ULTRAMAN R/B Cast Update

It`s a family reunion as Mio Minato (Kaori Manabe, center) joins ULTRAMAN R/B alongside (from left to right) Isami (Ryosuke Koike), Asahi (Arisa Sonohara), Ushio (Ginnojo Yamazaki) and Katsumi Minato (Yuya Hirata). Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS. © ULTRAMAN R/B PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM?TV TOKYO

Source: Tsuburaya Productions Official Site: m-78.jp/rb, ani.tv/rb (Japan) Official Twitter: twitter.com/ultraman_series

Kaori Manabe as Mio Minato. Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS. © ULTRAMAN R/B PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM?TV TOKYO

Tsuburaya Productions has provided SciFi Japan with new information and high-res photos from the latest Ultraman series, ULTRAMAN R/B (RUEBE) [?????????(???), Urutoraman R/B (Ruubu), 2018]. Actress and idol Kaori Manabe has been cast as Mio Minato, mother of brothers Katsumi/Ultraman Rosso (Yuya Hirata) and Isami Minato/Ultraman Blu (Ryosuke Koike) as well as their younger sister, Asahi (Arisa Sonohara). A researcher in the field of space archeology, Mio vanished 15 years ago, leaving her husband Ushio (Ginnojo Yamazaki) to raise their children on his own. At the time of her disappearance, she had been studying the Ruebe Gyro and Ruebe Crystal with Makoto Aizen (Motoki Fukami), the president of Aizentech who has since become the evil Ultraman Orb Dark. Mio now comes back to her family under equally mysterious circumstances. What happened to her, and how the Minato Family will handle her sudden return, will greatly impact ULTRAMAN R/B as the series builds to a climax. "When I received an offer to perform in ULTRAMAN R/B, I was so surprised that I exclaimed, `I can`t believe it!` My heart was beating so fast," Kaori Manabe revealed in a statement. "I am truly honored to be involved in the Ultraman series that I have loved for so long." "Mio Minato is a very powerful, motivated woman, with an inner focus that pierces right to the heart of her goals. I will give my all to portray her with conviction, both as a scientist and as a mother." "ULTRAMAN R/B is also a family story. The bond of the Minato family is revealed through their struggles, something shown through the performances of the cast. I`d like for you to enjoy it, and for children to sympathize with their father and mothers!"

Updated key art with the new characters Saki Mitsurugi (Ayane Kinoshita; bottom left) and Mio Minato (lower right). Photo courtesy of Tsuburaya Productions. © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS. © ULTRAMAN R/B PRODUCTION CONSORTIUM?TV TOKYO

Kaori Manabe was born in Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, on May 31, 1980. She began appearing in television programs and commercials even before her graduation from Yokohama National University, and has acted in multiple dramas and films such as WATERBOYS (?????????, Uotaabooizu, 2001). She is represented by North Production, Inc. Manabe gave birth to her first child (with husband Kazuya Yoshii) in 2015. Credits Broadcasting Station: TXN Network, TV Tokyo and others Air Time: Every Saturday 9:00-9:30am Number of Episodes: 25 Cast Katsumi Minato: Yuya Hirata Isami Minato: Ryosuke Koike Asahi Minato: Arisa Sonohara Makoto Aizen: Motoki Fukami Ushio Minato: Ginnojo Yamazaki Saki Mitsurugi: Ayane Kinoshita Mio Minato: Kaori Manabe Staff Director: Masayoshi Takesue Story Editors: Takao Nakano, Jyunki Takegami, Satoshi Ito Production: Tsuburaya Productions, TV Tokyo, Dentsu © Tsuburaya Pro © Ultraman R/B Production Committee ? TV Tokyo

About Tsuburaya Productions

Tsuburaya Productions, creator and copyrights owner of the superhero ULTRAMAN series was founded in 1963 by Eiji Tsuburaya, world-renowned special effects wizard also known for his special effects work on the Godzilla series. With more than fifty years` experience, it is one of Japan`s oldest and most respected independent film and television production houses. Its popular Ultraman TV and film series which premiered in 1966 has been seen in over 100 territories worldwide and has spawned over 3,000 licensed products. In addition to production, the company also handles character licensing and program distribution and staging live stage shows both domestically and internationally.

For more information on ULTRAMAN R/B (RUEBE), please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: