Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd. Special Thanks to Junko Kawaguchi

The ninja action film KAMUI, directed by Yoichi Sai and co-produced/distributed by Shochiku Co., Ltd., will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, to be held in Toronto, Ontario from September 10- September 19, 2009. KAMUI is one of eight international films newly added to the festival`s Special Presentation Program. Founded in 1976, TIFF takes over 23 screens in downtown Toronto for 10 days each September. Last year, more than 300,000 attendees turned out for screenings of 312 films from 64 different countries. KAMUI is a live action adaptation of Sanpei Shirato`s manga The Legend of Kamui, which was originally serialized in the Japanese anthology magazine Garo from December 1964 to July 1971. An English language version of The Legend of Kamui was first released by VIZ Media in 1987. In 1969, the story came to television as the 22 episode anime series KAMUI THE NINJA: STORIES OTHER THAN THE LEGEND (Ninpu Kamui Gaiden), followed by an animated film in March of 1971. The new KAMUI is one of the highest budgeted movies ever made in Japan. It was directed by Japanese-Korean filmmaker Yoichi Sai, a two-time Japanese Academy Award-winner for BLOOD AND BONES (Chi to Hone, 2004), and stars the prolific and popular Kenichi Matsuyama. Best known for his portrayal of Detective L in the DEATH NOTE movies (2006) and spin-off DEATH NOTE: L, change the worLd (2008), Matsuyama`s credits include LINDA LINDA LINDA (2005), TEN NIGHTS OF DREAMS (Yume Ju-ya, 2006), SANJURO (Tsubaki Sanjuro, 2007), and DETROIT METAL CITY ((Detoroito Metaru Shitei, 2008). Another of his recent films— the romance BARE ESSENCE OF LIFE (Urutora Mirakuru Rabu Sutori, 2009)— will also be screened at TIFF. KAMUI (Kamui Gaiden) Action/Ninja Japanese Theatrical Release Date: September 19, 2009 Official Movie Site: kamuigaiden.jp (Japan) Based on the story by: Sanpei Shirato (The Legend of Kamui, Sasuke) Director: Yoichi Sai (BLOOD AND BONES, QUILL) Screenplay: Kankuro Kudo (PING PONG, ZEBRAMAN, GO) Production companies: Shochiku, Be Wild Starring Kamui: Kenichi Matsuyama (DEATH NOTE series, DEATH NOTE: L, change the worLd, DETROIT METAL CITY) Sugaru: Koyuki (THE LAST SAMURAI, ALWAYS- SUNSET ON THIRD STREET, BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE) Suzuka Ohgo (MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA) Fudo: Hideaki Ito (SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO, 252: SIGNAL OF LIFE) Ayu: Anna Tsuchiya (SAKURAN, KAMIKAZE GIRLS) Hanbei: Kaoru Kobayashi (PRINCESS MONONOKE, BLACK HOUSE, QUILL) Sayaka: Suzuka Ohgo (GOO GOO THE CAT, OPPAI VOLLEYBALL) Dumok: Ekin Cheng (STORM RIDERS, TOKYO RAIDERS, RULE #1) Yoshito: Yuta Kanai (DEATH NOTE: L, change the worLd, IKIGAMI: THE ULTIMATE LIMIT) Mikumo: Sei Ashina (MASKED RIDER HIBIKI, SILK, BATTLE LEAGUE HORUMO) A high concept $18 million US budget ninja action film, like you have never experienced. KAMUI is a ninja on the run and in search for true freedom. However, he is burdened with the fate where it is forbidden to take ninja secret outside of the tribe -- if you are born as ninja, you must die as ninja. This brings him to constantly fight for his life against other ninjas who tries to kill him and keep their secrets hidden from the outside world. He does not trust, and he does not love. Showing weakness leads to immediate death. An incident brings him to an old fisherman`s village, where he finally starts to open up to other people. However, his pursuers were just minutes away from setting up a huge trap on Kamui...