The nationwide release of the film Daichouhen Taroman: Banpaku Daibakuhatsu (The Great Long Feature Taroman: Expo Explosion) is scheduled for Friday, June 22, with the official trailer and poster now unveiled.
This film is a full-length adaptation of the NHK E-Tele short series TAROMAN Okamoto Taro-style Tokusatsu Action, which presents itself as a “tokusatsu hero show from the 1970s” inspired by the words and artworks of renowned Japanese artist Taro Okamoto. The original five-minute program gained significant attention for its unique blend of Okamoto’s artistic vision and classic tokusatsu storytelling, earning the Excellence Award in the Entertainment Division at the 49th Broadcast Cultural Fund Awards in 2023. Director Ryo Fujii also received accolades for both screenplay and direction.
Set not in the present day but in a retro-futuristic version of 2025 imagined from the 1970s perspective—referred to as the 100th year of the Showa era—the story unfolds in 1970 Japan during the excitement of the Expo. A fearsome mysterious beast emerges from the future year 2025 with the intent to destroy the Expo. While the future envisioned by children of the Showa era is filled with order and normalcy, it is clouded by looming threats. The hero Taroman, inspired by Okamoto’s Young Tower of the Sun, joins forces with the Earth Defense Force (CBG) to protect the Expo and journey toward the future.
The film features commentary by Ichiro Yamaguchi of Sakanaction, who previously appeared in the original short series. As a dedicated Taroman enthusiast, Yamaguchi discusses both the character and Taro Okamoto’s legacy. The movie also introduces new characters, including Elan, a mechanical warrior from the future; the Underground Sun, a giant praying beneath the earth; and a sealed terrifying beast modeled after Myth of Tomorrow.
The newly released retro-style poster showcases these characters together, building anticipation ahead of the film’s premiere. For more details and to watch the trailer, visit the official website.
Daichouhen Taroman: Banpaku Daibakuhatsu (The Great Long Feature Taroman: Expo Explosion)
Cast
Taroman
Tower of the Sun / Underground Sun / Baron Water Pitcher / Jomon Man / Myth of Tomorrow
Narration: Ichiro Yamaguchi (Sakanaction)
Director & Screenwriter: Ryo Fujii
Planning & Producer: Yuya Takesako
Producers: Manki Kato, Takahiro Masumoto, Kyoko Kuramori, Kikuharu Yanagimoto, Haruka Sano
Cinematography: Masaya Fujimoto
Lighting: Makoto Higashioka
Art Director: Yuta Ito
Sound: Ryo Tsujimoto
Costume & Hair & Makeup: Kana Asai
Editing: Hiroyuki Okumoto
VFX: Yuma Yasuda, Soma Tsuma
Post-Production Coordinator: Nobishiro Lab
Music: Akihito Hayashi
Assistant Director: Haruka Sano
Production Manager: Ayako Tomita
Publicity Producer: Tatsuki Yamazawa
Production Committee: Daichouhen Taroman: Banpaku Daibakuhatsu Production Committee
Production Companies: NHK Educational, Gosei Studio
Distributor: Asmik Ace
Cooperation: Okamoto Taro Memorial Foundation for Contemporary Art
Sponsors: Kitankurabu, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, Alinco, Nippon Kensetsu Kogyo
[X] @eiga_taroman
©2025 Daichouhen Taroman: Banpaku Daibakuhatsu Production Committee
