Source: Toho Co., Ltd.
Official Site: https://ojou-movie.toho.co.jp (Japan)

 

A SciFi JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Theatrical poster. Photo courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. Ⓒ2025 A GIRL & HER GUARD DOG Film Partners

SPOILER WARNING: This article contains plot details for an upcoming film.

Toho Co., Ltd. has provided information and photos from their new roamtic comedy, A GIRL & HER GUARD DOG (お嬢と番犬くん, Ojō to Banken-kun), which opens in Japanese cinemas on March 14th.

 

INTRODUCTION

The hit manga A Girl & Her Guard Dog written by Hatsuharu) began serialization in Kodansha's Bessatsu Friend in December 2018, has been adapted into an anime in 2023, and has now sold over 3.36 million copies (as of December 2, 2024). This romantic comedy about a heroine who is determined to hide the fact that she is the granddaughter of a yakuza and live an ordinary love life and youth, and her bodyguard, who is so overprotective that he disguises his true identity and joins her school as a fake student, is now  a live-action movie!

The protagonist, high school girl Isaku Senagaki, is played by Riko Fukumoto, who won the Grand Prix and Shueisha Award (Seventeen Award) at the 8th Toho Cinderella Audition in 2016 and played the heroine in EVEN IF THIS LOVE DISAPPEARS FROM THE WORLD TONIGHT (今夜、世界からこの恋が消えても, Konya Sekaikara Kono Koi ga Kietemo, 2022), which recorded the second highest audience numbers of any live-action Japanese film released in Korea. Riko Fukumoto is a talented young actress who has been making remarkable achievements in recent years, including appearing in the much-talked-about TBS drama series TRILLION GAME (トリリオンゲーム, Toririon Gēmu, 2023).

The young boss of the Senagaki Group, Keiya Uto, is played by Jesse (Jesse Lewis), a member of the immensely popular male idol group SixTONES, who continues to make strides as an actor, appearing in films such as TOKYO MER: Mobile Emergency Room - THE MOVIE (劇場版『TOKYO MER～走る緊急救命室～』, Gekijōban “ TOKYO MER ～ Hashiru Kinkyū Kyūmeishitsu ～”, 2023) and the NTV drama CAPTURED AIRPORT (新空港占拠, Shin Kūkō Senkyo, 2024).

The director who has added a comedic essence to the romance between these two is Keiichi Kobayashi, whose work has been highly praised, including winning the double crown of Best Picture and Best Director at the 44th Yokohama Film Festival for LOVE IS LIGHT (恋は光, Koi wa Hikari, 2022).

The heroine, Isaku, who vowed to hide the fact that she is the granddaughter of a gangster and live an ordinary life, is confused and tossed around by the overflowing protection of the older man, Keiya, who exudes a dizzying sex appeal and dangerous aura but struggles with love. This is the birth of a monumental love romantic comedy film!

 

STORY

Isaku Senagaki (Riko Fukumoto) lost her parents n a car accident when she was 5 and was raised by her grandfather, the boss of the Senagaki gang. But being the granddaughter of a yakuza leader was always troublesome for her.

Isaku had difficulty making friends as a child due to her schoolmates fearing her because of her family ties. When she entered high school, she decided to hide the fact that she was the grandchild of a yakuza family and "make normal friends and fall in love like normal people." But Keiya Uto (Jesse), a 26 year-old Senagaki gangster and Isaku's overprotective guardian, lies about his age and joins the same high school as a student! Worried about Isaku's romantic endeavors, he vows to protect her from the dangers of men as her "guard dog". 

Isaku is flustered by Keiya's behavior, but tries to protect the high school life she has always dreamed of.  However, as Isaku spends more time with Keiya during her school activities, her long-suppressed love for him grows stronger. On the other hand, Keiya who experiences high school for the first time, notices an emotional spark towards Isaku. Isaku and Keiya are cast as the leads in the school's production of Romeo and Juliet, a story that mirrors their own relationship. 

Isaku's nearly perfect high school life is threatened by Mikio Tanuki (Kaito Sakurai), the young heir of another prominent yakuza family, transfers to the same high school. Intrigued by Isaku and Keiya's relationship, Mikio kidnaps Isaku. As Keiya rushes to her rescue, an intense confrontation ensues between him and Mikio. Amid the chaos, Isaku, having grown more independent through her high school experiences, takes matters into her own hands...

 

■ Staff

Director: Keiichi Kobayashi 
Screenplay: Yosuke Masaike;
Executive Producer: Hisashi Usui;
Producers: Yurika Koike, Kenzo Abe;
Art Director: Ayako Takebuchi;
Cinematographer: Hiroo Yanagida
Music: Izumi Mori 
Theme Song: "Barrier" by SixTONES (Sony Music Labels)

Production: A GIRL & HER GUARD DOG Film Partners (Hakuhodo DY Music & Pictures, Kodansha, LAWSON, Quaras, Toho)
Distributor: Toho (Japan)
International Sales: Toho Global, Inc.

Ⓒ2025 A GIRL & HER GUARD DOG Film Partners

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About Toho Co. Ltd.

Toho Company provides high-quality entertainment to a wide range of customers through its film production, distribution, and exhibition business, which is solidly supported by its real estate business including the Shinjuku Toho Building and Hibiya Chante, animation production, DVD software production and sales, and TOHO Cinemas' efforts to expand its network of multiplex cinemas. Among these, "Godzilla," which has been around since 1954, is Toho's flagship IP that has many fans around the world and has been loved for many years.