Revenge is a dish best served in the shadows, and Demon City plunges deep into the darkness of crime and retribution. Set in a neon-lit underworld, this Netflix original Japanese film follows a legendary hitman on a ruthless mission to avenge his lost family. As secrets unravel and enemies close in, the line between justice and vengeance blurs in a city where demons lurk in both myth and man.
Demon City Information
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Native title | Demon City 鬼ゴロシ |
| Country | JAPAN |
| Genre | Action |
| Director by | Seiji Tanaka |
| Story by | Seiji Tanaka |
| Starring Cast | Toma Ikuta as Shuhei Sakata Masahiro Higashide as Kanta Fuse Miou Tanaka as Homare Takemoto Ami Touma as Ryo Sakata Taro Suruga as Akira Fujita Mai Kiryu as Aoi Sakata Naoto Takenaka as Haruo Kawano Takuma Otoo as Yoshihito Takigawa Masahiro Takashima as Kotaro Shinozuka |
| Number of Episodes | Film |
| Release dates | February 27, 2025 |
| Running time | 1 hour 46 minutes |
| Streaming by | Netflix |
🔶Watch Demon City | Netflix Official Site
Demon City Main Cast
Toma Ikuta as Shuhei Sakata
The film’s protagonist, Shuhei Sakata, is a legendary hitman who once ruled the underworld. After losing his family to a ruthless massacre, he embarks on a relentless quest for revenge, cutting down anyone who stands in his way. His past is shrouded in bloodshed, but his unwavering determination makes him one of the most feared assassins in Demon City.
Toma Ikuta
◾Date of Birth: October 7, 1984
◾Place of Birth: Noboribetsu, Hokkaido, Japan
◾Debut Work: “Mokuyou no Kaidan” (1995)
◾Notable Works: “Honey & Clover,” “The Mole Song: Undercover Agent Reiji,” “The Top Secret: Murder in Mind,” “My Teacher,” “The Fable”
◾Social Media: Instagram
Masahiro Higashide as Kanta Fuse
A loyal ally to Shuhei, Kanta Fuse is a skilled tactician and sharpshooter. Unlike Shuhei’s brutal combat style, Kanta relies on strategy and precision to eliminate threats. He serves as both a right-hand man and a voice of reason, often reminding Shuhei of the thin line between justice and revenge.
Masahiro Higashide
◾Date of Birth: February 1, 1988
◾Place of Birth: Saitama Prefecture, Japan
◾Debut Work: “The Kirishima Thing” (2012)
◾Notable Works: “Crows Explode,” “Parasyte,” “Death Note: Light Up the New World,” “Over Drive,” “The Confidence Man JP”
◾Social Media: Instagram
Miou Tanaka as Homare Takemoto
A mysterious and enigmatic figure, Homare Takemoto is a high-ranking crime syndicate leader who plays a crucial role in the city’s power struggle. Cold, calculating, and always one step ahead, he commands an army of killers and seeks to eliminate anyone who threatens his control.
Miou Tanaka
◾Date of Birth: January 28, 1997
◾Place of Birth: Tokyo, Japan
◾Debut Work: “The World of Kanako” (2014)
◾Notable Works: “The World of Kanako,” “Drowning Love,” “Call Boy,” “The Flowers of Evil,” “The Promised Land”
◾Social Media: Instagram
Ami Touma as Ryo Sakata
The younger brother of Shuhei, Ryo Sakata once looked up to him as a hero. However, after being separated for years, he finds himself caught in the middle of a war between rival factions. His loyalty is tested as he struggles to choose between family and survival in the dangerous streets of Demon City.
Ami Touma
◾Date of Birth: December 12, 1995
◾Place of Birth: Osaka Prefecture, Japan
◾Debut Work: “As the Gods Will” (2014)
◾Notable Works: “As the Gods Will,” “Chihayafuru Part II,” “The Anthem of the Heart,” “My Little Monster,” “The Great War of Archimedes”
◾Social Media: Instagram
Taro Suruga as Akira Fujita
A seasoned detective with a deep sense of justice, Akira Fujita has been investigating the underworld for years. As the city plunges into chaos, he becomes obsessed with taking down the key players, including Shuhei. But as he delves deeper into the case, he realizes that justice in Demon City is far from black and white.
Taro Suruga
◾Date of Birth: June 6, 1985
◾Place of Birth: Tokyo, Japan
◾Debut Work: “The Taste of Fish” (2008)
◾Notable Works: “The Taste of Fish,” “The Little House,” “The Emperor in August,” “The Third Murder,” “The Journalist”
◾Social Media: Instagram
Mai Kiryu as Aoi Sakata
Shuhei’s beloved daughter, Aoi Sakata, is at the heart of his vengeance. Once an innocent and carefree girl, her tragic fate sets off the chain of events that fuel Shuhei’s bloodthirsty rampage. Though she appears only in flashbacks, her presence serves as a haunting reminder of what he has lost.
