The popular horror and comedy manga “Mieruko-chan“, written by Tomoki Izumi, will make the leap to the big screen with a live-action film adaptation. The premiere is scheduled for summer 2025, with the actress Nanoka Hara (原菜乃華) playing the protagonist Miko Yotsuyaa young woman who has the ability to see terrifying spirits, but chooses to ignore them at all costs in her daily life.
“Mieruko-chan” began serialization in 2018 in ComicWalker, and to date has 10 collected volumes. The work has reached an impressive 85 million views on its digital platform and has sold more than 3 million copies in Japan. In 2021, the story was adapted into an anime series that helped cement its popularity, both inside and outside of Japan.
In a comment about her participation in the film, actress Nanoka Hara expressed her enthusiasm for the project: “I was caught up in the story immediately. The concept of a character facing terrifying situations by simply ignoring the spirits is very fresh and made me laugh when reading the script.». Hara also assured that, although it is a horror film, “It will have touches of youth, comedy and human drama, making it something completely new in the genre.“.
The film will be directed and scripted by Yoshihiro Nakamura (中村義洋)known for his work in films such as “Yokokuhan (Prophecy)” and “Shinobi no Kuni”, and who has also participated in horror projects such as “Dark Water (仄暗い水の底から)”. Nakamura highlighted Hara's talent, saying that “His ability to express terror with just his eyes is impressive. This motivated me even more to create a film that has not been seen before, an exceptional work within the genre.“.
For his part, the author of the manga, Tomoki Izumi, showed his enthusiasm for the live-action adaptationmentioning that at first he had mixed feelings, but that Nakamura's participation as director filled him with confidence: «When I heard that Nakamura would direct, my anticipation immediately grew. And when I met Hara on set, I felt like I was seeing Miko herself in real life». Izumi concluded by saying that as a horror film fan, he is eager to see how this adaptation will bring a new perspective to his work.
The story of “Mieruko-chan” has captivated fans thanks to its unique blend of horror and comedy, focusing on how the protagonist faces the paranormal with indifference instead of succumbing to fear. This film promises to offer a new and exciting vision of the original work, something that fans of the manga and anime are looking forward to, although not as much as a second season.
Fountain: Comic Natalie
(c)2025『見える子ちゃん』製作委員会
