Another Harry Potter Remake: Japanese Edition

To be honest, I had some problems with the Japanese version, simply because there are so many actors that I really like and I think they would be a great fit in Harry Potter universe. And even when picking actors for the characters, usually there were at least two other actors that would fit for that role. But for the same reason it was quite fun :)

Also, I‘d like to thank twinklelie for helping me with many choices and enduring my long discussions and rantings about them ;)




After seeing him in Bloody Monday, I really believe Haruma could play Harry. Fierce, adventurous, chasing Voldemort, hunting down the Horcruxes, hating Snape and seeking for justice. Plus, when he's wearing glasses, he does look like Harry, doesn't he?


I think this one is pretty obvious – he‘s cheeky, he‘s naughty, I easily imagine him stuffing himself with food all the time, and he‘s already ginger. What else to ask for? ;)




Even though she wasn‘t the main character in Liar Game, after seeing Erika in that drama, I somehow imagine her in such intellectual environment, filled with puzzles, strategies and great minds.




For some reason I just see him as Dumbledore – authoritative, righteous, somewhat mysterious and powerful.





This choice was obvious to me already while I was writing the Korean version :) Once again, long, greasy hair, a piercing stare, emotionless face and many years of loyalty. A perfect match.




Someone made this suggestion in the comments of the previous article, and I think it‘s brilliant. Gackt is already so creepy  and scary and surgery-adjusted [my friends even have nicknamed him Plastic because of that] that he doesn't even need a photoshoped out nose.




A pretty boy with an evil glance, annoyed with other people? Sounds like a role for my Nari [and I mean it in a good way]. He also does look a bit like Malfoy and he can pull off blonde hair.




Perhaps I‘m biased because of Gokusen, but Yukie seems perfectly suitable for the role of a teacher, who‘s very caring for her students and is a kick-ass on the top.




Once again – he looks hot with beard, mysterious, and could pass off for a criminal who‘s a good guy after all. Plus, this particular picture makes me believe he‘d be a perfect Sirius.




I know that in this particular picture Kame doesn‘t look exactly like Lupin, but to me, it perfectly represents the mood that I imagine Lupin to be – a mysterious traveler with serious skills. P.S. The picture is a screenshot from Yokai Ningen Bem.




A clumsy, silly guy, who‘s always bullied by others, yet when needed, can pull off something courageous and loyal. Yup, that's my Aibaka :)




I think she simply fits Ginny‘s profile – calm, a little bit shy, but growing to be a great witch. Also, I think she looks quite cute together with Haruma :)




I've been told they have played a similar role in Ouran High School Host Club and after all, there are not many famous Japanese twins to choose from. They do look somewhat cheeky, don't they?




Shosuke also has this fatherly aura, but with a little bit of cheekiness and he seems he could easily be into weird stuff like exploring the Muggle world.




At the moment I‘m watching Don Quixote, and she plays a head of a childcare personnel unit. From that role of hers I got the feeling she could be a caring mother, and not afraid to show her horns [as we say in Lithuania] when needed.



I think Oguri‘s acting skills are much higher than Hagrid‘s role would require, but I do see him as Hagrid – a kind face, a big warm heart, the ability to get in trouble due to being not smart enough. And he does look pretty funny in beard, doesn't he? ;)




For me, Maki has this spaced out look on her face which makes me think she‘d be a great Luna.




Initially I thought making Okada as Harry, but I think Haruma‘s acting suits the role better. And then Okada, based on looks, reminded me of the young Tom Riddle from the diary.




Even though the character does not involve difficult acting, and Inoue is a great actress, I think she looks exactly like Cho Chang.




For Lockhart I needed someone who‘s very pretty, a flower boy. So pretty that [despite if it‘s true or not], he seems shallow and perhaps stupid. So pretty it even hurts. So I thought, who could be so pretty? Well, of course, Akanishi Jin :D




He simply has this mysterious and serious aura about him and he‘s handsome. Plus, Saitoh usually plays in boys love dramas or movies, so both he and Robert Patinsson could be blamed for doing gay roles :D




Karina seems like someone who is full of naughtiness and who can easily snap at a wrong look at her. Or for calling her ‘Nymphadora‘ instead of ‘Tonks'




I based this choice simply on looks, I even had this particular picture in mind. But I think that Kanjiya could pull off the cheeky and fangirlish character as well.




I've seen her in 14 Sai no Haha, where she played a controlling mother, even almost a villain. Therefore in the beginning I thought of Belatrix Lestrange‘s role for her. But then I realised that Lestrange requires some serious acting and some serious craziness, therefore Muroi Shigeru seemed to be more suitable for Narcissa Malfoy.




Simply because he looks like a childish fanboy :)




I've watched many of Arashi variety shows and trust me, Nino likes to make pranks. He wouldn't need to act at all almost. Unfortunately, Peeves wasn't in any of the movies, if I‘m not mistaken, so the picture is from a video game.



This choice is really random and I simply thought Nakai would fit the role.


So here you go,here are my choices for Japanese Harry Potter. Feel free to discuss them or suggest your own in the comments, I always have fun reading them, even if I don‘t always agree. I hope you enjoyed this article, cause I certainly did!