The movie was announced on January 7, 2025, alongside an initial trailer, key visuals, and comments from Issey TakahashiIssey Takahashi
Issey Takahashi is a Japanese actor and singer credited for his role in the Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan TV drama and two films, Rohan au Louvre and At a Confessional, as the lead character, Rohan Kishibe. He also plays Nizaemon Yamamura in the former film. Takahashi is also known for...
, Marie IitoyoMarie Iitoyo
Marie Iitoyo is a Japanese actress, fashion model, and gravure model credited for playing Kyoka Izumi, the reoccurring editor of Rohan Kishibe, in the live-action Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan TV drama. She is also married to Rohan's actor, Issey Takahashi. Her former stage name and real name is spelled in..., Kazutaka WatanabeKazutaka Watanabe
Kazutaka Watanabe is a Japanese producer, director, and scriptwriter credited for his work as the director of the Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan TV drama and Rohan au Louvre film, as well as the upcoming At a Confessional film. Kazutaka Watanabe was born in Fuji, Shizuoka in 1969. Watanabe was an..., and Yasuko KobayashiYasuko Kobayashi
Yasuko Kobayashi is a Japanese anime and tokusatsu drama screenwriter credited for her work on JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: The Animation. She has been in charge of the series's composition and has been one of its main scriptwriters since season one. She also worked on the Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan TV.... Today, they revealed four new cast members and their roles. Comments from the cast members are posted below.
At a Confessional Second Trailer
Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan is a spin-off series of standalone stories depicting the bizarre experiences of manga artist Rohan KishibeRohan Kishibe
Rohan Kishibe is a primary ally featured in the fourth part of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, Diamond is Unbreakable. He is introduced as an antagonist in the "Let's Go to the Manga Artist's House" story arc, but later becomes an ally and cooperates in the search for Yoshikage Kira.... during his research trips, a character originally featured in the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series. Drama adaptations starring Issey TakahashiIssey TakahashiIssey Takahashi is a Japanese actor and singer credited for his role in the Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan TV drama and two films, Rohan au Louvre and At a Confessional, as the lead character, Rohan Kishibe. He also plays Nizaemon Yamamura in the former film. Takahashi is also known for... as Rohan aired in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024.
At a Confessional was the first Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan chapter created by Hirohiko ArakiHirohiko Araki
Hirohiko Araki, born Toshiyuki Araki, is a Japanese manga artist and the author of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. He made his debut in 1980 with his one-shot Poker Under Arms, and began his professional career with the short series Cool Shock B.T., Baoh the Visitor, and Gorgeous Irene. Araki's biggest series,... on June 24, 1997. Despite being the first chapter of the spin-off series, it is labeled “Episode 16” in the manga. It was also adapted as an animated OVA on March 25, 2020 by David Production.
Cast and Cast Comments
Tamiya (Arata Iura)
A mysterious man who confesses his sins in church. Rohan Kishibe hears his confession.
I have been reading Hirohiko Araki’s works since I was in elementary school. From those beautiful works that I continue to read even now, I received various influences and teachings that shaped me into the man I am today.
Arata Iura
There are as many films based on manga as there are stars in the sky, but for my part, it’s hard to say I’m simply “happy” about participating in one of Araki’s works; it has altered the significance and extent of my resolve. At the same time, I am overcome with a great joy that I can’t express in words.
All the cast members I worked with, as well as the director and the other staff members, expressed similar feelings to mine. This union of souls filled with love for the original work, as well as the Italian staff, came a creation overflowing with the respect of people who empathize with and support each other. Every day of filming in Venice brought new happiness. There were so many moments in this work that made me feel truly thankful that I have continued to work as an actor.
Early in the morning, I walked down empty alleys to the meeting spot, got on a boat headed for the set, and lived within the world of Rohan Kishibe. The days of filming while reliving that life over and over are etched into my heart as precious panoramas. I can’t wait for everyone to see this ode to humanity, one crafted from a bizarre tale with love and respect, on the big screen.
Maria (Tina Tamashiro)
A new character not featured in the manga. She is a mask maker whose actions lead to Rohan wandering into Venice’s labyrinth.
Family. For me, it’s something that’s been there ever since I was born. This shoot allowed me to reconsider its meaning and find my own answers.
Tina Tamashiro
What is the difference between predestination and fate? What is happiness? As I stand in the streets of Venice as Maria, the masks, the stained glass, and even the sunlight all seemed to ask those questions. I spent every day trying to answer them, to the best of my ability.
I am truly happy to have been able to take part in this work, which one could call the origin of the “Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan” series. Thank you, everyone, from the bottom of my heart. What will this work leave behind for you? I’m excited to find out.
Sotoba (Shigeyuki Totsugi)
A vagrant who leaves a curse behind. He is a key part in the terrifying story that Tamiya confesses.
To be appearing in a production based on one of Hirohiko Araki’s works, which I personally enjoy reading! I am so very honored! The entire filming process in luxurious Venice was like a dream come true.
Shigeyuki Totsugi
I wore so much makeup for this production that even my smartphone couldn’t recognize my face. If I had one concern, it was that if the cast listing hadn’t been revealed, no one would realize I was in the film (laughs). But as long as everything turned out for the best, I didn’t want to make too much of a fuss about it.
I hope everyone will come to see both my wonderful co-actors, especially Issey Takahashi in the leading role, and the entire staff’s enthusiasm and love for the source material!
Mizuo (Shunsuke Daito)
A man cursed with an unsettlingly extreme streak of “luck.”
As a fan of both the source material and the drama, I am so very happy to be able to take part in “At a Confessional”, the root of the Rohan Kishibe Series.
Shunsuke Daito
The days were filled by a series of intense scenes, so I walked the streets of Venice every night to calm my mind. But before I knew it, I had returned to the filming location. In that beautiful scenery and incredible environment, I felt a thrilling yet pleasant sense of happiness in being able to immerse myself in Mizuo’s inescapable curse.
I poured out all my feelings from the depths of my heart and left them in this production, so I hope you all will come see it in theaters.
Staff
About Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan
Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan is a spin-off of Hirohiko ArakiHirohiko ArakiHirohiko Araki, born Toshiyuki Araki, is a Japanese manga artist and the author of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. He made his debut in 1980 with his one-shot Poker Under Arms, and began his professional career with the short series Cool Shock B.T., Baoh the Visitor, and Gorgeous Irene. Araki's biggest series,...‘s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series. It is an ongoing series of one-shots featuring the titular character, Rohan Kishibe, from Diamond is Unbreakable. Rohan serves as the narrator and/or the protagonist depending on the story. These one-shots are intermittently published in various magazines such as Weekly Shonen Jump or Jump Square.
Using his special ability “Heaven’s Door” that can read the history and secrets of whoever he chooses and write commands into them, Rohan experiences strange incidents and encounters mysterious phenomena.
About At a Confessional (Manga)
