Image: Yasuhisa Hara/Shueisha, 2026 Film „Kingdom“ Produktionskomitee
AMBot | 07/31/2026 | Reading Time: 4 Min.
A new promotional video has been released for the live-action film "Kingdom: The Decisive Battle of Souls" (Japanese: "Kingdom: Tamashii no Kessen"), which has been running in Japanese theaters since July 17. The commemorative PV, released on Kenshi Yonezu's official YouTube channel, combines for the first time newly released footage from the finished film with the title song "Yodaka," which Yonezu wrote specifically for the production.
"Yodaka" tells of people who forge their own path out of nothing and the conflicts they face along the way. The clip captures exactly these two sides: Shin (Kento Yamazaki), who, after parting ways with his best friend Hyō, meeting the Qin king Ei Sei (both played by Ryō Yoshizawa), and the death of General Ōki (Takao Osawa), carries his legacy within him, and Mangoku (Yuki Yamada), whose homeland was devastated by Qin and who, from this wound, has made his hatred alone his driving force. "Hope" and "Darkness" clash in the titular battle of souls. Additionally, a still image has been released showing the fierce exchange of blows between the two rivals.
Furthermore, the PV features excerpts from the film's major battles: the Hi-Shin unit, Karyō Ten (Kanna Hashimoto), who has since risen to strategist, as well as the young generals Mō Ten (Jun Shison) and Ō Hon (Fūju Kamio). General Tō (Jun Kaname), who with his "Fal Fal" provides one of the film's most striking appearances, and the charge of General Hyōkō (Etsushi Toyokawa) are also briefly captured. The clip is intended, as stated in the announcement, to heighten anticipation for the film as well as reach those who have already seen it.
The song, whose cover art Yonezu illustrated himself, has been available digitally since July 13; the music video directed by Hiroo Kojima followed on July 15. Yonezu described the piece as the "spiritual twin" of his recently released song "Karasu" and stated that he was inspired by Kenji Miyazawa's story "Yodaka no Hoshi." Regarding the collaboration, he said: "May fortune favor Shin, who moves forward clumsily but sincerely." Director Shinsuke Satō described "Yodaka" as the embodiment of a lonely soul: the song carries the pain of opponents who share the same wounds in the cycle of retribution. Producer Shinzō Matsuhashi revealed that the film was initially intended to have the subtitle "The Greatest Battle in History" – after first hearing the finished piece, they decided on "魂の決戦," the decisive battle of souls.
The fifth live-action film in the series, again directed by Shinsuke Satō, written by Yasuhisa Hara and Tsutomu Kuroiwa, and with music by Yutaka Yamada, adapts the particularly popular storyline from the source material about the coalition army ("Gasshōgun"). Three years after the Battle of Mayang, in which Shin lost General Ōki, he has risen to commander of a thousand men. Then, an alliance of the six other states, numbering more than 500,000 soldiers, marches against Qin, and the kingdom faces its downfall. The opening is the defense of the Kankoku Pass, the as-yet-unconquered gateway to the capital Kanyō (Xianyang).
In the first four days after its release, the film surpassed two billion yen, marking the strongest start for a Japanese live-action film in 2026; after thirteen days, approximately 2.39 million visitors and revenues of about 3.73 billion yen were reported. The live-action series has now attracted over 17.3 million viewers and generated around 24.5 billion yen; the source material by Yasuhisa Hara, serialized in Shueisha's "Weekly Young Jump," has over 120 million copies in circulation. "Kingdom: The Decisive Battle of Souls" has been running in Japanese theaters since July 17.
"Yodaka" tells of people who forge their own path out of nothing and the conflicts they face along the way. The clip captures exactly these two sides: Shin (Kento Yamazaki), who, after parting ways with his best friend Hyō, meeting the Qin king Ei Sei (both played by Ryō Yoshizawa), and the death of General Ōki (Takao Osawa), carries his legacy within him, and Mangoku (Yuki Yamada), whose homeland was devastated by Qin and who, from this wound, has made his hatred alone his driving force. "Hope" and "Darkness" clash in the titular battle of souls. Additionally, a still image has been released showing the fierce exchange of blows between the two rivals.
Furthermore, the PV features excerpts from the film's major battles: the Hi-Shin unit, Karyō Ten (Kanna Hashimoto), who has since risen to strategist, as well as the young generals Mō Ten (Jun Shison) and Ō Hon (Fūju Kamio). General Tō (Jun Kaname), who with his "Fal Fal" provides one of the film's most striking appearances, and the charge of General Hyōkō (Etsushi Toyokawa) are also briefly captured. The clip is intended, as stated in the announcement, to heighten anticipation for the film as well as reach those who have already seen it.
The song, whose cover art Yonezu illustrated himself, has been available digitally since July 13; the music video directed by Hiroo Kojima followed on July 15. Yonezu described the piece as the "spiritual twin" of his recently released song "Karasu" and stated that he was inspired by Kenji Miyazawa's story "Yodaka no Hoshi." Regarding the collaboration, he said: "May fortune favor Shin, who moves forward clumsily but sincerely." Director Shinsuke Satō described "Yodaka" as the embodiment of a lonely soul: the song carries the pain of opponents who share the same wounds in the cycle of retribution. Producer Shinzō Matsuhashi revealed that the film was initially intended to have the subtitle "The Greatest Battle in History" – after first hearing the finished piece, they decided on "魂の決戦," the decisive battle of souls.
The fifth live-action film in the series, again directed by Shinsuke Satō, written by Yasuhisa Hara and Tsutomu Kuroiwa, and with music by Yutaka Yamada, adapts the particularly popular storyline from the source material about the coalition army ("Gasshōgun"). Three years after the Battle of Mayang, in which Shin lost General Ōki, he has risen to commander of a thousand men. Then, an alliance of the six other states, numbering more than 500,000 soldiers, marches against Qin, and the kingdom faces its downfall. The opening is the defense of the Kankoku Pass, the as-yet-unconquered gateway to the capital Kanyō (Xianyang).
In the first four days after its release, the film surpassed two billion yen, marking the strongest start for a Japanese live-action film in 2026; after thirteen days, approximately 2.39 million visitors and revenues of about 3.73 billion yen were reported. The live-action series has now attracted over 17.3 million viewers and generated around 24.5 billion yen; the source material by Yasuhisa Hara, serialized in Shueisha's "Weekly Young Jump," has over 120 million copies in circulation. "Kingdom: The Decisive Battle of Souls" has been running in Japanese theaters since July 17.
By clicking the "Play" button, you agree to the privacy policy.
This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical support and editorially reviewed before publication.
Comment(s) 0