Pony Canyon has begun streaming the first seven minutes of “The Last Blossom” (Housenka), an original anime film directed by Baku Kinoshita and written by Kazuya Konomoto, online as of Friday. The preview features the opening theme song “Moving Still Life” by the band cero. The film is slated to open in Japanese theaters on October 10, 2025.
Diving into “The Last Blossom”
The release of the initial seven minutes offers audiences an early glimpse into the highly anticipated film, generated by the creators behind the acclaimed “ODDTAXI” series. This early footage provides a taste of the animation style and musical direction, building anticipation for its full theatrical debut.
What is “The Last Blossom” About?
“The Last Blossom” tells a poignant story spanning different time periods. The narrative centers on Akutsu, an elderly inmate serving a life sentence, who is reflecting on his past as he faces a lonely death in 2023. His introspection is prompted by a talking Housenka flower that questions his life’s trajectory. The story then shifts to the summer of 1986, where a younger Akutsu lives with Nana and her son Kensuke in a humble apartment surrounded by Housenka flowers. The film is described as a tale of a dying yakuza’s triumphant one-night comeback, with his family’s story recounted by a flower that blossoms in prison.
Key Creative Team and Cast
Baku Kinoshita, known for directing “ODDTAXI,” helms “The Last Blossom” and also serves as the character designer. Kazuya Konomoto, the screenwriter for “ODDTAXI,” is credited with the script and original concept for “The Last Blossom.” Animation production is handled by CLAP, the studio behind films such as “Pompo: The Cinéphile” and “The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes.”
The film features a notable voice cast:
- Minoru Akutsu: Portrayed by Kaoru Kobayashi (older) and Junki Tozuka (younger).
- Nana Nagata: Voiced by Hikari Mitsushima (younger) and Yoshiko Miyazaki (older).
- Housenka Flower: Voiced by Pierre Taki.
- Supporting Cast: Includes Hideaki Murata as Hayashida, Hiroki Yasumoto as Tsutsumi, Sōma Saitō as Wakamatsu, and Kōta Nakayama as Konishi.
The opening theme song, “Moving Still Life,” is performed by the band cero, who also composed the film’s score.
Festival Appearances and International Reach
“The Last Blossom” had its world debut at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June 2025 as part of its Feature Film Competition lineup. A preview of the film was also showcased during the “Work in Progress” lineup at the Annecy Film Festival in 2024.
International distribution rights have been acquired by Anime Limited and Plaion Pictures for territories including the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, where it is expected to receive a theatrical release followed by home video distribution. The film has a running time of 75 minutes.
