Hideki Arai's SPUNK! Manga Gets Live-Action Film

Hideki Arai and Yumiko Kagami's SPUNK! manga is getting a live-action film directed by Keisuke Yoshida, with filming beginning in November 2026 ahead of a fall...

Hideki Arai and Yumiko Kagami's manga SPUNK! is officially getting a live-action film.

The adaptation was announced on October 1, 2026, with filmmaker Keisuke Yoshida attached to direct and write the screenplay. Production is scheduled to begin in November 2026, while the film is planned for a nationwide Japanese theatrical release in autumn 2027.

The project also reunites Yoshida with Arai for the first time in roughly eight years after their previous collaboration, The Virgin Psychics — Dear Eileen.

SPUNK! Is Coming to the Big Screen

Originally published in Monthly Comic Beam from May 2022 through July 2024, SPUNK! was created by manga artist Hideki Arai together with Yumiko Kagami, the owner of the former SM salon Eureka.

The manga is set around an SM salon and follows two young women as they enter a world that initially seems far removed from ordinary life.

Rather than focusing solely on the surface-level aspects of the setting, the story explores the characters' struggles with living, relationships, self-expression and personal growth.

The two central characters are Kanna and Fuyuko, two very different young women who become new dominatrices at the fictional Tokyo EHS salon.

Kanna is energetic and openly pursues what she likes, while Fuyuko is a literary-minded girl who has largely closed herself off from the world.

Their contrasting personalities form the centre of the story as they encounter the unusual people and experiences surrounding the salon.

Keisuke Yoshida Returns to Arai's Work

The live-action adaptation will be directed and written by Keisuke Yoshida, known for films including Hime-Anole and Intolerance.

Yoshida previously directed the 2018 live-action adaptation of Arai's The Virgin Psychics — Dear Eileen.

The new project therefore marks a reunion between the director and manga creator after approximately eight years.

Yoshida has said that he had wanted to make a film adaptation of SPUNK! himself and had expressed that desire to Arai.

According to the filmmaker, his familiarity with the world depicted in the manga and his relationship with Arai helped lead to the new project.

A Story About More Than Its Setting

Although SPUNK! is built around an SM salon, the filmmakers have described the story as a coming-of-age ensemble drama centred on people dealing with their own difficulties while finding ways to grow.

Kanna and Fuyuko enter Tokyo EHS as newcomers, encountering a community filled with distinctive personalities.

The setting allows the manga to examine ideas surrounding freedom, relationships, identity and the desire to live according to what each person considers important.

The live-action film is expected to bring these characters and the fictional Tokyo EHS environment to the screen while retaining the distinctive atmosphere of the original manga.

Original Creators Remain Involved

Yumiko Kagami, who co-created the manga with Arai, is also involved in the film.

Kagami will provide SM and costume supervision alongside Eri Kitami, a former staff member of Eureka who is also a professional dominatrix, rubberist and model.

Their involvement is intended to provide practical supervision during preparation and filming and help translate the world of the manga into a live-action production.

The production team has emphasised the importance of maintaining authenticity in the depiction of the environment and costumes.

What the Story Follows

At the beginning of SPUNK!, Kanna and Fuyuko enter Tokyo EHS as new dominatrices.

The two women approach life from completely different perspectives.

Kanna is described as a powerful personality who pursues the things she likes without hesitation. Fuyuko, on the other hand, is much more withdrawn and struggles with feelings of inadequacy.

Their experiences at the salon bring them into contact with a group of unusual characters and situations.

Through those encounters, the story follows their personal development and the relationships they form along the way.

The result is a character-driven story that uses an unconventional setting to explore the difficulties and joys of being human.

Filming Begins in November 2026

Production on the live-action film is scheduled to begin in November 2026.

The movie is currently planned for a nationwide theatrical release in Japan in autumn 2027.

No specific Japanese release date has been announced yet.

The production and distribution are being handled by Ark Entertainment.

At the time of the announcement, the principal cast for the live-action adaptation had not been fully revealed.

A New Collaboration After Eight Years

The film also gives Yoshida and Arai another opportunity to work together following their previous adaptation.

Their first major film collaboration brought Arai's The Virgin Psychics to cinemas in 2018, with Yoshida serving as director and screenwriter.

This time, the pair are returning with a much newer work.

Arai's SPUNK! began serialization several years after their first collaboration and concluded in 2024.

With the manga now completed and the film entering production, the live-action project will introduce the story to an audience beyond the original manga readership.

SPUNK! Live-Action Film at a Glance

Title: SPUNK! / スパンク！
Original creators: Hideki Arai and Yumiko Kagami
Director: Keisuke Yoshida
Screenplay: Keisuke Yoshida
SM and costume supervision: Yumiko Kagami and Eri Kitami
Original publisher: KADOKAWA
Original magazine: Monthly Comic Beam
Manga serialization: May 2022 – July 2024
Filming: Scheduled to begin November 2026
Japanese theatrical release: Autumn 2027
Production/distribution: Ark Entertainment

What Happens Next?

The next major developments are likely to include the announcement of the live-action cast, additional production details and eventually promotional material for the film.

For now, the project is still in its early production stage, with filming yet to begin.

The combination of Arai's distinctive manga and Yoshida's previous experience adapting his work makes the film a notable new project for fans following Japanese manga-to-live-action adaptations.

As production moves forward, more information about the cast and release plans should clarify how the live-action version will bring Kanna, Fuyuko and the Tokyo EHS setting to the screen.