Mai Kiryu
◾Date of Birth: April 4, 1994
◾Place of Birth: Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
◾Debut Work: “Flying Colors” (2015)
◾Notable Works: “Flying Colors,” “Your Name.,” “The 8-Year Engagement,” “We Made a Beautiful Bouquet,” “The Fable: The Killer Who Doesn’t Kill”
◾Social Media: Instagram
Naoto Takenaka as Haruo Kawano
A ruthless enforcer working under Homare Takemoto, Haruo Kawano is a towering figure known for his brute strength and merciless tactics. He is the ultimate killing machine, feared even by his own allies. As the battle for Demon City escalates, he becomes one of Shuhei’s most formidable enemies.
Naoto Takenaka
◾Date of Birth: March 20, 1956
◾Place of Birth: Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
◾Debut Work: “Mahjong hōrōki” (1984)
◾Notable Works: “Shall We Dance?,” “Waterboys,” “Nodame Cantabile,” “The Happiness of the Katakuris,” “R100”
◾Social Media: Twitter
Takuma Otoo as Yoshihito Takigawa
An aging but highly influential crime boss, Yoshihito Takigawa holds many secrets about the city’s dark past. He has survived countless betrayals and power struggles, making him a key figure in the war that unfolds. Whether he becomes an ally or an adversary to Shuhei depends entirely on which way the wind blows.
Takuma Otoo
◾Date of Birth: November 14, 1973
◾Place of Birth: Tokyo, Japan
◾Debut Work: “Ping Pong” (2002)
◾Notable Works: “Ping Pong,” “The Great Passage,” “The Emperor’s Cook,” “Shin Godzilla,” “The Journalist”
◾Social Media: Instagram
Demon City Plot
Legendary hitman Shuhei Sakata decides to leave behind his life of crime and live peacefully with his wife and daughter. However, his happiness is short-lived when a mysterious organization called “Kimen Group” brutally murders his family. Shuhei himself is shot in the head and left for dead. Miraculously surviving, he spends 15 years in a prison hospital, consumed by thoughts of revenge.Upon his release, Shuhei finds that Shinjo City, once his home, has been taken over by the Kimen Group. The city is now a lawless wasteland ruled by masked enforcers who control everything from politics to organized crime. As he searches for the truth behind his family’s murder, he uncovers deep-rooted corruption that extends far beyond what he imagined.Armed with his old assassin skills, Shuhei embarks on a violent path of retribution, targeting each high-ranking member of the Kimen Group. Along the way, he encounters unlikely allies, including Homare Takemoto, a woman with her own vendetta, and Detective Kotaro Shinozuka, who has been secretly investigating the organization.As he fights his way through waves of enemies, Shuhei must confront his past, his own demons, and ultimately, the mysterious masked leader who orchestrated his downfall. The line between justice and revenge blurs as he gets closer to the final confrontation.
Demon City Point to watch
Awards and Reception
Demon City 鬼ゴロシ is expected to be a landmark in Japanese action cinema, blending intense fight choreography with a gripping revenge narrative. With Toma Ikuta’s performance, Seiji Tanaka’s direction, and Tomoyasu Hotei’s soundtrack, the film is gaining attention as one of Netflix Japan’s most anticipated releases. Fans of dark action thrillers are eager to see how it compares to classic Japanese revenge films and manga adaptations.
Original Mang of Demoncity
“Demon City 鬼ゴロシ” is based on the manga “鬼ゴロシ” (“Oni Goroshi”) by Masamichi Kawabe. The series was serialized in Weekly Manga Goraku from 2020 until its conclusion in November 2024. Set in the fictional city of Shinjo, it tells the story of Sakata Shuhei, a former hitman who seeks vengeance after being wrongfully accused of murdering his wife and child. The manga is known for its intense action sequences and deep exploration of themes like betrayal and redemption. As of now, there is no anime adaptation of “鬼ゴロシ.” The upcoming Netflix film marks its first adaptation beyond the original manga.
While specific details about differences between the manga and the film adaptation are limited, it’s common for live-action adaptations to condense or modify storylines, character development, and certain themes to fit the cinematic format. These changes are often made to appeal to a broader audience or to accommodate time constraints inherent in film productions. For a more detailed understanding of any alterations, it would be beneficial to watch the film upon its release and compare it directly with the original manga series.
Popularity and Impact
I’m really looking forward to Demon City 鬼ゴロシ on Netflix because it brings a fresh, action-packed take on the classic revenge thriller genre. The gritty visuals and intense fight choreography in the trailer hint at a high-stakes story filled with brutal combat and deep emotional weight.
What excites me the most is how the series will adapt the Oni Goroshi manga. Will it stay true to the dark and violent tone of the original? Or will it add new layers to the protagonist, Sakata Shuhei, and his relentless pursuit of vengeance? Either way, with Toma Ikuta in the lead and Seiji Tanaka directing, it’s bound to be a visually stunning and thrilling experience.
Also, the fact that Netflix is investing in more original Japanese action films is a great sign. If done well, Demon City 鬼ゴロシ could be another standout in the growing wave of high-quality live-action adaptations. Can’t wait to see how it all unfolds!
Demon City OST
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Demon City Trailer Video
Demon City Poster
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