Two weeks ago we reported that the theatrical adaptation of “Cells at Work!” has released its key visual of the main cast in full costume. Earlier this week on 8 August 2018 – the same day as advanced ticketing sales commenced – the full cast list (including members of the ensemble) was announced via the production’s website.

© Akane Shimizu / Kodansha / Tainai Katsugeki “Hataraku Saibou!” Project 2018

Supporting Masanari Wada – who plays Neutrophil #1146; and Kanon Nanaki – who plays Erythrocyte #AE3803, is a whole cast of experienced stage actors and actresses in their various character roles. Let’s take a look!

© Akane Shimizu / Kodansha / Tainai Katsugeki “Hataraku Saibou!” Project 2018

Playing the role of Cytotoxic T Cell (i.e. Killer T Cell) is popular veteran stage actor Yuki Kimisawa. Fans will probably remember him fondly as “Kakashi-sensei” in the Live Spectacle NARUTO stage-musical production from 2015; as well as “Shuten Doji” in the recent Japan-China collaborative theatrical production of the “Onmyoji” musical.

© Akane Shimizu / Kodansha / Tainai Katsugeki “Hataraku Saibou!” Project 2018

Playing the role of the generic cell is young actor-model James Takeshi Yamada; this young talent with his unique features courtesy of his multi-heritage mixed blood (Japanese-Spanish-Filipino-Chinese) previously acted as “Kazunari Takao” – Shutoku High School’s point-guard – in the 2016 and 2017 theatrical productions of “The Basketball which Kuroko Plays”.

© Akane Shimizu / Kodansha / Tainai Katsugeki “Hataraku Saibou!” Project 2018

Kimito Totani plays the role of “Helper T Cell” in this production. Fans may also be familiar with his role as “Daiki Kaito” or “Masked Rider Diend” in the 2009 “Masked Rider Decade” series.

© Akane Shimizu / Kodansha / Tainai Katsugeki “Hataraku Saibou!” Project 2018

Ex-Takarazuka actress Kaoru Marimura plays the role of “Natural Killer Cell” (i.e. NK Cell) in this production. Fans may also be familiar with her role as “Seri Awashima” in the various theatrical stage productions of the “K” series.

© Akane Shimizu / Kodansha / Tainai Katsugeki “Hataraku Saibou!” Project 2018

Playing the role of “Naïve T Cell” is Masaki Ota from AMUSE Inc. The young actor is also a member of the 2D idol unit “DearDream” from Bandai Namco Picture’s ‘Dream Fest’ series.

© Akane Shimizu / Kodansha / Tainai Katsugeki “Hataraku Saibou!” Project 2018

The role of “Macrophage” will be played by gravure-model/actress Yuka Hirata.

© Akane Shimizu / Kodansha / Tainai Katsugeki “Hataraku Saibou!” Project 2018

The role of “Regulatory T Cell” will be played by Saitama-borne actress Chihiro Kai. Fans may remember her from the 2016 production of “Rock Musical Bleach” as the main female character Rukia Kuchiki; or more recently in 2018 as the valourous Mordred from “Fate/Grand Order The Stage: Domain of the Holy Round Table Camelot”.

© Akane Shimizu / Kodansha / Tainai Katsugeki “Hataraku Saibou!” Project 2018

Playing the role of “Dendritic Cell” is Bishin Kawasumi. Despite his youth, the 26-year-old 2.5D actor has made quite a name for himself in several stage/musical adaptation roles – including Hikaru Zaizen in “Musical The Prince of Tennis: The Treasure Match Shitenouji feat. Hyotei”; Hanbei Takenaka in “Sengoku BASARA –the Second Stage–“; Masamune Date in “Ikemen Sengoku The Stage: Arc of Sanada Yukimura”; and most recently as Howzer in “The Seven Deadly Sins The Stage” currently running at the Tennosu Ginga Theatre in Tokyo.

© Akane Shimizu / Kodansha / Tainai Katsugeki “Hataraku Saibou!” Project 2018

The antibiotic “B Cell” will be played by Kaoru Masaki. Also signed on to AMUSE Inc. like his co-actor/talent Masaki Ota, the young star was too involved in the “DreamFest” series project since 2016.

© Akane Shimizu / Kodansha / Tainai Katsugeki “Hataraku Saibou!” Project 2018

The roles of the adorable “Platelets” will be played by trio of child-talent/actresses Yumi Mitsuda (left), Megumi Morita (centre), and Ayane Kiuchi (right).

© Akane Shimizu / Kodansha / Tainai Katsugeki “Hataraku Saibou!” Project 2018

In the role of the villainous “Streptococcus pyogenes” bacteria is veteran actor Yuki Masuda, who has been involved in countless theatrical character roles over the course of his career since debuting in 1990. He also dabbled in some voice acting jobs for anime series – like the role of “Fujimaki” from “Angel Beats!”; and “Masaharu Niou” from “The New Prince of Tennis”.

© Akane Shimizu / Kodansha / Tainai Katsugeki “Hataraku Saibou!” Project 2018

In the role of the “Influenza Virus-infected Cell” is another veteran seiyuu/stage actor Shun Takagi. He was the very first generation cast of the “Musical Prince of Tennis” in 2003 – 2004 in the role of “Masaya Sakurai”. In 2005 he formed the idol duo-unit with popular seiyuu Mamoru Miyano. His more recent roles included that of “Inspector Abberline” in the “Black Butler Musical” series (2013 – 2016).

© Akane Shimizu / Kodansha / Tainai Katsugeki “Hataraku Saibou!” Project 2018

In the role of the infectious “Pneumonia Coccus” bacteria is stage actor Ryoma Baba. Fans of the “Musical Prince of Tennis” series will know him as the stern but charismatic leader of Seigaku Tennis Club – Kunimitsu Tezuka, a role he played from 2008 until his graduation from the production in 2010. He most recently played the role of “Arataka Reigen” in the 2018 theatrical production of “Mob Psycho100”.

© Akane Shimizu / Kodansha / Tainai Katsugeki “Hataraku Saibou!” Project 2018

Finally, playing the role of “Staphylococcus Aureus” bacteria is another veteran stage actor – Sho Tomita – who made his acting career debut in the 2002 drama adaptation of manga series “Gokusen”. His stage actor debut happened in 2007, and he has since then played countless roles across multiple productions – including an array of different multiple character roles in the theatrical adaptations of popular Capcom game series “Gyakuten Saiban”; as well as Masamune Date in the 2017 theatrical production of “Touken Ranbu – Dawn of the One-eyed Dragon” stage-play. Other than his stage career, Sho Tomita hailed from a lineage of Japanese calligraphy masters, and is himself a renowned calligrapher.

This stage production will commence its run at Theatre 1010 in Tokyo in November so fans who are in Japan do try to attend the performance and bask in the enjoyable live-action rendition of the popular manga/anime series!