On Thursday, the official website for Carl Erik Rinsch’s 
upcoming big-budget Hollywood adaptation of 47 Ronin 
was updated with the announcement that 
actor and former KAT-TUN vocalist Jin Akanishi has been cast in the movie.

The announcement goes on to say that 
this will mark Akanishi’s Hollywood debut 
and touts his huge popularity with Japanese youth.

Akanishi will play Chikara Oishi, 
son Hiroyuki Sanada’s character Oishi 
and a sworn friend of Keanu Reeves’s character Kai.

He participated in an audition in Hollywood, 
where he showed extraordinary passion for the role 
through his sword fighting and horse riding training. 
Rinch heaped on the praise, stating that 
Akanishi is the only one who could play Chikara.

"47 Ronin” will be released in November 2012.