Originally Planned AkaNinger Suit Actor Returns After Recovering From Injury

The suit actor originally slated to play AkaNinger in Shuriken Sentai Ninninger has made a comeback after recovering from an injury. 

Producer for the show, Naomi Takebe, sent a message to fans who may have caught a change in suit actors in the credits:

Many may have already noticed it in the credits, but from episode 8 onward, Kosuke Asai will be playing in-suit AkaNinger.

About 4 months ago when we were deciding on who would play Red on the new show, action director Mr. Fukuzawa said ‘I want to go with Asai.’

His combat technique are clean and he manages weapons well. He is generally well-balanced. He played ToQ-6 (from Ressha Sentai ToQger) and this would be his first time as Red.

However, before shooting started, we got word that Asai had gotten injured during practices. A broken thumb that we thought would take only 2 weeks to heal turned out to need 2 months to fully heal after being checked at the hospital.

The injury took place during the last climactic sequences of Ressha Sentai ToQger. Super Hero Taisen GP: Kamen Rider #3 was being filmed, which was Mr. Oshikawa’s official last job. Having him continue was out of the question. The rest of the JAE actors were busy with the movie as well.

For a main role in the new series, we couldn’t just have different people filling in. It was in one of these tense meetings that the name of Yugo Fujii came up.

He does numerous acting jobs as well and doesn’t have a full year regular spot in general. He played Enter Unite in Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters and, in recent Kamen Rider movies, he played Rider 1. He also played Tyrant in the Kamen Rider Gaim Gaiden videos as well as one of the men in black clothes. Yugo Fujii has played a great number of important one-off characters.

He has high physical skills and outstanding jumping technique. Director Fukuzawa said, “If we are doing it, Fujii is the only option.” So, among playing Rider 1 in Super Hero Taisen GP: Kamen Rider 3, he played Zeronos and other main Riders, we decided to have Fujii step in for the Ninninger pilot.

Everyone’s schedules were adjusted for both action director and director. We are really grateful. A very special AkaNinger let us overcome this difficulty.

We received formal apologies from Asai and from JAE. However, it is Asai himself who must have felt the most frustrated. Both cast and staff were waiting for him.

Asai’s formal comeback was in episodes 7 and 8. Due to director Takemoto’s consideration, he also played Hurricane Red in episode 7.

Here is a message from Kosuke Asai. “From a KegaNinger (injured ninja) to AkaNinger, I’ll do my best!”

The baton has been passed from Fujii to Asai. Fujii, thank you very much till now. Asai, rampage all around!

Source: Toei Official Site

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