Netflix and TBS have announced a live-action series adaptation of Shohei Manabe’s critically acclaimed manga, Kujō no Taizai (Kujō’s Deadly Sins), slated to premiere exclusively on Netflix in spring 2026. The series will star Yuuya Yagira as the enigmatic lawyer Taiza Kujō and Hokuto Matsumura as Shinji Karasuma.
A Gripping Legal Drama Comes to Life
The live-action adaptation of Kujō no Taizai is set to bring the gritty, morally complex world of lawyer Taiza Kujō to a global audience. The series centers on Kujō, a lawyer operating in the chaotic Reiwa era, who is known for defending even the most reprehensible clients, embodying the role of a “guardian of darkness” working behind the scenes. The manga delves into the intricate boundaries between law and morality, exploring dark themes often considered taboo in everyday life.
Key Cast and Creative Team
Yuuya Yagira, recognized for his roles in the live-action Gintama films and Crows Explode, will portray the lead character, Taiza Kujō, a lawyer who takes on challenging and morally ambiguous cases. Joining him is Hokuto Matsumura, a member of the idol group SixTONES and known for Suzume and live-action xxxHOLiC, who will play Shinji Karasuma, a talented elite lawyer from the University of Tokyo who finds himself working at Kujō’s firm.
The supporting cast includes:
- Elaiza Ikeda as Nimi Yakushimae, a social worker overseeing the accused.
- Keita Machida as Kengo Mibu, Taiza’s connection to the criminal underworld, who brings him complex cases and operates a bicycle repair shop as a front.
- Takuma Otoo as Yoshinobu Arashiyama, a detective who holds a grudge against Taiza and Mibu.
- Tsuyoshi Muro as Kiyoshi Kyōgoku, the young boss of the Fushimi yakuza group.
Directing the series are Nobuhiro Doi, Takeyoshi Yamamoto, and Hiroshi Adachi. Shinji Nemoto is penning the script for the adaptation.
The Acclaimed Manga: Kujō no Taizai
Shohei Manabe launched Kujō no Taizai in Shogakukan’s Weekly Big Comic Spirits magazine in October 2020. Since its debut, the series has garnered significant attention, with over 4 million copies in circulation. Shogakukan is set to release the manga’s 15th compiled book volume on October 30. The manga’s narrative is praised for its unflinching portrayal of the legal system and the dark underbelly of society. It was also nominated for the Best Series Award at the 51st Angoulême International Comics Festival and the 70th Shogakukan Manga Award in 2024.
Shohei Manabe’s Legacy of Gritty Realism
Manabe is a celebrated manga artist known for his gritty seinen manga that often explores the Japanese underworld. He is most famous for Ushijima the Loan Shark (Yamikin Ushijima-kun), which ran from 2004 to 2019 and was serialized in Weekly Big Comic Spirits. Ushijima the Loan Shark received widespread acclaim, winning the 56th Shogakukan Manga Award in the General category in 2011 and earning nominations for the Osamu Tezuka Culture Prize and France’s Angoulême Comics Awards. The series was also successfully adapted into a popular live-action television series and multiple films. This history of successful adaptations and his distinctive storytelling style suggest that Kujō no Taizai is poised to be another impactful live-action project from the esteemed creator.
