, a high school girl who gets caught up in a battle between ninjas, is played by Minami Hamabe, who has become a renowned actress in Japan and beyond through her continuous appearances in high-profile films such as Godzilla Minus One.
Witness ninjas with a variety of skills and other fascinating characters taking over the movie screen in 2025!
NOTE: RSVP does not guarantee entry. Space is limited. Early arrival is recommended. By attending this program, you are entering an area where photography, audio and video recording may occur.
Program
6:00 PM | Check-in Starts
6:30 PM | Screening of Under Ninja
8:40 PM | Q&A with Kento Yamazaki & Minami Hamabe
Film Synopsis
“Ninja” have always moved Japanese history from behind the scenes. They were proud of their glory, but... After World War II, the organization was dismantled and disappeared. Even today, however, ninja exist in secret, lurking in everyday life and operating in the dark around the world. Their number is said to be as many as 200,000.
Kuro Kumogakure is a low-level ninja belonging to the ninja organization “NIN”. One day, he is given an important “Ninja Task” assignment – to investigate the movements of an organization that has been hiding underground for more than 70 years since the end of the war.
The name – “Under Ninja”.
Ninjutsu, wits, and the latest technology.
A battle beyond imagination now begins.
©KH/K ©2025 F/K/T/S
About the Lead Actors
Kento Yamazaki
Kento Yamazaki made history as the first Japanese actor to win the prestigious "Best from the East Award" at the 2024 New York Asian Film Festival. Renowned for his global appeal, he was named one of Forbes Asia's "100 Digital Stars" in 2020 and is the first Japanese ambassador for both Saint Laurent and HUBLOT.
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Yamazaki’s Netflix series Alice in Borderland achieved global success, ranking No. 1 in Japan and breaking into the Top 10 in over 90 countries. With Season 3 now in production, the series has amassed over 200 million viewing hours. His film credits include the KINGDOM series, Golden Kamuy, and Onmyoji 0, all earning critical and commercial success.
As Japan's most-followed actor on Instagram, Yamazaki continues to captivate fans worldwide, cementing his status as one of Japan’s most influential actors.
Recent roles:
KINGDOM 4: Return of The Great General (2024) - Shin
Onmyoji 0 (2024) - Seimei Abe
Golden Kamuy (2024) - Saichi Sugimoto
KINGDOM 3: The Flame of Destiny (2023) - Shin
Alice in Borderland: Season 2 (Netflix / 2022) - Ryohei Arisu
Minami Hamabe
Minami Hamabe has starred in numerous acclaimed films and television series, earning widespread recognition both domestically and internationally. In 2024, she was honored with the prestigious 47th Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Actress, solidifying her reputation as one of Japan's most accomplished young stars.
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Since her breakthrough performance in Let Me Eat Your Pancreas (2017), which became a box-office sensation, Hamabe has continued to take on diverse roles in projects ranging from romantic dramas to thrilling mysteries. Some of her notable works include Silent Love (2024), Godzilla Minus One (2023), Shin Kamen Rider (2022), and Kakegurui 2: Ultimate Russian Roulette (2021).
Beyond acting, she has also showcased her talent in voice acting, lending her voice to animated films such as Hello World (2019).
Her recent role as Noriko Oishi in the critically acclaimed Godzilla Minus One (2023) further underscored her ability to captivate audiences in a variety of genres. With her role in Under Ninja (2025), she continues to push boundaries and inspire fans worldwide.
Recent roles:
Silent Love (2024) - Mika
Godzilla Minus One (2023) - Noriko Oishi
Shin Kamen Rider (2022) - Ruriko Midorikawa
Kakegurui 2: Ultimate Russian Roulette (2021) - Yumeko Jabami
The Promised Neverland (2020) - Emma
Topic-Related Reading
Japan’s Shadow Warriors | The Legend of Ninja
In the popular imagination, the word ninja immediately conjures a dramatic image. We can all picture it – a mysterious figure emerging from the darkness, shrouded in all black and wielding exotic weapons, maybe even supernatural abilities too. Yet, like many cultural figures that traverse fact and fiction to become global icons, the true history of Japan’s shadow warriors is more nuanced – and even more fascinating.
Read Article