Scripted

THE SEVEN, TBS and U-NEXT are continuing to build momentum around their joint TBS × U-NEXT × THE SEVEN Global Project, the drama series Song of the Samurai (formerly Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem), with a cross-platform rollout and a new creative initiative tied to the show’s finale.
Following the two-night terrestrial broadcast of the special Chapter: Youthful Days in Edo on TBS on March 26 and 27, episodes have been made available on U-NEXT immediately after airing. The subsequent installment, Chapter: Fateful Showdown in Kyoto, is currently streaming exclusively on U-NEXT, with new episodes dropping weekly on Fridays.

In the lead-up to the final episode, the partners are introducing a special short film centered on “CHIRU-CANVAS,” an original visual concept developed specifically for the drama. The video, set for release on April 30 via TBS’s official YouTube channel and the show’s social media platforms, documents both the creative process and the final artwork. “CHIRU-CANVAS” is a technique that uses specially treated adhesive boards placed beneath cherry blossom trees, allowing falling petals to accumulate naturally and form an image over time. The resulting visual reflects one of the series’ central themes: the transient beauty and intensity of the Shinsengumi’s way of life.

The production process, which depended entirely on natural conditions such as weather and blossom timing, required 10 days of filming to capture the desired effect. The finished piece reveals the silhouette of Toshizo Hijikata, portrayed by Yuki Yamada, alongside his line: “Bloom as much as you can—then fall.” The special video also features overlapping lines from Hijikata and his rival Kamo Serizawa, played by Go Ayano. Notably, Serizawa’s line was created spontaneously on set, emerging as an improvised moment during filming rather than appearing in the original manga.